When rumours first emerged that Amanda Holden and Alan Carr might take over Strictly Come Dancing, the news was met with a buzz few casting announcements create. But as Britain’s Got Talent gears up for its latest run, Amanda, 55, has been crystal clear on why she won’t be swapping Simon Cowell’s panel for the sparkles and sequins of Strictly.
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Why Amanda Holden really turned down Strictly
Amanda has never been shy about her priorities. The offer to step into one of the BBC’s most coveted roles might tempt many, but she chose family and continuity over a career curveball.
“I am already part of a big show, and I'll happily carry on watching Strictly from the comfort of my lounge, but it takes up too many weekends, I've got to remember that I have children and a husband.”
That honesty cuts through the glitz: some opportunities, she insists, just don’t fit real life, no matter how much glamour they promise.
Her decision wasn’t just about her own schedule. Behind the scenes, Amanda has a strong vision for the future of Strictly:
“I just hope that they still have two females doing it, that's my big thing. They need somebody super funny, and somebody that you wouldn't expect.”
She’s pushing for the sort of energy that shakes things up and gives a genuine shot to talent that isn’t always the obvious choice.
Amanda blasts 'boring' host rumours and pushes for fresh faces
As speculation swirled, names like Bradley Walsh, Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond were tossed around. But Amanda doesn’t mince her words:
“boring, boring, boring, they're all brilliant people but you go, 'oh come on, think outside the box.'”
For her, the challenge is more than finding a recognisable face. It’s about hunting for someone “super funny and somebody that you wouldn't expect.” Her dream replacements? Katherine Ryan and Daisy May Cooper, or perhaps Alex Jones who she describes as “a very good anchor and has a dry sense of humour.” She’s even suggested Zoe Ball or strong new comics from the Edinburgh circuit, calling the idea of discovering such talent “a prize.”
“Amazing job to sort of break two people that we might know but don’t know that well and push them up into the spotlight,” Amanda says, underlining her wish to see “two strong women in a role on a Saturday night.”
She doesn’t want to see another safe bet—she wants TV to dare to be surprising.
KSI, Britain's Got Talent shake-up and Simon Cowell’s vision
While Strictly speculation rumbled on, Amanda stayed focused on what she calls her “big show.” This year’s Britain’s Got Talent line-up will see influencer and music artist KSI jump into judging alongside Amanda, Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon, filling a seat left empty by Bruno Tonioli. Amanda talks about their working relationship fondly:
“Me and KSI were probably the closest in the panel, we get on really well, it's like I'm his nan or something.”
Having KSI around keeps things sharp:
“Having KSI there, who’s very succinct in his answers and doesn’t hold back, has really helped the show.”
Behind the scenes, Amanda is full of praise for Simon Cowell’s instinct for reinvention.
“Simon is the King of reinvention and mixing things up. The landscape has changed in music from the days of The X Factor. Success takes longer to build solid foundations for in this streaming era of music we live in.”
Simon, she says, is more relaxed since his son Eric’s birth, but he’s also “never going to take his foot off the pedal.” New judges like KSI and projects like December 10, the boy band launched from Netflix’s “The Next Act” and signed by EMI, are all evidence of his never-ending drive to stay ahead.
Spotlight on women, real lives and big changes
Amanda’s refusal to take on Strictly is more than just a personal decision—it’s a stand for recognising the experience and drive of women in television.
“There are so many people and women in our industry – without getting too political – who have put all the work in, all the hours in, who deserve a bloody break, so often when I see lots of names attached to it, I think, boring, boring, boring, they’re all brilliant people but you go, ‘oh come on, think outside the box.’”
For Amanda, the call is clear: British TV needs “two strong women in a role on a Saturday night,” a chance, finally, for talented women to shake up prime time.
What’s next? As the new season of Britain’s Got Talent launches, with parkour dogs and flaming table acrobatics, and with KSI’s energy bringing new life to the panel, Amanda will be right there in her element—upfront, outspoken, and firmly determined to keep championing unexpected, brilliant women in entertainment.
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Amanda Holden reveals why she REALLY turned down Strictly - and blasts 'boring' rumoured hosts as she names female duo who should take over
Amanda Holden reveals why she wouldn’t take Strictly job and backs two unexpected TV stars to host show instead
