Holden says marriage was over for years

Actress Amanda Holden has revealed her marriage was effectively over nearly three years before she split from Les Dennis.

Opening her heart for the first time since the separation last December, the Cutting It star said her fling with actor Neil Morrissey in 2000 was an indication “the marriage was over”.

In an interview for BBC1’s Parkinson to be screened tomorrow, Holden said she is now “flabbergasted” at her behaviour in conducting the affair so publicly.

“The affair was a terrible mistake and something I regret,” she said.

“I regret the amount of pain that I caused Les and everyone involved. It was an awful, traumatic time.

“But that was a huge indication that there were problems within my marriage.”

She and the Men Behaving Badly star were photographed walking together in May 2000.

It led to Holden and Dennis announcing a trial separation but they tried to give their marriage another chance until the end was formally announced four months ago.

Pressed on the reason for the affair by chat host Michael Parkinson, Holden admitted: “I think it was an indication that the marriage was over.”

The 32-year-old actress said: “Looking back on it now, I can’t believe that Neil and I went on a country walk together and didn’t expect to be found out - it was madness.

“I look back and I’m completely flabbergasted at my behaviour. But it’s happened.

“And the reason I went back to Les was because I was married and, although I wasn’t entirely happy, I think I never wanted to get divorced and I think I was trying my best to make it work.”

Holden said the 16-year age gap did not bother her at first. But she added: “I think that between the ages of 22 and 32, which is what I am now, I changed dramatically and what I wanted from life changed as well.”

The actress was asked by the veteran presenter why her marriage eventually broke up.

“I think that although we still love each other, we were completely exhausted with trying, with making it work,” she said.

“I think we allowed outside pressures to crumble us.”

Although keen to have children, she did not want them as quickly as Dennis may have preferred.

“I do want children – but not quite yet.

“I think that the age thing came in there because Les probably wanted them a lot sooner than maybe I was prepared to have them.”

Currently single, she added that the interest in her private life meant “it’s going to take a very brave man to love me and stay with me”.

After recording the show last night the actress said that talking to Parkinson was “cheaper than therapy”.