Amanda Holden has said she is confident Simon Cowell will be ready to return to Britain’s Got Talent next year.
The music mogul and TV judge, 61, has been recovering after breaking part of his back in a fall from an electric bike he was testing at his house in Malibu.
Holden, 49, was the ITV show’s head judge during his absence.
She told Good Morning Britain that Cowell’s partner “Lauren (Silverman) is always saying to me that, ‘His will to get better is extraordinary.’
'We're there to entertain but also to educate and start a conversation.'@AmandaHolden responds to the criticism Britain's Got Talent has faced, in particular Diversity's performance.
She adds that the series has had a positive impact on the BGT family. pic.twitter.com/l4U4WNB67r
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 13, 2020
“He’s very determined. He’s a fighter… There’s no way he will want to be seen to be failing or to not be getting better as quickly as he possibly can.
“So, I know that we will see him next year.”
She quipped of filling in for Cowell: “I’m going to ask for parity of pay. I think that’s only fair.
“As a female and as the head, I should be at least on the same wage as him. And then I could donate it and save some theatres.”
Applications for #BGT 2021 are OPEN! 🌟
If you've got an incredible talent just like @DamienMagician and want to show the world, follow the link below 👇 https://t.co/UnSTQVy5Pe pic.twitter.com/Mf5ghgX478
— BGT (@BGT) October 13, 2020
The BGT final saw Jon Courtenay, a comedian and singer from Manchester, win this year’s series.
“I was totally thrilled for him. He said he was down to his last £500 in the bank so that money is going to be life-changing for him,” Holden said.
The singer and TV judge, who has caused controversy and complaints to Ofcom with her racy outfits on the show, said her dress was inspected before the final.
“They… do an inspection and that dress at the top was double-lined and I had make-up on the ‘girls’ so nothing was showing through,” she said.