HOLDEN HOUSEHOLD
AMANDA HOLDEN is an actress and media personality, who has been a judge on talent show Britain’s Got Talent on ITV since 2007.
The 49-year-old co-host of the Heart Breakfast show, who released her debut studio album during the coronavirus pandemic, revealed she broke lockdown rules to see her elderly parents. So what do we know about them?
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Who are Amanda Holden’s parents?
Amanda Holden’s mother is Judith Mary Harrison, 71, and her stepfather is Leslie Collistor, 75.
The pair live together in a tiny hamlet near Bude, Cornwall.
Amanda previously revealed that Judith and Leslie worked as extras in films and in TV shows and appeared on Poldark.
Speaking on Heart Breakfast radio, Amanda revealed that her mum had texted in to let her know they were listening as they drove to the set of Doc Martin.
It is understood that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Amanda went over a year without seeing Judith and Leslie.
Amanda is estranged from her biological father, Frank Holden.
She spoke of Frank is her 2013 autobiography, revealing he was a drunk who abandoned his wife, Judith, and daughters, Amanda and Debbie, when they were four and three respectively.
Amanda wrote: "When he was home [he] spent all his available cash on booze and was only focused on where his next drink was coming from."
"Not only that, but he was impossible to live with in every way. He would leave home for hours at a time, often staying out all night and returning drunk the next day."
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Why did Amanda Holden break lockdown rules to see her parents?
Amanda Holden was reported to police after breaching lockdown by travelling 215 miles to see her parents in Cornwall.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge said she had received a “distressing phone call” from stepdad Leslie.
She arrived to see her parents after travelling from Richmond upon Thames, Surrey.
In a statement following the incident representatives Holden said she made the journey to contain a “very personal situation” at her parents’ home.
They added that both Amanda’s parents had been vaccinated and Amanda did not come into contact with any one else during the trip.
Her spokesman said: “Amanda is aware of the rules and is devastated she had to break them.”
Neighbours reported Holden after she was seen being dropped off in a black Mercedes at the Cornwall home - accusing her of endangering key workers and vulnerable people in the area.
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The spokesman went on: “Amanda is aware that all families are going through difficulty during these turbulent times but received a distressing telephone call from her elderly father on Friday afternoon.”
“On balance Amanda felt the round trip to Cornwall necessary to contain the matter at her family home. The very personal situation has now been aided and Amanda is back in London.”
“Amanda did not act on a whim and has adhered to Covid rules every step of the way in all three lockdowns.”
“Amanda is aware of the travel rules and is devastated she had to break them on this one occasion.”
They added that Holden receives weekly Covid testing and felt she “was not putting her parents at risk.”
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What has Amanda Holden said about the pandemic?
Brits are currently only allowed to leave home for a limited number of reasons, including shopping for essentials and exercise.
These well-advertised and widely-recognised laws also forbid travel outside a person's immediate region.
Amanda, who is about to turn 50, has been a vocal supporter of government measures throughout lockdown and has also raised cash for the NHS.
On Wednesday, she tweeted a photo of her in a park with daughters Lexi, 14, and Hollie, eight.
She wrote: “Saluting parents and guardians everywhere who are doing their best in this trying time.”
In May last year, Amanda released single “Over the Rainbow” — with all proceeds going to NHS Charities Together.
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Amanda’s son Theo was stillborn in 2011 and she almost died giving birth to Hollie the next year.
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She said of the NHS: “I feel like I owe them so much.”
Devon and Cornwall Police refused to comment.
Amanda Holden gets emotional with birthday messages from Piers Morgan, Kylie and her mum