Amanda Holden reveals the perils of parenting teenage girls as youngest daughter Hollie, 14, ‘won’t speak to her’

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Amanda Holden has discussed the challenges of raising teenage daughters, explaining that her youngest daughter is currently not talking to her.

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, 54, recently shared with the Daily Mail that while it was hard saying goodbye to her oldest daughter, Lexi, 19, as she went off to university last year, she’s finding it more challenging to deal with life at home with her youngest, Hollie, 14.

Amanda finds herself thinking about friends such as Myleene Klass, 47, who was very emotional when her daughter left for school, but she’s focusing on appreciating the peace and quiet now that Lexi is busy with her studies.

The television host, married to music producer Chris Hughes, believes their daughter Lexi will likely return home after finishing university, and will probably accumulate some ‘debt’ along the way.

She also came to the defense of Lexi, who is represented by the modelling agency Storm, addressing accusations of being a ‘nepo baby’. She pointed out that her daughter balances her education with working two jobs.

Amanda shared, ‘Very sadly, I have a child currently at university and a 14-year-old who is not very communicative with me.’

You know, I totally get why people are reacting the way they are. I saw Myleene getting emotional, and honestly, it really resonated with me. So many mums feel that pang of sadness when their kids grow up and move on. It reminded me of last year when my daughter, Lexi, went off to university – I was a mess, completely tearful! It’s just a natural part of being a parent, I think.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE! I was with Chris, and we drove her in a van – can you even imagine?! We got everything set up for her, and then drove all the way back in the van. It was honestly the nicest weekend ever. Saying goodbye was SO hard, we were both totally sobbing, but… well, that was it. It’s just… over now. I’ll never forget it.

Many young people return home after finishing university. They often face challenges like not knowing their next steps and being in debt. Some see this period of living with family as just a temporary situation, a short break before figuring things out.

Amanda argues it’s unjust to label her daughter a ‘nepo baby’ – someone who benefits from family connections – because she works hard at two jobs, one of which is modelling with Storm, the agency famous for launching Kate Moss’s career.

Lexi recently appeared in a stunning photoshoot for Storm, showcasing a form-fitting blazer that highlighted her figure and her noticeable similarity to her mother.

She explained that people can use the term ‘nepo’ constantly, but it doesn’t hold much weight. If you have a family connection to someone famous, that label is immediately applied. It’s just a quick judgment, really.

During London Fashion Week, I noticed Iris Law and Romeo Beckham. Both are incredibly talented and I believe they’ll have lasting careers. Iris Law is particularly striking.

It’s irrelevant who her parents are; they might have helped her get a start, which, frankly, happens in every field. I constantly hear stories – especially in finance and banking – about someone getting a job because of their family connections, not their qualifications.

‘To survive, though, you have to be able to back it up or they will just fall by the wayside.’ 

Amanda remembers growing up in a working-class family, with her mother and grandmother as her primary caregivers. She notes that her initial work experience wasn’t particularly exciting.

The breakfast show host on Heart reveals her main drive has been building her £7 million family home, which takes inspiration from the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel.

She explained that her parents helped her get a job at a fruit shop through a connection with the owner, jokingly referring to it as her entry into the fruit and vegetable business!

Things are incredibly busy for me right now, and it can feel like a lot to handle. Thankfully, Chris is a huge support, and I’m lucky to have help from family. My parents are assisting, and my sister is currently here helping out too. It truly takes everyone pitching in – it’s all hands on deck.

I wake up at 5am each day to prepare for and travel to the radio show. That’s simply how much time the whole process takes – getting ready and commuting and so on.

I decided I really wanted a house, and that’s what motivates me to wake up so early. I just need to dedicate some time to enjoying it and take a break from work.

It’s not just me, Lexi is also balancing work and studies; she holds down two jobs while attending university. She works during the day and also does some work for Storm.

Amanda is taking on even more work! She’s now the host of the BBC show Celebrity Inner Circle.

Celebrity Inner Circle, a new game show blending elements of The Traitors and The Weakest Link, starts Saturday evening before Strictly Come Dancing. It’s designed to challenge both contestants’ knowledge and how well they get along with each other.

She admits she’s nervous about presenting solo but is determined to make it a success. 

Amanda shared, ‘I’m definitely feeling anxious. It’s been a lengthy process, and I’ve been involved in all stages of it.’

I was asked to test it out before the show moved into production. I did this in a church hall, with a lot of executives watching to see if it would be successful.

The BBC was filled with people, each checking that every part of the setup was working correctly. I was running around in my trainers, asking questions and chatting with everyone. Because of that hands-on involvement, it feels less like I’m playing the role of a quiz show host and more like it’s genuinely me doing the work.

It feels genuine, and I’m invested in its success because it’s important to me. It holds a lot of meaning for everyone involved, including myself.

Amanda, who filmed all 32 episodes of the show in Glasgow earlier this year, shares the one outfit she particularly enjoyed wearing – created by a very famous designer.

She explained that while the wardrobe was very large, she reused some outfits she’d previously worn on other programs, even ones from a few years back. She pointed out that this practice is what’s known as sustainable fashion.

There was a beautiful leather dress by Victoria Beckham. I also have many dresses in my closet that I purchased myself and actually wear, even though I haven’t worn them on Heart.

It wasn’t just about fashion for Amanda, who shared that she actually discovered some new information while hosting the show, explaining: ‘I found out that slugs have teeth.’

It turns out bananas are actually berries, and strawberries belong to the rose family. Interestingly, I didn’t remember the colors of the Croatian flag, but I learned that slugs have teeth, and I’ve been sharing that fact with everyone!

  • The Inner Circle will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer from Saturday 4th October launching with the celebrity version. The daytime quiz will start on Monday 6th October 

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2025-10-05 16:07