Les Dennis forgives Amanda Holden for extramarital affair as she’s like a ‘different person’ now-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro

Les Dennis has spoken about how Amanda Holden’s affair affected him (Picture: Getty/Shutterstock/ PA)

Les Dennis has no hard feelings towards his ex-wife Amanda Holden for her affair more than 20 years ago as he says the infidelity left him ‘damaged.’

The pair tied the knot in 1995 before separating temporarily in 2000 after Amanda’s affair with actor Neil Morrissey was revealed.

Les, 69, and Amanda, 52, split for good in 2002, eventually divorcing in 2003. Amanda went on to marry her husband Chris Hughes in 2008, and Les tied the knot with his wife Claire Nicholson, 50, the following year.

Now, more than two decades later, the TV presenter and comedian has said he wishes nothing but the best for the Heart Breakfast host.

‘We’re not in touch but I am happy that she’s happy,’ he said. ‘I can watch Britain’s Got Talent without getting angry.’

He told The Sunday Times: ‘To be honest it’s like watching a different person. Someone I’ve never met.

Les has said the hurt he felt following the affair ‘has been healed’ (Picture: John Phillips/Getty Images)

Amanda has previously opened up on her marriage to the star, saying there was an element of ‘safety’ to it (Picture: Neil Mockford/GC Images)

The pair wed in 1995 before splitting seven years later (Picture: Gareth Davies/Getty Images)

‘All the hurt that has happened has been healed,’ he added.

Opening up on the marriage earlier this year, Amanda admitted there may have been a ‘safety’ element in her getting together with a man close to twice her age.

Asked by The Times if she was looking for a father figure in Les after her own father left when she was four years old, she said she didn’t know, but there is ‘safety in a relationship like that.’

She admitted she was ‘very young’ when she married Les, and ‘had a lot to learn about life.’

Neil apologised for his part in the affair in 2014 during an appearance on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, saying he felt sorry for how he ‘dealt with the situation.’

‘I feel sorry for how emotional Les seemed to become. It was very difficult for him and for that I’m very sorry,’ he continued.

Dennis has previously joked about Amanda’s affair that led to their breakup, telling a story on the Show and Tell podcast with Christopher Biggins, about a time he worked in pantomimes with Mickey Rooney.

At the time, he said theatres would play Christmas songs, including Frank Sinatra’s Have Yourself A Merry Christmas.

However, this didn’t go over well, with Mickey, as Les explained: ‘Mickey would get very angry, because of course, Frank Sinatra ran off with Ava Gardner (Mickey’s wife).’

‘It would’ve been like me having to listen to Bob The Builder every night,’ he joked, referring to the fact Neil voiced the famous animated character for 14 years.

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