No Holding Back
Page 27
Thank you to Simon Cowell. I owe so much to you. Not least all my success (at least that’s what you keep telling me!) X
Piers Morgan: Thanks – you are still a git though.
To my Girlfriends: Jane Wall, Jess Taylor, Sally Haynes, Rose Keegan, Sarah Parish, Shara Walsh, Angela Griffin, Vikki Hay ward and Lucy Gaskill. We’ve been through everything together and come out the other end – slightly more worn but no less glamorous! With the help of Touche Éclat and false lashes. Your friend ship means everything to me. I love you all.
To Team Mandy: Jane Tyler, Ben Cooke, Sinead Mckeefry, Christian Vermaak, Michaela Drake and Paula Cahill.
The support I’ve received from my fans on Twitter has been incredible. So thank you #Holdenites.
Angie Blackford: for all the advice and sherry!
Alison Griffin: you have known me all my ‘non’ private life! I literally couldn’t exist without you!
To my Witches of West Mid and Hammersmith; Pippa Nightingale, Jackie Nash and Natalie Carter! Thanks aren’t enough for what you all did for us for during the happy and sad times. Will never forget the Mick Jaggers! (You know!)
To my Mum: I never really fully appreciated what a great childhood you gave Debs and I until I had my own children. You dealt with so much and kept all the nasty stuff away. You gave us the absolute best you could. I know we have had our differences but thank you for allowing me to write honestly about our family and ‘dig up’ some old history. I love you.
To my ‘Step’ Dad Les; Step is such a small pointless word. It doesn’t cover how I feel about you and what you have done for Debbie and I. Taking us on and loving us like a proper Daddy made the gaping hole seem infinitely smaller. We belong to you.
Nanny Win: as I read this book back there’s not much mention of you, but I want you to know how lucky Debbie and I were that you totally accepted us as your own, spoilt us and loved us. Your cooking is the stuff of dreams, and memories of country walks in our wellies, picking blackberries, still makes me feel so happy. Thank you so much
Debs: we've been through an awful lot together and faced some of the same stuff, but our stories will always be different. I am glad you have been a part of mine and look forward to our happy ending. I love you. x
Nanny: you were so influential in my life. You were a feminist without realising it. Strong, stubborn, opinionated, fair, loving and fun – with the best laugh ever! We have had our differences but that's because everyone says we are the same. I’m not sure about that but one thing I know is that I will love you forever.
And lastly to my husband Chris . . .
I honestly don’t know how you put up with me. This book has been ‘trying’ to say the least! But as with everything, you made it work. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Your love, sense of humour and ability to see what is REALLY important in life has got us through so much! I catch myself looking at you everyday and loving you a little bit more. How is that even possible?! I am so glad (and relieved!) you agreed to marry me and have children! Our girls are incredible! Mostly due to you!
I LUB a lot!
Amanda Holden
Professional Resume
2013
Judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent (Series 7)
2013
Judge on ITV2’s Britain’s Got More Talent (Series 7)
2013
Herself in Danone Oykos TV Advertising Campaign
2013
UK Correspondent for America’s CBS network
2013
Presenter of ITV’s A Night of Heroes
2012
Presenter of ITV’s Superstar
2012
Herself in Danone Oykos TV Advertising Campaign
2012
Judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent (Series 6)
2012
Judge on ITV2 Britain’s Got More Talent (Series 6)
2012
Presenter of the Sun’s Military Awards for ITV
2012
Presenter of ITV’s Lorraine
2012
UK Correspondent for America’s CBS network
2011
Judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent (Series 5)
2011
Judge on ITV2’s Britain’s Got More Talent
2011
UK Correspondent for America’s CBS network
2011
Presenter of ITV’s A Night of Heroes
2011
Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, Drury Lane Theatre, London
2011
Weekly Columnist for News of the World’s Fabulous magazine
2010
Judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent (Series 4)
2010
Judge on ITV2’s Britain’s Got More Talent (Series 4)
2010
Presenter of ITV’s Amanda’s Fantasy Lives (three part Series)
2010
UK correspondent on CBS America’s The Early Show
2010
Presenter of ITV’s The Door game show
2010
Presenter of ITV’s Children’s Champions Awards
2010
Presenter of ITV’s A Night of Heroes
2010
Penelope Belcher in Tesco TV Advertising Campaign
2010
UK Correspondent for America’s CBS network
2010
Weekly Columnist for News of the World’s Fabulous magazine
2009
Judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent (Series 3)
2009
Judge on ITV2’s Britain’s Got More Talent (Series 3)
2009
Lizzie in BBC1’s Big Top (x 6 episodes)
2009
Presenter of ITV’s Out of my Depth midwife documentary
2009
Presenter of ITV’s Celebrating the Carpenters
2009
Presenter of ITV’s A Night of Heroes
2009
Weekly columnist for News of the Worlds Fabulous magazine
2009
UK Correspondent for America’s CBS network
2008
Judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent (Series 2)
2008
Judge on ITV2’s Britain’s Got More Talent (Series 2)
2008
Sarah Trevanion in ITV’s Wild At Heart (Series 3 x 8 episodes)
2008
Presenter of ITV’s When Britain First Had Talent
2007
Judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent (Series 1)
2007
Judge on ITV2’s Britain’s Got More Talent (Series 1)
2007
Sarah Trevanion in ITV’s Wild At Heart (Series 2 x 10 episode)
2007
Presenter of ITV’s Really Wild At Heart documentary
2007
Presenter of ITV’s The National Television Awards
2006
Sarah Trevanion in ITV’s Wild At Heart (Series 1 x 6 episodes)
2005
Mia Bevan in BBC1’s Cutting It (season 4 x 6 episodes)
2004
Mia Bevan in BBC1’s Cutting It (season 3 x 6 episodes)
2004
Alice in BBC’s Mad About Alice (x 6 episodes)
2004
Lucy Eyelesbarrow in ITV’s Miss Marple – 4:50 from Paddington
2003
Mia Bevan in BBC1’s Cutting It (season 2 x 7 episodes)
2003
Herself in BBC1’s Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do
2003
Presenter of ITV’s The National Music Awards
2003
Presenter of ITV’s Greasemania
2003
Millie Dilmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Shaftesbury Theatre, London.
