Key Highlights:
- Amanda Holden revealed on Heart Breakfast that her ex-husband Les Dennis saved his fingernail clippings to use as makeshift toothpicks.
- Dennis previously acknowledged the habit during a 2021 appearance on the BBC comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?.
- The former couple, who met in 1993 and married in 1995, separated following Holden’s affair with Neil Morrissey before officially divorcing in 2003.
An Unsettling Habit Revealed on Heart Breakfast
Radio presenter and Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has detailed an unusual personal grooming habit belonging to her ex-husband, entertainer Les Dennis. Speaking live on the Heart Breakfast show alongside co-host Jamie Theakston, Holden, 55, reacted after a listener submitted an admission stating that her husband collected trimmed fingernails to clean between his teeth.
Responding immediately to the caller’s message, Holden shared her own experience: “I mean, I can relate to this, my first husband did the same thing, not my current one, who is perfect obviously.”
Holden has been married to record producer Chris Hughes, 53, since 2008. Theakston jokingly suggested that the habit may have caused the end of her marriage to Dennis, prompting laughter from Holden, who noted that Dennis had been unhappy when she mentioned the quirk in the past. Holden added: “That is wrong on so many levels! I mean maybe that’s from my first husband’s third wife, [it] could be from her, she could’ve texted in this morning. But anyway, that is an ick,”
Les Dennis’s 2021 Admission on Would I Lie To You?
Dennis, 72, had previously addressed the unusual habit publicly during an appearance on the panel show Would I Lie To You? in 2021. The former Family Fortunes host explained that conventional toothpicks proved ineffective for him, which led him to save specific nails.
Addressing the panel at the time, Dennis stated: “I like to keep my old fingernail clippings so I can use them later on. If I get a really good one that’s got a nice hook in it, then I will save it for later,”
Dennis has been married to former HR professional Claire Nicholson since 2009.
The History of Amanda Holden and Les Dennis’s Marriage
Holden and Dennis first crossed paths in 1993 during a theatrical production of The Sound of Music staged at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre. They married two years later in Dorset in 1995, when Holden was 24 and Dennis was 42. Their high-profile marriage began to unravel following a temporary separation during which Holden had a five-week affair with Men Behaving Badly actor Neil Morrissey.
Despite attempts to reconcile, Holden and Dennis officially divorced in 2003. Dennis previously recalled an incident involving a tradesperson at their Highgate property that hinted at their 18-year age gap: “I remember one day in our house in Highgate, it was Grand National Day, and the plumber was there to fix the washing machine,”
Dennis recounted. “And Amanda came running and said, ‘We need to put a bet on’, so [I gave her] ten quid and she went, ‘Oh we need to put more than that on’. So I went, ‘Twenty?’“And the plumber went, ‘Kids, eh?’ Maybe I should have known then.”
Why This Matters
The high-profile marriage between Holden and Dennis was one of the most heavily scrutinized celebrity relationships in the British tabloid press during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Holden later described the fallout and public scrutiny surrounding the end of their marriage as the worst period of her life. Speaking to the Express in 2009, Holden reflected on the period: “I found the fall from grace incredibly hard to deal with.“I can’t bear not to be liked. Then I had an affair and overnight turned into this awful person.“There are no hard feelings with Les. I wish him the best but we’ve both moved on.”
Both entertainers have since rebuilt their careers and personal lives, with Holden continuing her long-standing roles across television and radio while Dennis maintains an active presence in theater and broadcasting.
Frequently Asked Questions
When were Amanda Holden and Les Dennis married?
Amanda Holden and Les Dennis married in Dorset in 1995 after meeting during a stage run of The Sound of Music in 1993. They officially finalized their divorce in 2003.
What habit did Amanda Holden criticize about Les Dennis?
Holden stated on Heart Breakfast that Dennis kept his fingernail clippings to use as makeshift toothpicks, a habit Dennis himself confirmed during an appearance on Would I Lie To You? in 2021.
Who are Amanda Holden and Les Dennis married to now?
Holden married record producer Chris Hughes in 2008. Dennis married former HR professional Claire Nicholson in 2009.
