'She'll do better than Kelly... she's got a brain': Amanda Holden's dig at Miss Brook as she shows support for new BGT judge Alesha Dixon

By Alanah Eriksen


Outspoken: Amanda Holden, pictured laving her today, made a sly dig at former judge Kelly Brook, as she compared her to new judge Alesha Dixon, saying 'Alesha has a brain'


Amanda Holden has put her weight behind new Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, by having a dig at short-lived judge Kelly Brook.

Model Kelly, 32, was secretly hired by Simon Cowell to sit on the panel in 2009, but axed after two days with the music mogul saying the show was too slow with four judges.

But veteran judge Amanda believes former Mis-Teeq singer Alesha, 33, will last longer.


Comparing the two women, the 40-year-old said: 'You'll have to talk to Simon about Alesha, he booked her, but I think she’s probably got something else – a brain.'

The pair, along with Simon and the fourth judge, comedian David Walliams, attended the first auditions for the new series in Salford yesterday.
David also chimed in on the Kelly fiasco.

Mellow yellow: Alesha, arrives at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, was repotedly lured to the show from Strictly Come Dancing by a £350,000 pay check

'When Kelly did the show, she asked Ant and Dec what they did on it.' he told The Sun.

'I have seen the show, so I haven't made that mistake - I've learned which is Ant and which is Dec, so I should be fine.

'The others have all judged before. I haven't but, you know, it should be OK. How hard can it be?'

And when asked about Kelly, Simon added: 'I think that was a whole different situation because we didn’t tell anyone, not even the other judges and Ant and Dec didn’t know.

'This time everyone is on board, they’re getting on fine, we won’t see a repeat of that.'

Kelly was a judge alongside Piers Morgan, Simon and Amanda in 2009 with a reported £200,000 contract.

Moved on: Kelly was only on the show for two days in 2009, with Simon Cowell, Amanda and Piers Morgan, but was axed when Simon said it was too slow with four judges

But after reviewing tapes over the weekend, show producers decided the new format was 'too complicated' with four people on the panel, it was reported.

Simon said in a statement at the time: 'I have genuinely enjoyed working with Kelly, she is absolutely lovely and a complete professional.

'But its become clear the format doesn't support another judge and we will never add a fourth judge to the panel.'

A spokesman for production company Talkbackthames added: 'The format of the show is cleaner and less complicated with just three judges, which was not fully appreciated ahead of filming.

'Producers reviewed the tapes over the weekend and although Kelly brings a huge amount of warmth to the show and we've loved having her on board, the complications it adds to the filming process and format of the show means that unfortunately, and with huge regret, we have agreed with ITV not to proceed with a fourth judge.'

Kelly was apparently left 'stunned' by the decision, according to the Daily Mirror.

The line-up: Britain's Got Talent judges yesterday, from left, Alesha, Simon, Amanda and the other newcomer, David Walliams

Alesha was reportedly lured to the show from Strictly Come Dancing by Simon with a £350,000 pay check.

Surprisingly, Strictly host Bruce Forsyth said today he thought it was a good move.
'We're going to miss her tremendously, but I think she will be great on that show,' he said.

'She'll get more exposure and be heard more. She'll have a chance to show off her great sense of humour. I think she will do marvellously.'

He said he did not feel let down by her.

'Not in the slightest. It may be called showbusiness, but I'm not sure people always realise that it has always been more "business" than "show".'

Alesha was pictured leaving her hotel in manchester today, looking gorgeous in a blue and white dress, while Amanda showed off her baby bump in a tight long-sleeved number.



source:dailymail