Les Dennis, the renowned Family Fortunes host, has spoken candidly about the devastating moment he realized his marriage to Amanda Holden was over. The couple had been married for seven years, but their relationship came to an end after a series of struggles, including Amanda’s affair with actor Neil Morrissey. The split, which occurred in 2002, was a difficult time for both, but Les has since made peace with the situation and even forgiven Amanda for the hurt caused.
In his memoir, Must The Show Go On?, Les reflects on the moment that solidified his understanding that his marriage to Amanda was beyond repair. The couple married in 1995, when Amanda was just 22, and Les was 40. While their relationship had appeared solid on the surface, cracks began to show, especially after Amanda’s affair, which ultimately led to their separation.
The Turning Point
For Les, the defining moment when he knew the marriage was over came after his time on Celebrity Big Brother. He had been feeling increasingly disconnected from Amanda, and his exit from the reality show served as a turning point. In his memoir, Les recounts that their marriage had been “limping on” for two and a half years after the affair, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was just a matter of time before it ended.
“I think we both knew that it would end eventually, but we were loath to unleash the media frenzy that decision would inevitably cause,” Les wrote, reflecting on the painful reality of their relationship. The media scrutiny and pressure from their public lives added to the already strained dynamics at home.
The Awkward Goodbye
As Les prepared to leave the Celebrity Big Brother house, he remembers the final meeting with family and friends before the show began. It was during this moment that he realized just how distant he and Amanda had become. Despite Amanda’s attempts to put on a brave face, her words and actions seemed to reveal the tension that had built up between them.
In a room filled with family and friends, Amanda tried to mask the awkwardness with a lighthearted remark: “Don’t worry darling, I’ll definitely have your voting number on redial to keep you in. I’ll enjoy a bit of freedom.” She went on to mention her busy filming schedule, dismissing the idea of being present for his exit from the house, which only further emphasized the emotional distance between them.
Les recalled the moment as being filled with nervous laughter, but it left him feeling more uncertain than ever. He felt that Amanda was not invested in their relationship, and her words struck him as insincere. It was in this moment that Les realized how far apart they had grown.
The Final Revelation
Things took a turn for the worse when, during his exit from the Celebrity Big Brother house, Les was informed that Amanda had taped a message for him. The dread Les felt at the idea of a pre-recorded message instead of a live interaction was palpable. When the message was played, Les saw Amanda not alone, but with her co-stars from Cutting It, adding to the feeling that she wasn’t emotionally present for him. There were no heartfelt words, no “I love you” or “I’m proud of you.”
That moment, according to Les, was the final blow. It cemented his decision that their marriage was no longer sustainable. “As viewers watched me watch her jabber on about my amazing honesty, the words ‘I love you and I’m proud of you’ never crossing her lips, I came to the final decision that this charade of a marriage was over.”
Moving Forward
Since the split, Les Dennis has found healing and peace in his personal life. He has openly discussed his emotional struggles during that time and how difficult it was to come to terms with the reality of his marriage’s collapse. Yet, despite everything, Les has forgiven Amanda and is now focused on his career and family life.
Today, he is a familiar face on Strictly Come Dancing, where he has found a renewed sense of purpose. As for Amanda, she has gone on to become one of the UK’s most successful television personalities, known for her role as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent.
Although their marriage ended in heartache, Les Dennis now sees it as part of his personal growth journey. The couple’s tumultuous separation and the subsequent media frenzy have faded into the past, leaving Les with a sense of gratitude for the life he has now built for himself.
Ultimately, Les Dennis’ story is one of resilience. From heartbreak to personal growth, he has emerged stronger, and his openness about the collapse of his marriage provides a valuable lesson about the importance of acknowledging one’s pain and moving forward.
