Amanda Holden has revealed the simple clue that told her close friend Alan Carr was doing well on The Celebrity Traitors long before his victory was broadcast: his complete silence.
The Telltale Sign of Success
The Britain's Got Talent judge explained that during the production of the hit BBC show in the spring, which was filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, her daily phone calls with the comedian suddenly stopped. Holden, 54, said she immediately became suspicious as Carr, 49, usually rings her every single day.
"I knew he must have done well because I didn't speak to him for two weeks, normally we speak every day," Holden stated. Though Carr was contractually forbidden from revealing any details of the game, Amanda's hunch proved correct. Alan went on to win the series, which aired in November last year, deceiving fellow contestants and taking home the £87,500 prize for charity Neuroblastoma UK.
A New Generation of Fans
Holden also commented on Carr's surging popularity following his Celebrity Traitors triumph. She expressed amusement that many are now treating him as a new discovery, despite his long and successful career in comedy and television.
"He's been around for so long, but everyone's suddenly like, 'Oh, I love Alan Carr', and I think, 'How is he a new thing to you? He's always been this brilliant'," she remarked. The actress shared an anecdote from her daughter, Holly, who noted that friends were suddenly fascinated by Carr after the show.
"My daughter Holly, who's always loved him, said to me, 'Everyone's asking me about Alan', and I say to them, 'You've met Alan, he was in the back garden at our party, and you weren't bothered about him then'," Holden said. She added that the buzz from TikTok videos and memes has introduced him to a whole new, younger audience.
Would Amanda Holden Be a Traitor?
When asked about potentially appearing on the show herself, a prospect Carr has endorsed, Holden was enthusiastic about the dramatic wardrobe but wary of being cast in a boring role. "I do love the cloak, I think I'd look like the woman from the Scottish Widows advert if I could customise it with a red lip," she joked.
However, she fears producers would typecast her. "They'd make me a faithful though, and that's boring. You don't remember the faithfuls. You ask anyone in a few months, who else was in the show other than Alan Carr?"
There's also a practical scheduling conflict. The star, who has been a judge on ITV's Britain's Got Talent since 2007, confirmed she couldn't participate anyway as the filming for the reality competition would clash with her BGT commitments. If she did take part, however, she made her ambitions clear: she'd want to be a devious traitor, not a loyal faithful.
The pair's friendship and professional partnership continues on screen in their property renovation series, Amanda And Alan's Greek Job.