2003
Millie Dilmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie for The Royal Variety Performance
2003
Amanda Holden’ in Ready When You Are Mr McGill, Working Title Productions for ITV.
/>
2002
Mia Bevan in BBC1’s Cutting It (season 1 x 6 episodes)
2002
Debs Bloke in BBC1’s Celeb (x 6 episodes)
2001
Louise Slaney in BBC1’s Hearts and Bones (Series 2 x 6 episodes)
2001
Geraldine Titley in ITV Granada’s The Grimleys (Series 3 x 6 episodes)
2001
Sarah Campbell in ITV’s The Hunt
2000
Jessica in SKY One’s Now You See Her
2000
Geraldine Titley in ITV Granada’s The Grimleys (Series 2 x 10 episodes) –
2000
Mel in BBC1’s Kiss Me Kate (Series 3 x 9 episodes)
2000
Louisa Slaney in BBC1’s Hearts and Bones (Series 1 x 7 episodes)
2000
Alice in BBC1’s Happy Birthday Shakespeare (two part drama)
2000
Geordie’s girlfriend in BBC1’s The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything
1999
Geraldine Titley in ITV Granada’s The Grimleys (Series 1 x 6 episodes)
1999
Mel in BBC1’s Kiss Me Kate (Series 2 x 7 episodes)
1999
Actress in Channel 4’s Smack the Pony (x 4 episodes)
1999
Shoe Shop Assistant in ITV’s Virtual Sexuality
1999
Nurse in Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Bill Kenwright films
1998
Mel in BBC1’s Kiss Me Kate (Series 1) (x 6 episodes)
1998
Actress in ITV’s Hale and Pace
1998
Various Roles in BBC2’s Goodness Gracious Me (x 4 episodes)
1998
Petra in BBC1’s Jonathan Creek (x 2 episodes)
1997
Various Characters in Channel 5’s comedy sketch show We Know Where You Live (x 12 episodes)
1997
Camilla Barker in ITV’s Thief Takers
1997
lead Actress In ITV’s The Bill
1996
Pamela in Intimate Relations, Boxer/Handmade Films
1994
Carmen in BBC1’s EastEnders (x 5 episodes)
1993
Alice Meadows BBC1’s In Suspicious Circumstances
1992
Liesl Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, touring theatre production.
Pre-1992
Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest, theatre production
Pre-1992
Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion, theatre production
Education
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Graduated 1992
Picture Credits
The author and publishers would like to thank the following copyright-holders for permission to reproduce images in this book:
© Rex Features / © BBC Photo Library / © Talkback Thames/Fremantle Media
The author and publishers have made all reasonable efforts to contact copyright-holders for permission, and apologise for any omissions or errors in the form of credits given. Corrections may be made for future printings.
List of Illustrations
1. Me being fitted for my first sheepskin
2. My first Pedi
3. Me with my sister Debbie. ‘Mum, what am I supposed to do with this?’
4. Me practising my Saturday Night Fever moves
5. Debbie’s christening on Frank’s Naval Ship. Mum actually left her on-board by mistake! (L–R: Me and Mum, Vicar, Nanny with Debs, Papa and Frank)
