Using clever tactics, Amanda Holden publicly negotiated her Britain’s Got Talent contract with boss Simon Cowell in front of an audience, telling him: “The deal is not done.”
The talent show’s judge, who has starred on the panel for 15 series, brought up their current wranglings over her contractual arranges while celebrating her boss at the Variety Club Awards.
Introducing him to the stage with a gushing tribute, she then quipped of her niceties: “I am currently in negotiations for my 16th year on Britain’s Got Talent.”
Simon, 61, retorted to her cheeky dig by whispering to her: “The deal is done.”
But Amanda is clearly playing hardball behind the scenes, as she pointedly told him: “No it is not. The deal is not done.”
Simon’s fiance Lauren Silverman, who he proposed to in January, made the unusual step of speaking publicly about him, telling the audience that Simon is trying to pass down his philanthropy skills to his son.
“Simon has been teaching our eight-year-old son Eric the value and the importance of helping others,” she said on stage.
“It means so much to me as a mum for our son to have a father and for my eldest son Adam to have a stepfather who is such an amazing role model in so many ways.”
She added of her husband-to-be: “He cares so deeply.
“His aim is to make a difference to people’s lives by helping however and whenever he can. Becoming a parent has only amplified this for Simon. Helping others is something which is hugely important to us as a family.”
Lauren, 45, told the audience: “Unlike Simon, being on stage is unfamiliar to me and makes me feel extremely nervus.
“But being given this opportunity to speak for the first time about the man I love, the answer was of course yes. So here I’m facing my fear on this stage. The award I am presenting is to reward his generosity in philanthropy.”
Proving his generosity, Simon along with Naomi Campbell and Gloria Hunniford were among those who pledged £41,000 each to buy new coaches for the Variety Club last night also in room whip-round for the charity.
Meanwhile, Amanda, 51, also joked at the bash at London’s Hilton Park Lane about the quality of television during the night’s celebration of the BBC ’s century, making reference to former Health Secretary Matt Hancock ’s stint on I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.
She joked: “When Lord Reith declared that: ‘Television’s purpose was to educate, inform and to entertain,’ I am not sure he envisaged a serving MP eating a kangaroo b******.
“Come on that was 10 million viewers. Even Lord Reith would not knock those viewing figures. I am only sorry it was on ITV.”
Other guests at the bash included This Morning ’s Holly Willoughby, 41, Cilla star Sheridan Smith, 41, former Strictly dancer Oti Mabuse, 32, and Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, 41.
