Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden says working with Paul C Brunson on their new Netflix show, Cheat: Unfinished Business, has altered her views on infidelity. The duo work together to help eight couples try and rebuild their relationships after cheating.
Amanda, 54, revealed she has “learnt so much from Paul”, who is known for his relationship expertise on Celebs Go Dating and Married At First Sight UK. As well as taking notes from Paul, 50, for her own marriage, Amanda said he has also changed her perspective on why people cheat.
She previously claimed that women cheat in search of “affirmation and love”, but now acknowledges that the reasons aren’t always so clear-cut. Amanda shared her thoughts in response to the Tea At Four podcast host Lauren Kirklan, who said: “My theory is that women cheat because they are not being fulfilled emotionally, and then men cheat because they are attempted by attraction.”
Amanda replied: “So, I used to say that women who cheat need affirmation and love, so that’s similar to what you’re saying, but I’ve learnt from Paul now that both sides cheat for various reasons and neither of them are that.
“And that, once anybody has cheated, whether you consider texting somebody, sliding into somebody’s dms (direct messages), I don’t know, going out and saying you’re not where you are, there’s different levels of what people consider cheating.
“But whatever it is, it’s a betrayal of trust and once trust is broken in a relationship, it’s really hard to bring it back. But, I would… I used to think how you thought, but maybe not so much anymore.”
Amanda further stressed the importance of trust across all types of relationships, including romantic and familial connections. “If the trust’s been broken, you have to repair the trust and that can be tough, but you have to have forgiveness thrown in there as well,” she added.
The presenter was once the centre of headlines over 20 years ago, due to her own infidelity. While married to Les Dennis, she had a highly publicised affair with her co-star Neil Morrissey, which subsequently led to their divorce.
Previously discussing the backlash she received, she told the Daily Mail: “I brought it on myself, I appreciate that, but nothing will ever be as bad again. It was a very dark time. It got to the point where I felt I could hardly breathe.
“Les proved to be my saviour. Ironically. So the person I’d hurt the most in the world was the one who was there for me.” Amanda has since moved on and has now been married to her husband Chris Hughes, a talent manager, for over 15 years.
Together they share two daughters; Hollie and Lexi. Commenting further on her new Netflix series, Amanda insisted she found it hard to remain neutral upon hearing the stories of infidelity.
“Oh my God it was very hard for me to sit on the fence,” she said on The One Show. “I would be the auntie and pop in and out. Try to be not judging, we all make mistakes, there are people who have made bad choices.”