Amanda Holden has opened up about how her Britain's Got Talent co-host Alesha Dixon has been a pillar of support through her most challenging times, particularly after the tragic stillbirth of her son Theo in 2011. The 54-year-old presenter, who also shares daughters Alexa, 20, and Hollie, 13, with husband Chris Hughes, revealed the depth of their friendship during an interview with The Mirror.
A Lifeline in Dark Moments
Holden explained that during the show, she faced a devastating loss. "I lost a baby during the show, I was hospitalised, there's been those moments where you need a female next to you," she said. While acknowledging Simon Cowell's sympathy, she emphasised the unique comfort of having a woman by her side. "You've got the likes of Simon, a wonderful man and sympathetic, but you just want that girl next to you who knows and understands why you might need a chocolate bar, an aspirin or a trip to the toilet."
Bonding Over Motherhood
Holden, an original judge on Britain's Got Talent since 2007, and Dixon, who joined the panel in 2012, have forged a strong friendship over the years. Their shared experience of motherhood has been a key bonding factor. "She is the sort of person I could ring if I had a problem going on or an emergency and I know she'd be there for me," Holden added.
Reflecting on Loss
Earlier this year, Holden fought back tears while discussing her grief with friend Alan Carr on the BBC series Amanda & Alan's Greek Job. She shared her personal philosophy on losing Theo at seven months: "When we lost Theo, there wasn't one moment where I thought why has this happened to me? But there also wasn't a moment where I sort of blamed God or anything. And I just, the way I accepted it was to say that he chose me, just for those few months to see what it was like to live and develop and be in the universe, and then the universe took him back." She continued, "Now I don't think that's religious, but I let him go back, and that was my belief rather than like he went back to heaven as such. I felt like he went back into the universe and he's out there, and he's still part of our family. Only way I could make sense of it."
A Mother of Three
Holden emphasised that she always considers herself a mother of three. "I was like, gosh, I was so lucky to have him for all that time. And even though he was born sleeping, he was perfect. And I always, always say I'm a mother of three, always, because I am."
Advocacy and Awareness
Holden has previously spoken out about her experience to support other grieving parents. In 2011, a routine scan at seven months revealed Theo's heart had stopped, leading to a caesarean. In 2024, she shared a touching tribute on social media: "You would have become a teenager today... #Theo."
In 2022, she revealed how a doctor made her feel like a "game show contestant" by saying she was "going home empty handed" after the stillbirth. Working with the baby loss charity Aching Arms, she raised funds through her 3 Peaks Challenge. On her Heart Breakfast show, she said, "I will never forget when I went through something, that I would imagine is very similar to your experience. We lost our baby Theo at 28 weeks, and they very sensitively moved me into another room so I could deliver him without having to hear the lovely babies screaming on a normal ward." She added, "I remember the lady afterwards as well when we went for a chat also said 'I know you're going home empty handed' is what she said to me. So I felt like some sort of game show contestant, so it's all of that language that I know this charity will be helping people to avoid and educate them on how best to deal with something so awful."
Gratitude for Care
On Nurses Day, Holden expressed her thanks to the nurses who cared for her. "I know I talk about this a lot. And I never know whether I talk too much about it. But obviously, when we lost our son Theo to a stillbirth, the hospital where I was looked after was unbelievable." She named Jacki Nash, Pippa Nightingale, and Natalie Carter as key supporters.
Holden's openness continues to provide comfort and solidarity to many who have experienced similar loss, highlighting the importance of friendship and compassionate care.
