Posts Tagged ‘Amanda Holden’

Amanda Holden – We did not exploit Susan Boyle

from the dailymail

We didn’t exploit Susan Boyle,’ says Amanda Holden as she defends Britain’s Got Talent in US media blitz

Amanda Holden has faced the music on behalf of Britain’s Got Talent, defending it against accusations of ‘exploiting’ contestant Susan Boyle,

Last night Amanda, who is on a whistlestop tour of the US, was a guest on CNN’s Larry King Live – a prestigious US news show – to discuss Susan Boyle’s hospitalisation.

And she was forced to defend the talent show – created by her boss Simon Cowell.

Facing the music: Amanda Holden has put herself in the spotlight to defend accusations that Britain’s Got Talent exploited Susan Boyle

After coming second to dance group Diversity, Boyle’s post-final health concerns have led to questions over the standard of care provided by programme makers.

But Amanda emphatically denied that Britain’s Got Talent exploited Boyle instead she blamed the press for ‘stressing her out’.

The actress turned TV judge said the Scottish singer was upset by ‘exaggerated stories’ and ‘falsehoods’ written about her, and denied that Britain’s Got Talent was to blame in any way.She told Larry King: “We are a very loyal show, we love Susan very much. All the contestants that appear on the show are extraordinarily well looked after.

‘She is getting the best support she could possibly be getting at the moment.”

Big interview: Last night she appeared on news talk show CNN’s Larry King Live

Defender: Holden told Larry King that everyone on the show ‘loved Susan very much’ and that she was ‘extraordinarily well looked after’

Holden told the late night US talk show host that the British media were to blame. She also guest hosted CBS’s The Early Show where she spoke about Boyle.

She said: ‘It was just in the last week that the downturn in press in our country I think maybe stressed her out a little bit and I think she was just quite upset by all the exaggerated stories and falsehoods that were written about her.’

According to Holden, the 48-year-old from West Lothian – who checked into the Priory clinic after what her brother described as an anxiety attack – expects to return home ‘within a matter of days’.

Police were called to Boyle’s hotel over the weekend after she began acting strangely. She was taken to the Priory in north London on Sunday.

Ambassador: Amanda showed off her figure in a tight-fitting Herve Leger purple dress and Jimmy Choo’s as she arrived in New York to defend Britain’s Got Talent

The judge said that Boyle’s brother had indicated that she wanted to leave the clinic shortly and get on with her singing career.

‘He believes that she wants to come home within a matter of days rather than weeks. And she is excited about the prospect of seeing what is out there,’ Holden said.

Holden added that her one concern is the affection she holds for Mr Morgan: ‘She seems to have a crush on Piers Morgan – that is the only thing I’m worried about.’

In the space of eight weeks, Boyle has gone from the quiet life of a church volunteer in a small town in Scotland to global fame.

American audiences were captivated by this year’s Britain’s Got Talent after over 100million people watched Susan’s performance of I Dreamed A Dream at her Glasgow audition.

And Boyle has received unprecedented media attention from all over the world, and television titans such as Oprah Winfrey and CNN’s Larry King lined up to interview her after her stunning performance during the audition stage of Britain’s Got Talent.

Guest host: Yesterday Amanda discussed Susan Boyle and more lightweight matters such as shoes with her co-hosts on The Early Show

Domestic goddess: She also showed off her culinary skills and made fish ‘n’ chips on live television

The Boyle phenomenon has also earned coverage in heavyweight US newspapers The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Retail therapy: Amanda went shopping with husband Chris Hughes yesterday

As well as receiving airtime on all the main TV channels, ABC, CBS, and NBC.

On the Early Show yesterday, Amanda said: ‘It’s taken its toll on her, she’s gone from a woman that nobody knew to worldwide fame.

‘For anybody in the business to handle that kind of stress is an enormous amount of pressure and I think she probably has just crumbled under it.

She will just need some time to recuperate, to rest. Actually it’s probably a blessing that she didn’t win because the spotlight’s not so heavily on her.’

Clearly, Cowell will not be unhappy that Amanda is facing the music on his behalf, namely because she is keen to raise her profile in the US.

Holden was previously unrecognisable in the United States but thanks to a certain Scottish spinster, the 38-year-old judge is quickly carving a name for herself across the pond.

With only a few days in the US, the blonde actress is clearly determined to make an impact in a series of tight-fitting dresses.

Spotted doing a spot of shopping in New York’s trendy Meatpacking District, Amanda looked like an extra from Sex And The City as she tottered along the street in her killer gold heels.

Accompanied by her husband Chris Hughes and a female friend, Amanda looked like Kim Cattrall’s SATC character Samantha Jones as she sashayed down the street in a figure-hugging purple Herve Leger bandage dress and obligatory sunglasses.

The former Wild At Heart actress has previously spoken of her wish to work Stateside, so it’s no surprise she’s taken the opportunity to go there.

Taxi! The actress hails a cab back to her hotel as she darts around New York while on a media blitz on behalf of show Britain’s Got Talent

Earlier on Monday, she was up bright and early to co-host the Early Show live with regular presenters Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez.

