Amanda Holden is getting candid about what really went down behind the scenes at Britain’s Got Talent when Simon Cowell was forced to miss auditions due to illness—and let’s just say she was not loving the spotlight.
Although Holden is the show’s longest-serving judge, she admitted stepping into Cowell’s central seat felt anything but empowering. Instead of feeling like the boss, she says she felt completely out of her element.
“I’ll be honest, I absolutely loathed sitting in that seat,” Holden revealed in an interview with The Sun. Producers placed her in the lead position during Cowell’s absence, but she said it came with unexpected pressure. Being at the end of the panel meant she had to lean forward constantly just to stay involved in conversations—something she says never feels natural.
Holden also pointed out that Cowell typically has a strong support system on set, with staff and family nearby to keep him plugged into production details. By contrast, she joked that her own crew was more interested in raiding her snack stash than helping her run the show. While she understood why producers chose her to anchor the panel, she described the experience as isolating and awkward.
During Cowell’s absence, Holden joined KSI, Alesha Dixon, and guest judge Stacey Solomon on the panel. Despite her discomfort in the leadership role, she said the audition stage felt looser and more chaotic in a fun way. Still, she made one thing crystal clear: she has no desire to sit in Cowell’s seat again and much prefers her usual middle spot—right where she feels most at home.
