Amanda Holden and Les Dennis were once one of Britain’s most talked-about celebrity couples. Their marriage began in 1995, but after several difficult years, a highly publicised affair and an attempted reconciliation, they separated in 2002 and divorced in 2003.
Their relationship attracted attention partly because of their 17-year age difference. Amanda Holden’s first husband, Les Dennis, was already an established television entertainer, while she was building her acting career. As her popularity grew, their private difficulties increasingly became national news.
Years after their divorce, both celebrities have spoken openly about the experience, including the pain of their separation, the impact of public attention and the importance of moving forward.
Here is the story of their relationship, from their first meeting and marriage to the reasons behind their separation, their later families and their reflections in 2026.
Quick Bio
| Details | Amanda Holden | Les Dennis |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Amanda Louise Holden | Leslie Dennis Heseltine |
| Date of birth | 16 February 1971 | 12 October 1953 |
| Birthplace | Portsmouth, Hampshire, England | Liverpool, England |
| Nationality | British | British |
| Profession | Actress, television presenter, radio host, singer | Comedian, actor, television presenter |
| Known for | Britain’s Got Talent, Heart Breakfast, Cutting It | Family Fortunes, Coronation Street, comedy and theatre |
| Marriage to each other | 1995–2003 | 1995–2003 |
| Current spouse | Chris Hughes (married 2008) | Claire Nicholson (married 2009) |
| Children together | None | None |
How Did Amanda Holden and Les Dennis Meet?
Amanda Holden and Les Dennis first met in Bournemouth in 1993, when both were working in theatre.
Amanda was performing in a production of The Sound of Music, while Les was appearing in a show at a nearby venue. Their shared involvement in entertainment gave them an opportunity to become acquainted.
At the time, Les was already a familiar figure on British television, particularly through his work on Family Fortunes. Amanda was a younger actress beginning to establish herself professionally.
Their friendship gradually developed into a romantic relationship. Despite their different career stages and considerable age difference, they decided to build a future together.
Their romance eventually led to marriage in June 1995, beginning a relationship that would remain in the public eye for years.
Amanda Holden and Les Dennis Marriage
Amanda and Les married on 4 June 1995 in Bournemouth, England. Their wedding brought together two performers from different generations of British entertainment.
Their marriage initially appeared promising. Both were working in show business, although their professional experiences were quite different.
Les had built his reputation through comedy, television presenting and live performances. Amanda was continuing to pursue acting opportunities, gradually appearing in more prominent television productions.
As Amanda’s career developed, the couple became increasingly recognisable to British audiences.
The Age Gap Between Les Dennis and Amanda Holden
The age gap between Amanda Holden and Les Dennis was approximately 17 years.
Amanda was 24 when they married, while Les was 41. Their different ages attracted considerable media interest.
However, their relationship cannot be explained by age alone. They also had individual ambitions, different experiences and changing expectations about their future.
In later interviews, both acknowledged that their age difference played a part in how they understood their marriage.
The Neil Morrissey Affair and Their First Separation
In 2000, Amanda Holden’s relationship with actor Neil Morrissey became the subject of intense media coverage.
Morrissey was best known for his role in the British sitcom Men Behaving Badly. He and Amanda had worked together on the BBC production Happy Birthday Shakespeare.
News of their affair emerged while Amanda was married to Les Dennis. The revelation caused considerable difficulties within their relationship and attracted widespread tabloid attention.
The couple temporarily separated in 2000. However, rather than immediately ending their marriage, they subsequently reconciled and attempted to rebuild their relationship.
Contemporary reporting from 2001 confirmed that Les and Amanda were trying to move forward together after the affair.
The reconciliation is an important part of their story because their marriage did not end immediately after the revelations.
Why Did Amanda Holden and Les Dennis Divorce?
Their marriage ultimately ended because of several difficulties, including the affair, changing personal priorities and the pressure surrounding their relationship.
In a 2003 interview on Parkinson, Amanda explained that the affair had revealed deeper problems within the marriage.
She also discussed how her expectations had changed as she grew older, particularly regarding family life and when she wanted children.
Both partners had made an effort to repair their relationship, but their reconciliation did not last.
In December 2002, they announced their final separation. Their public statement described the decision as amicable and indicated that they had grown apart.
Their divorce was finalised in 2003, ending their marriage after approximately eight years. Court reports from that year stated that the divorce was granted on the legal grounds of Les Dennis’s admitted adultery. This was separate from the earlier public attention surrounding Amanda’s affair with Neil Morrissey.
The affair was a significant event, but treating it as the only reason for the divorce overlooks the wider difficulties both described.
Amanda Holden and Les Dennis Relationship Timeline
| Year | Major event |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Amanda and Les meet while appearing in theatre productions in Bournemouth |
| 1995 | They marry in June |
| 2000 | Amanda’s affair with Neil Morrissey becomes public; the couple temporarily separate |
| 2000–2002 | They reconcile and attempt to rebuild their marriage |
| 2002 | They announce their final separation in December |
| 2003 | Their divorce is finalised |
| 2023 | Les publicly discusses moving beyond the hurt of their marriage |
| 2026 | Amanda reflects on regrets connected to the relationship |
What Has Amanda Holden Said About Her First Marriage?
Amanda has discussed her relationship with Les several times, often acknowledging the emotional consequences of the affair and divorce.
She previously described the public backlash as one of the most difficult periods of her life.
She also acknowledged that Les had supported her during the aftermath, despite being deeply affected by what happened.