Despite the early start, Amanda made sure she gave viewers a lasting impression as she squeezed her curves into another tight-fitting, low-cut white dress and black platform heels.

While the actress was primarily on the show to discuss Britain’s Got Talent – and the show’s biggest star Susan Boyle – she also gave Americans an insight into her own personality.

As well as showing off her yodelling skills, Amanda also cooked fish ‘n’ chips and showed off some of her shoe collection.

Comparing herself to fellow BGT judges Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan, Amanda insisted she was the only nice judge ‘with a beating heart’ and the only performer.

She said: ‘They are also enormous egos so as a mummy, as a housewife, I try to bring things down a bit.

‘I’m also the only one that’s actually done any performing so I’m the only one qualified to judge.’

Earlier this year, she admitted she was jealous of fellow judge Piers’s success in the US after he landed a role on America’s Got Talent.

She told the Mail: ‘He’s got money, fantastic cars, a beautiful girlfriend – and I can’t believe he’s made it in the US.

‘I want that for myself. I do hate his jamminess – and yes, I bloody well would like to go over there!

‘I’ve dropped loads of hints to Simon. Piers has the best of both worlds: going off for a few weeks to the US, then flying back to London. I could do that.’

Susan Boyle Well On The Road To Recovery

Susan Boyle is “recovering well” after having an anxiety attack caused by the pressures of fame, PR consultant Max Clifford has said.

susan boyle singing

The Britain’s Got Talent runner-up is being treated at the Priory clinic in north London after being admitted there on Sunday.

One of the show’s judges, Simon Cowell, plans to help her launch a professional career when she is better, said his spokesman Mr Clifford, who has spoken to her two brothers.

Mr Clifford added: “They (the brothers) are saying they weren’t surprised by what happened, due to the speed of everything that happened, with her getting worldwide fame in seconds.

“Provided she’s given a few days and then allowed to be as normal as possible, she should be fine.”

He went on: “She is recovering well. All she wants to do is sing.”

PR consultant Max Clifford

Another of the show’s judges, Amanda Holden, said Boyle has “no underlying mental issues” and is simply exhausted.

Holden said she did not know how long the Scottish star, from Blackburn, west Lothian, would spend at the Priory, but said doctors had assured show staff that the singer was mentally sound.

Boyle was the bookies’ favourite to win Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday night but came second behind dance group Diversity.

Simon Cowell want to work with Susan Boyle

Police were called to her hotel after she began acting strangely, and the 48-year-old was taken to the clinic after being assessed under the Mental Health Act.

In the space of eight weeks, Boyle has gone from the quiet life of a church volunteer in a small town in Scotland to having global fame.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has underlined the importance of the duty of care to contestants on reality TV shows like Britain’s Got Talent.

He said: “There is a need to look after people properly, not just in front of the camera but around the intense process.”

Meanwhile, there has been speculation about Boyle’s future, with most predicting commercial success but some saying she would have a hard time attracting a paying audience.

Mr Clifford said: “She’s going to have potentially huge album sales, particularly in America. Americans absolutely love her.

“Everyone wants her on their show singing. That gives her massive potential, and Simon will make sure she has the best songs and the best productions.”

Amanda Holden ‘Susan Boyle has no underlying mental issues’

amanda holden 'Boyle will have a huge hit'

Amanda Holden has insisted that Susan Boyle has no “underlying mental issues”.

Boyle, who lost out in Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent final, was admitted to the Priory clinic to be treated for exhaustion on Sunday.

However, Holden rubbished suggestions that Boyle is having a mental breakdown and that the ITV1 show had not taken appropriate care of her.

“I have no idea how long she will be resting for, I genuinely have no idea,” she told GMTV. “But I understand that we’ve spoken to her doctors and they really have reassured us that there are no underlying mental issues and it purely is just that she’s knackered – for want of a better word.”

When quizzed about the psychological care the contestants are given during their time on the show, she claimed that the producers followed strict “rules and standards”.

“You can’t kind of give every single person who’s just an auditioner that kind of long-winded attention,” she said. “But I think that what was done for Susan was the right thing to have done.

“I know that they’ve kind of checked her out and they’ve spoken to people in her village and there was no reason that we needed to check her for anything else, and I still agree with that.

“All these shows take great care, and there are rules and standards that we all have to stick by. And I know that we care very much about Susan and so the right people are looking after her now.”

Susan Boyle ‘will be a global superstar’

Simon Cowell has decided to offer a record contract to Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle, according to a report.

The Scottish singer became an overnight sensation after her original audition aired last month, but she eventually lost out to dance troupe Diversity in last night’s final.

Despite the shock result, Boyle is still expected to be snapped up by Cowell’s SyCo record label and work closely with the music mogul over the coming months.

A source told The People: “[Simon] still sees massive potential in Susan and will make her a global superstar. It wouldn’t be surprising if there was a single released before the end of the summer.”

