Amanda Holden exposed her ex-husband Les Dennis's habit of saving fingernail clippings for use as toothpicks during a live Heart Radio Breakfast Show segment on relationship 'icks' on June 22, 2026. The 55-year-old Britain's Got Talent judge called the practice 'wrong on so many levels' after reading a listener's message that mirrored Dennis's own admission.
Live On-Air Revelation
Holden, co-hosting with Jamie Theakston, read a listener's text stating: 'My husband saved his fingernail clippings to use as a toothpick.' She responded: 'I can relate to this, my first husband did the same thing, not my current one, who is perfect obviously.' Theakston joked: 'Is this the reason why he's an ex?' Holden laughed and noted Dennis 'wasn't keen' on her mentioning it before, but proceeded anyway.
She speculated the message might have come from Dennis's third wife, adding: 'That is wrong on so many levels! I mean maybe that's from my first husband's third wife, [it] could be from her, she could've texted in this morning. But anyway, that is an ick!'
Dennis's Previous Confession
Dennis, 71, had previously admitted to the habit during a 2021 episode of BBC's Would I Lie To You?. He told the panel: 'I like to keep my old fingernail clippings so I can use them later on. If I get a really good one that's got a nice hook in it, then I will save it for later.' He explained that ordinary toothpicks 'don't quite get in' to the gaps between his teeth. When asked if it was true, he confessed: 'It is [true], and I promise not to do it any more now.'
Marriage History
Holden was married to Dennis from 1995 to 2003. He was her first husband; she later married Chris Hughes in 2008. Dennis, who was previously married, wed Claire Nicholson in 2009. During the same radio segment, Holden also discussed 'icks' in her current marriage, including her husband's annoyance at her voice-to-text dictation errors, which he likened to a 'Countdown conundrum'.
