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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

Amanda Holden insists she's 'team David Walliams' amid Britain's Got Talent scandal

Amanda Holden has weighed into the scandal surrounding David Walliams after offensive remarks he made about two Britain's Got Talent contestants were leaked.

David, 51, who has been a judge on the ITV series for over a decade, has reportedly quit his spot on the panel ahead of its 2023 return.

Speculation surrounding David's reported decision to call it quits on Britain's Got Talent comes just weeks after he issued a grovelling apology on social media after recordings were leaked where he described an elderly contestant as a 'c***'.

The judge had also made crude sexual remarks about a woman taking part in the show.

Although hundreds of Britain's Got Talent fans blasted David following the scandal, with dozens demanding the former Little Britain star to resign from his position, his co-star and close friend Amanda has continued to back David.

Amanda has backed David amid the scandal (PA)

Amanda has proudly declared herself 'team David' while music mogul Simon Cowell continues to remain tight-lipped on the scandal.

Speaking about the future of Britain's Got Talent, Amanda told Good Morning Britain: "I would like to see the judging panel look like it did before. I think we're a great team, we're a family."

Asked if she was 'Team David', the blonde beauty replied: "Of course I'm team David."

Meanwhile, Simon had refused to guarantee if David will be keeping his job on the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel before reports emerged that the author has now decided to quit.

David's fate on BGT continues to hang in the shadows (ITV)

Simon appears to have opted out of publicly backing his longtime fellow judge after David found himself thrown into the scandal over alleged abusive comments.

The X Factor mogul has failed to confirm if David will be returning for the next series of the hit talent show.

"Ask me in a few weeks," he responded when quizzed on the matter earlier this week.

Simon went on to insinuate that the current judging panel - which includes David, Amanda and Alesha Dixon - is not 'vital' for the show's success.

Simon has not yet publicly supported David (noholdenback/Instagram)
The star issued a grovelling apology (PA)

"For me the most important thing is the talent. It’s always about that. If you don’t have great talent, you don’t have a show. That’s all I care about," Simon told Daily Star.

David, 51 - who has been a judge on BGT since 2012 - has apologised for making 'disrespectful comments'.

They were made during breaks from filming for the show in 2020.

In a grovelling statement, David penned: "I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for [BGT] in 2020."

"These were private conversations and - like most conversations with friends - were never intended to be shared." Walliams added: "Nevertheless, I am sorry."

David was recorded making the comments back in 2020 (Dymond/Thames/Syco/REX/Shutterstock)
Rumours are rife that David has called it a day on his BGT role (ITV)

There are no suggestion that his fellow judges were aware of the remarks. Nor is there a suggestion that hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were either.

A spokesperson for Thames TV - the production company behind BGT - told The Mirror in a statement earlier this month that those involved had been spoken to.

They described the language used in the remarks as 'inappropriate'.

"Although relating to a private conversation almost three years ago, the language used was inappropriate. Even though it was private, those involved have been spoken to and reminded of their responsibilities and the show's expectations as to future professional conduct," the spokesperson stated.

The Mirror has approached David's representatives for further comment on this story.

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