Cowell offered words of support to Boyle after she gave a second performance of Les Miserables number ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ in last night’s episode.

He commented: “Win or lose, you had the guts to come back here tonight, face your critics – and you beat them. Whatever happens, you can walk away from this with your head held high.”

Judge Amanda Holden has previously predicted that Boyle will have “a huge, huge hit” in the future.

Amanda Holden says ‘Boyle will have a huge hit’

amanda holden 'Boyle will have a huge hit'

Amanda Holden has predicted a bright future for Susan Boyle ahead of tonight’s Britain’s Got Talent final.

The show’s judge confirmed that she expects Boyle to have a hit record even if she does not win the ITV1 competition.

Boyle’s performance of Les Miserables number ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ at her original audition became a YouTube sensation after it aired in April. She remains the bookies’ favourite to triumph on the programme tonight.

Discussing the star’s chances, Holden told the Daily Record: “We’ve just got to keep being on her side and not assume she’s going to win.”

She added: “I would imagine that whether she wins or loses, she will definitely record ‘I Dreamed A Dream’. I think that that would be a huge, huge hit. It would go platinum.”

Boyle has become a subject of controversy in recent days following reports that she launched into a ‘foul-mouthed outburst’ at the Wembley Plaza Hotel.

Additionally, Lily Allen has described the Scottish singer as “so overrated”, while Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood claimed that she “sucks”.

Susan Boyle Semi Final Performance Britains Got Talent 2009 HIGH QUALITY

Susan did a great job overcoming her butterflies at the beginning of a very difficult song and finished with a bang. Being on the world stage so quick after leading a very quiet life can be overwhelming, but she has such grace and charm that even a slight miss at the beginning does not take anything away from her performance. She makes me smile every time and should win hands down, not just for her talent, but for humble way she is taking all this sudden fame. How many of us could do it.

Amanda Holden – Boyle has no longevity

amanda holden

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has said that she doesn’t think contestant Susan Boyle will last.

The Scottish singer is currently the odds-on favourite to win the talent series, however Holden has dismissed suggestions that the final is already decided.

“She’ll be an instant international superstar – but I don’t think she’ll have longevity…She could nail it or kill it on the night. She might not be as good as she was on that first night and people put that performance on a pedestal,” she told the News Of The World.

“I think it can go either way. We’ve built her up and the public could go, ‘She’s too big for her boots, she’s too cocky’. She isn’t. But we don’t like too much success. It’s a shame.”

Holden also criticised pizza delivery man Jamie Pugh for feigning emotion at his first audition.

“He got on my tits. I didn’t think he was genuine. I didn’t believe his emotion and I hated his voice. He sounded like a car starting,” she said.

Final 40 Britains Got Talent 2009 – The Final Results

OK, so we now know who the top 40 acts are who will compete in the LIVE Semi-Finals.

Only 10 acts can make it through to the Grand Final.

Below is the full top 40 list of acts who will perform over the 5 LIVE Semi-Final’s – 8 acts will perform each night:

Aidan Davis – Dancer

Ben and Becky – Ballroom Dancers

Brit Chix – Rock Band

Callum Francis – Musical Theatre

Darth Jackson – Michael Jackson/ Darth Vader Impersonator

DCD Seniors – Dance Troupe

Diversity – Street Dancers

DJ Talent – Rapper

Dream Bears- Comedy Dancers

Fabia Cerra – Burlesque Dancer

Faces of Disco – Comedy Dancers

Flawless – Street Dancers

Floral High Notes – Flower Arranging and Opera Singing

Fred Bowers – Breakdancer

Gareth Oliver – Comedy Impersonator

Good Evans – Family Singing Group

Greg Pritchard – Male Soprano

Harmony – Musical Theatre

Hollie Steel – Singer/ Dancer

Hot Honeyz – Dancers

Jackie Prescott and Tippy Toes – Dog Act

Jamie Pugh – Singer

Julia Naidenko – Belly Dancer

Julian Smith – Saxophonist

Kay Oresanya – The Living Saxophone

Luke Clements – Juggler/ Street Performer

Mama Trish – Drag Act

Martin Machum – Guitarist

MD Showgroup – Dancers

Merlin Cadogan – Physical Performer

Natalie Okri – Singer

Nick Hell – Street Performer

Shaheen Jafargholi – Singer

Shaun Smith – Singer

Stavros Flatly – Comedy Dancers

Sue Son – Violinist

Sugarfree – Street Dancers

The Barrow Boys – Wheelbarrow Dancing

2 Grand – Singers.

Two acts from each of the live shows will go through to perform in the Final. The act with the highest number of public votes goes through to the final automatically, with the second and third-placed performers vying for the crucial judges’ choice

Tomorrow nights Semi-Final line up to perform along with Susan is :

Darth Jackson – Michael Jackson/ Darth Vader Impersonator

Diversity – Street Dancers

Faces of Disco – Comedy Dancers

Julia Naidenko – Belly Dancer

Natalie Okri – Singer

Nick Hell – Street Performer

Sue Son – Violinist