Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, and her husband Chris Hughes, certainly have a marriage many would dream of. The physical and spiritual chemistry is definitely there! With the record producer, the loved-up couple has two daughters, and as we get closer to their 14th wedding anniversary, we take a look back on their love story.
When Amanda appeared on Blind Date at the age of 19, she was looking for love. Little did she know, she would have to wait a bit longer to find Mr. Right!
After a few high-profile relationships, Amanda met record producer, Chris Hughes, in Los Angeles back in 2003. They got very friendly, and a year later, they started dating. She fell for his sense of humour and good looks, and though she admits he’s not the most romantic, he’s really there for her.
When Amanda met Chris, she had just overcome her own heartbreak. After a five-week fling with Neil Morrissey, she had split from then-husband Les Dennis and wasn’t seeking out love at all.
When Amanda met Chris, she just knew. She revealed she felt something “primitive” when she met eyes with him, and just knew she had to be with the handsome record producer.
Before their first date, Amanda fell in love with a dress worn by Jodie Kidd at a London Fashion Week organised by Chris. He then arranged for her to wear the dress at the Elle Style Awards. He was already in deep!
They met each other through Amanda’s ex-husband, Les Dennis’ agent, who was in fact Chris’ father. But their relationship almost came to an abrupt end, when Amanda was pictured chatting to her ex-lover, Neil Morrissey, at a gala event.
After this, Chris called it quits, realizing that Amanda received a lot of media attention. She was determined to make things work, so she wrote him a letter quoting Julia Roberts’ famous line in Notting Hill, “I’m just a girl, standing before a boy, asking him to love her”. It seems to have done the trick!
Shortly after, the happy couple moved into Chris’ new riverside penthouse apartment in Richmond upon Thames. A fresh start for a loved-up duo!
Amanda Holden is well-known for her acting roles, including ITV’s Wild at Heart, and of course, as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent. Chris Hughes is a record producer, songwriter and drummer, and is known for being part of the band, Adam and the Ants.
Chris has always shied away from the limelight despite his very successful career. He would only share his music, but when paps caught him in a taxi with the high-profile Amanda Holden, he became the centre of attention.
Four years later, the couple got married on 10th December 2008. The Christmas-themed wedding was held at St. Margareth’s Church in Somerset. The wedding was filled with ivy, fake snow, and Christmas candles. Guests then went onto a reception at Babington House Hotel.
Amanda and Chris have two daughters - Alexa Louise Florence Hughes and Hollie Rose Hughes. They also had a son, Theo, in February 2011, who was unfortunately born stillborn seven months into Amanda’s pregnancy.
Amanda and Chris share two family homes - one in Surrey, and one in the Cotswolds. Their family have lived in their luxury mansion in Surrey since 2015.
After all those years together, their feelings are as strong as ever. Amanda happily admits she still finds her husband “fit” and fancies him like mad! Though he may not be the most romantic person, he is her number one supporter, and that’s the most important thing for Amanda.
Amanda credits Chris for being “a proper bloke”, meaning that he is quite the gentleman. “He’s a proper bloke who looks after me. I am a strong, opinionated woman, but he helps steer the Mandy ship”.
Amanda has revealed that the secret to their relationship is that she challenges Chris. The fact that their personalities are completely different, and they each have their own achievements, also helps them keep that strong connection.
Amanda has previously revealed in interviews, “The secret to our success is humour. We take the Mickey out of each other mercilessly”. This humorous touch was also brought to their wedding invitations - there was a cartoon drawing of Amanda dragging Chris to the church on a lead!
Though Chris likes to shy away from any attention, Amanda proudly discusses their sex life in the media. They certainly haven’t lost any spark, even during lockdown! They have a ton of chemistry, and Amanda isn’t afraid to talk about it!
At the end of Amanda’s autobiography, No Holden Back, Amanda left a little message for her husband, saying, “I catch myself looking at you every day and loving you a little bit more. How is that even possible?!”.
