Amanda Holden

At the age of 17 she travelled to London to go to a drama school.

She split with her husband Les Dennis in 2003 because she was having an affair with Neil Morrissey.

She gave birth to her first he child Alexa Louise Florence Hughes, on the 21st of January 2006.

On 19 November 2004 she appeared on BBC's Children in Need telethon singing Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman".

Amanda Holden along with the likes of Julian Clary and Pamela Anderson support People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in their campaign for a bearskin ban.

Holden had married TV personality, Les Dennis, in 1995 but they announced their separation at Christmas 2002. This was soon after Les Dennis had appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, declaring he wanted their marriage to work.

She supports Everton FC.

Her most recent appearance was on the ITV drama, Wild at Heart, which aired its first series at the beginning of 2006. Series two is due to begin being filmed later this year. Amanda played the role of Sarah alongside Steven Tomkinson.

While a student, she rode naked around Bournemouth on a scooter for £20.

She studied at The Jellicoe Theatre in Poole.

Her performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie led her to be nominated for a 2004 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for 'Best Actress in a Musical' of 2003.

Her first tTV appearance was on Blind Date as a unsuccessful contestant.

She stands at 5' 4" tall.

One of her earliest TV credits was a small part in BBC soap EastEnders.

Her younger sister Debbie is a model.

Announced her engagement to music producer Chris Hughes in November 2004

Married to actor / comedian Les Dennis from 04 June 1995 to 18 November 2003 (divorced)

Trained to be an actress for 3 years at London's Mountview Theatre School