Amanda Holden has revealed that she cried when Britain's Got Talent (BGT) resumed production recently as it was the first time that the show has had a live audience in two years.
Filming for the fifteenth series of the ITV talent competition begun at the London Palladium over the weekend, having been postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The actor, 50, returns to the judging panel alongside Simon Cowell, 62, Alesha Dixon, 43, and David Walliams, 50 - who all posed together for a photo at the recent auditions.
Holden has said that reuniting with her fellow judges and working in front of a live audience proved to be emotional.
She made the admission on Heart radio earlier today, whilst discussing the return of BGT with her the Breakfast Show colleagues Jamie Theakston, 51, and Ashley Roberts, 40.
She said: "Do you know what, I have to say, I cried. I mean it was so lovely to see everybody but when we walked into the theatre and actually had an audience, a proper audience."
Holden said that "it's all PCR" and masks, but that there are "live people backing" the judges - with much of the previous series, in 2020, having featured a virtual audience.
She said it's been "two years without" a live audience, and commented that it makes a "huge difference." She added that the atmosphere at the auditions has been "electric."
And she isn't the only person who found it emotional, as co-host Ant McPartlin, 46, is said to have told the audience : "Excuse me while I go and cry. We're so excited to be back."
Holden is the joint longest-serving judge on BGT, alongside Cowell - having both appeared on the show since its debut in 2007. They were initially joined by Piers Morgan, 56.
Do you enjoy reading about celebrities? Sign up for all the best celeb news from the Mirror here .
David Hasselhoff, 69, and Michael McIntyre, 45, are among those who later featured on the judging panel, with Walliams and Dixon having both joined the talent competition in 2012.
It was reported earlier this month that BGT will run for another four series at least. And it's been reported that Cowell will remain on the show until 2025.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033.
