"I do consider her one of my best friends..."
Simon Cowell has branded Amanda Holden the "Britain's Got Talent queen", as he revealed that Girls Aloud member Cheryl turned down a judging role on the show.
Speaking about Amanda, who has been on the judging panel since the first series, Simon said that the secret to her BGT success is that she "loves the acts".
He explained: "That’s her, she honestly loves it. You know, every time I talk to her it makes me laugh because I say, 'you are loving this, aren’t you?.’
"Because there are days where I’m knackered and there’s still an hour to go.
"And I’m like, wow, it’s been a long day, and she’s like, ‘yeah, but it’s brilliant, isn’t it?.’
"She is our Britain’s Got Talent queen and she deserves that crown."
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The boss of Syco Entertainment added: "And you know what? She was an interesting booking because we’d offered the role to Cheryl Cole, as she was known in those days.
"A week before filming, she calls me and goes, ‘I just can’t do it’ and wouldn’t give me a reason. I think she was freaked out.
"We literally had two judges and a week to book someone. I just knew it had to be Amanda because I’d met her and I really liked her, she was very funny and I just thought she’d fit the show perfectly.
"Fast forward 18 years and she’s still a huge success and we have become great friends. I do consider her one of my best friends."
Britain's Got Talent returns this Saturday, 22nd February for its 18th series with judges Cowell, Holden, singer Alesha Dixon and former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will return as hosts, with social media star and musician KSI joining the panel as a guest judge.
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