Amanda Holden’s Reflections in 2026
In January 2026, Amanda discussed her past marriage during Amanda & Alan’s Greek Job, her BBC television series with comedian Alan Carr.
During their conversation, she acknowledged regretting the hurt she had caused others. She also reflected on how difficult experiences can shape a person’s later life.
Her comments focused on accepting past mistakes rather than continuing to dwell on them.
The discussion attracted renewed attention because it showed Amanda looking back at her first marriage more than two decades after the divorce.
What Has Les Dennis Said About Amanda Holden?
Amanda Holden’s ex-husband, Les Dennis, has also spoken publicly about the marriage and its emotional aftermath.
In a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times, he explained that he no longer felt angry about their past.
He said the hurt had healed and expressed happiness that Amanda had moved forward with her life.
His comments suggested that he had found a sense of peace, even though they were no longer in regular contact.
In February 2026, Les discussed their age difference during an appearance on Sherrie Hewson’s Very Very Sherrie podcast.
He recalled an occasion when a plumber mistakenly assumed Amanda was his daughter rather than his wife.
Les used the anecdote to reflect on the noticeable age gap and the challenges he associated with their relationship.
Did Amanda Holden and Les Dennis Have Children Together?
No, Amanda Holden and Les Dennis did not have children together during their marriage.
Although they discussed family life, their expectations about having children were not entirely aligned.
Amanda later became a mother with Chris Hughes, while Les also expanded his family with Claire Nicholson.
Their children belong to their later family lives, not their former marriage.
Who Are Amanda Holden and Les Dennis Married to Now?
Both celebrities eventually remarried and established separate family lives.
Amanda Holden and Chris Hughes
Amanda married her current husband, music producer Chris Hughes, in December 2008.
The couple have two daughters, Alexa, commonly known as Lexi, and Hollie.
Amanda frequently discusses family life alongside her television and radio career.
Her marriage to Chris represents a long-standing relationship that developed after her divorce from Les.
Les Dennis and Claire Nicholson
Les Dennis and his wife, Claire Nicholson, have been married since November 2009.
They have two children together, Eleanor Grace and Thomas Christopher.
Les also has an adult son, Philip, from his earlier marriage to Lynne Webster.
His family life has developed alongside his continued work in acting, theatre and television.
How Their Careers Developed After Divorce
Both Amanda and Les continued building successful entertainment careers following their separation.
Amanda became a judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent in 2007, significantly increasing her national profile.
She also became a prominent radio personality through Heart Breakfast and continued presenting entertainment and lifestyle programmes.
Les pursued acting in addition to his long-established comedy career.
He portrayed Michael Rodwell in ITV’s Coronation Street and performed in numerous theatre productions.
His work also included appearances in drama, comedy and live entertainment.
Their separate professional achievements demonstrate that neither person’s career was defined solely by the marriage or its ending.
Are Amanda Holden and Les Dennis Still Friends?
The available public comments do not establish whether Amanda and Les maintain a close friendship today.
In his 2023 interview, Les explained that they were not in contact, although he expressed goodwill towards her.
Amanda has likewise spoken positively about the support Les once gave her and has acknowledged her regrets about the relationship.
Their publicly reported comments suggest goodwill, although their present level of contact is not confirmed.
Importantly, neither has publicly announced a romantic reconciliation.
Why Their Relationship Still Attracts Interest
The story remains familiar to British audiences because it involved two recognisable television personalities and unfolded during a period of intense celebrity newspaper coverage.
Yet their relationship was more complicated than the headlines suggested.
They spent nearly a decade together, attempted reconciliation after a major crisis and eventually built different lives.
Their later reflections also provide important context. The story is no longer simply about an affair or divorce, but about how two people have discussed difficult experiences with the benefit of time.
Conclusion
Amanda Holden and Les Dennis shared a relationship that began with romance, developed into marriage and eventually ended after years of personal difficulties and public scrutiny.
Although their divorce in 2003 became a major celebrity story, both have since established fulfilling careers and separate families.
Their reflections in recent years show how their perspectives have evolved. Rather than being defined entirely by a difficult separation, both have spoken about moving forward and accepting the past.
The story of Amanda Holden and Les Dennis remains a memorable chapter in British entertainment history, but it is only one part of their much broader personal and professional lives.
Also Read: Neil Morrissey: Remarkable Career, Wife, Former Wife and Family Life
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Amanda Holden and Les Dennis get married?
Amanda Holden and Les Dennis married on 4 June 1995 in Bournemouth, England. Their marriage lasted until their divorce in 2003.
Why did Amanda Holden and Les Dennis split up?
Their separation followed several relationship difficulties, including Amanda’s affair with Neil Morrissey in 2000. Although they attempted reconciliation, they eventually separated permanently in December 2002.
What was the age gap between Amanda Holden and Les Dennis?
There was approximately a 17-year age difference. Amanda was born on 16 February 1971, while Les was born on 12 October 1953.
Did Amanda Holden and Les Dennis have any children?
No. They had no children together. Both went on to have children with their later spouses.
Who is Amanda Holden’s husband now?
Amanda Holden is married to music producer Chris Hughes. They married in December 2008 and have two daughters, Lexi and Hollie.
Has Les Dennis forgiven Amanda Holden?
Les indicated in a 2023 interview that he had moved beyond the hurt of their marriage and was happy that Amanda was happy. However, he also said they were not in contact at that time.
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