Television personality and radio presenter Amanda Holden has shared a startling personal health scare, recounting a dramatic late-night dash to Accident and Emergency over a suspected life-threatening condition. The Britain's Got Talent judge and Heart Radio host revealed she was once hospitalised for suspected peritonitis, a serious infection of the abdomen's inner lining that can prove fatal if left untreated.
A Midnight Medical Emergency
During a recent broadcast of Heart Breakfast with co-host Jamie Theakston, the 55-year-old celebrity participated in a segment inviting listeners to share their "ridiculous" A&E stories. The conversation preceded an interview with Noah Wyle from the medical drama series The Pitt. After Theakston encouraged "the more daft reasons, the better," Holden decided to disclose her own alarming hospital experience from her younger years.
"The Most Gigantic Fart"
"Do you know that I was rushed to A&E when I was young with suspected peritonitis," Amanda disclosed on air. She described how an ambulance was called, medical staff rushed her to hospital, and she was placed in a ward where everyone was frantically attending to her. "Then this doctor felt my tummy, gave me some peppermint water and I did the most gigantic fart and that was the end of that," she laughed, explaining that her dramatic symptoms were actually just severe trapped wind. "And I got out of that very much needed hospital bed swiftly," she added with amusement.
Recent Feline Incident
More recently, Holden required medical attention for a different reason after being bitten by her own cat. She explained on the programme that she intervened to separate a fight between her 15-year-old cat and a new rescue cat. "I put my hand in, because they started fighting, and I had to try and separate them. I've never seen anything like it and my own cat got hold of my wrist with her teeth, and I literally lifted my arm in the air and she was still on it," she recounted.
Swollen and Infected Wrist
The bite left her wrist severely swollen and infected. "It's doubled in size," she reported, describing it as feeling "red hot." She also experienced a "massive headache" and difficulty forming coherent sentences, though she wasn't certain if these symptoms were directly connected to the bite. "I can't move it," she continued. "I've got no eye makeup on, I normally turn up looking like Claudia Winkleman every morning, and I need a tetanus jab for sure. I can't move my hand."
Medical Treatment and Update
Later in the show, Amanda provided an update after consulting a doctor. "I've seen a doctor and he's prescribed two sets of antibiotics to cover the possible bacterial range, but apparently cats are full of horrible bacteria, because I can't move my wrist," she shared. The medical professional also addressed her tetanus concerns, noting that she had likely received sufficient vaccinations throughout her life to be protected. "He said in my life I've probably had five tetanus [jabs], he's hoping, so therefore you're covered for life," she concluded.