6. My first FHM shoot
7. Mum, Debbie, Nanny and Me in my Grandad’s (Papa) pants!
8. Using my Portaloo
9. Waiting for a free kick! (L–R: Maternal Great Grandmother, Nanny, Mum, Debbie and me)
10. Me and Debs . . . Sherlock and Watson
11. There wasn’t a day when I didn’t hurt my knees on that pole!
12. Football fans. With our dog Elsa in our Brian Clough green polo necks – my Dad took his look too far!
13. Christmas Day, too cold to ride them outside!
14. Putting on a brave face with scary Chucky Doll!
15. My first puppet show (I’m behind the expensive blanket), with a captive audience . . . I locked the back gate!
16. Rare pic of first wedding! (L–R: Debbie, Me, Eric Austin and Jamie)
17. Me and Debs on the way to Devon for holiday, our modesty protected!
18. Looking slightly bewildered from a fresh bump on head in the playground
19. The human slot machine!
20. Mum’s Wedding to Les. L–R back row: Cousin Bridgett, Uncle Winston (sporting an aerial), Auntie Vivienne, Nanny, Mum, Les. Front row: Debbie and Me
21. My Mum’s attempt at being a Mafia Boss!
22. Me and Debs outside Papa’s shed, the ‘Daisy Chain Café’ (or cruise liner – weather dependent!)
23. Always first to the bar! Me with Mr Sawyer at Bishop’s Waltham Gym Club, Elite Squad
24. Said, very enthusiastic looking, Gym Club!
25. Me and school BF Amanda Loveday. My t-shirt reads ‘Neil is a really amazing guy right?’ How prophetic!
26. Papa, Me and Nanny hanging out in . . . STROUD!
27. Me on keys with a Wham inspired haircut!
28. Bishops Waltham Little Theatre members – Me showing Ye Olde Right Leg in authentic Victorian towelling sock wear
29. Me and my puss, Silvester
30. Very last day of school (L–R: Vik, Wendy Hopkins, Me, Lucy Abraham, Clare Buckler, Kirsty Rollinson, Luci Matthews)
31. Dracula spectacular in a dress Mum had specially made me – I’m clearly questioning the authenticity of my leading man’s moustache
32. Typical Saturday night, live from our lounge
33. Maybe I was considering jumping off? Sporting yet another astounding haircut
34. Me singing for my supper at my parents ‘Chase Lodge’ guest house
35. Having a family dinner before I left Bournemouth to attend Mountview Theatre School
36. Me and Sally Walker in our ‘efforts to get an Equity card’ – Be Sharp# Book Now duo
37. Me ‘doing a Marilyn’ at my birthday – Sally Walker clearly not impressed!
38. One of my first publicity headshots
39. Blind Date: ‘what’s your name and where do you come from?’
40. Me and my Nan as Santa’s Granny and Mistress! My sister as Cher . . . ?
41. Me and G.B, my first love, graduating from Mountview Theatre School, 1992
42. Playing Roxy Hart in Mountview’s production of Chicago – Jason Maddocks on my left
43. First job, In Suspicious Circumstances for ITV, with Phillip Glenister
44. Me in the National Tour of The Sound of Music as Liesel Von Trapp with Christopher Cazenove
45. Me and Les in Jersey
46. Me and my beloved boys: Nobbie and Fudge (all my pets must have slightly cheeky names)
47. Our lovely friends (L–R: Me, Ruby, Andy Grainger and Les)
48. Me and Les engaged
49. Me and Les on our Wedding Day, 4 June, 1995
50. Cast of We Know Where You Live (L–R: Jeremy Fowlds, Fiona Allen, Simon Pegg, Me and Sanjeev Bhaskar)
51. Me and ‘CQ’, Caroline Quentin, using me as her pillow
52. Cast of BBC1’s Kiss Me Kate (L–R: Chris Langam, Me, Cliff Parisi, Caroline Quentin and Darren Boyd)
53. Cast of ITV’s The Grimleys (L–R: Noddy Holder, James Bradshaw, Me, Brian Conley and Ryan Cartwright)
54. ITV’s The Hunt (L–R: Adrian Lukis, Samantha Bond, Me and Philip Glenister
55. Me and Jessica Taylor. Definitely ‘radiator’ people
56. Me and Rose Keegan: ‘From Italy, with Mud’
57. Me and Sarah Parish, clearly thinking we were in Nashville
58. Me and Jane Wall in Cuba
59. Me and Jason Maddocks at his 40th birthday
60. Cast of Hearts and Bones (L–R: Back – Hugo Sp
eer, Damian Lewis and Andrew Scarborough. Middle – Rose Keegan, Me, Dervla Kirwan and Sarah Parish. Bottom – Kieran O’Brian)
61. Cutting It billboard shot. Me and Sarah Parish with loaded hairdryers
62. Harry Enfield, his left testicle, and me in BBC’s rock sitcom Celeb
63. Cutting It cast (L–R: Sian Reeves, Me, Ben Daniels, Jason Merrells, Sarah Parish, Angela Griffin, James Midgely and Lucy Gaskill)
64. Ready when you are, Mr. McGill (L–R: Top – Paul Seed and Phil Davies. Middle – Jack Rosenthal, me and Bill Nighy. Front – Sir Tom Courtenay, Sally Phillips and Sam Kelly)
65. Me and Neil Morrissey finally meeting again at a Grand Prix Ball. Obviously I was distracted by those shoes
66. Me and my co-star in Big Top
67. ITV’s Miss Marple 4:50 from Paddington (Geraldine McEwan, John Hannah and Me)
68. Me in one of three documentaries from ITV’s Amanda’s Fantasy Lives. In this one I was being country and western singer – I sang at the Broken Spoke in Texas baby!
69. Me as Millie Dilmount (looking like the girl on the plate my Mum bought)
70. Me and the girls performing ‘Forget About the Boys’ tap number in Thoroughly Modern Millie
71. Showing ‘my boss’, co-star Craig Urbani a bit of leg in Thoroughly Modern Millie