Amanda Holden issues stern defence after ITV viewers blast Royal Variety Performance hosting: ‘So sad’
Amanda Holden has issued a fierce defence of her Royal Variety Performance hosting duties after facing criticism on social media during Sunday night’s broadcast.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge, who co-hosted the pre-recorded show at the Royal Albert Hall with Alan Carr, took to Instagram to address negative comments about their presenting skills.
The pair had opened the show with Holden, 53, joking they looked like a “disappointing Love Island couple”, followed by Carr quipping that her dress was “just on the right side of an Ofcom complaint”.
Despite the backlash over their “awkward” opening exchange, Holden insisted both she and Carr “loved every second” of what she called “a joyous and successful evening”.
The annual charity event, which was filmed in November, featured performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, James Bay and the cast of Starlight Express, with King Charles III in attendance.
Unfortunately, the presenting duo were met with a fierce backlash on social media.
In a strongly-worded Instagram post, Holden addressed the criticism directly, writing: “I know we should ignore.
“But it seems the same headlines literally word for word appear EVERY year… For whoever hosts @royalvarietyperformance.”
She pointed out that previous host Bradley Walsh received similar treatment last year.
“This journalism is unspirited and awful to wake up to after such a joyous and successful evening,” Holden continued.
The presenter emphasised the charitable nature of the extravaganza, describing it as “a wonderful CHARITY event” that she felt honoured to host.
She concluded her defence by noting: “All the big shows get battered… Merry Christmas you lovely lot. Our ratings were brilliant so that’s what counts xx.”
Prior to the show, Holden had expressed her excitement, calling it a “dream job” and saying she was “still pinching myself” at being selected to host.
Celebrity friends rallied to support Holden following her statement, with numerous public figures offering words of encouragement.
Romesh Ranganathan shared his own experience, commenting: “Rob and I got an absolute pasting – ignore it.”
Alan Carr defended his co-host, writing: “Amanda! You were brilliant and looked stunning – I loved every minute of being on that stage with you.”
Good Morning Britain’s Dr Amir Khan declared the pair were “both perfection!”
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Carr added that the tabloids had “cherry picked some spiteful unhinged tweets” when he previously hosted, calling it “predictably mean-spirited.”
Sian Welby praised Holden for speaking out, commenting: “Ha! Well done for highlighting this! Sick of the constant negative energy out there. You two were brilliant.”
David Walliams joined in with a humorous response, joking: “I regret tweeting about it now.
The event also showcased a musical number from Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s new show The Devil Wears Prada, featuring Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly.
Most importantly, the show raised funds for the Royal Variety Charity, which helps entertainment industry professionals in need of care and assistance.
This year, the charity launched a new initiative specifically focused on supporting those with mental health issues.
