The 55-year-old posted bikini pictures from a romantic trip with her husband, Chris Hughes, while thousands of homes in the UK lost power.
Amanda Holden has joked that she swapped the British weather for sunshine, posting beach pictures from Abu Dhabi on Friday as Storm Austen hit the UK. The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 55, wore a yellow string bikini and a matching cheesecloth shirt by Melissa Odabash. She said the trip was a couple’s break with her husband, Chris Hughes, 54, who was in charge of the camera. Friends including Lisa Snowdon commented on how well she looked.
Her message
Holden wrote: “Apparently Britain has gone with the wind!! I’ve gone with the sunshine. Love Abu Dhabi, Just me and Chris!”
Her friends and her Heart FM co-host also commented on the pictures. She and Mr Hughes married in 2008 and have two daughters, Lexi and Hollie. The research notes cite earlier reports that Holden has described Ms Odabash as the “bikini queen”, and that the pair, along with her fellow Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, shared a lunch in June.
The storm at home
While she was on the beach, Storm Austen hit Britain with gusts of up to 80mph and heavy rain. Schools closed, thousands of homes lost power, and trains and flights were cancelled. The South West was worst affected, with more than 16,000 homes without electricity. Cornwall was badly hit, especially around Penzance.
According to the research notes, the highest wind speeds recorded on Friday morning were 76mph on the Isles of Scilly, 76mph on Guernsey, 72mph on Jersey and 71mph at Culdrose in Cornwall. Storm Austen is the first named storm of the season and will clear eastwards into the North Sea on Friday evening. A separate low-pressure system, Storm Boelo, arrives on Saturday.
Holden’s business plans
Last month, it was reported that Holden is looking to expand her business interests. She already has a homeware collection and is an ambassador for Sam Faiers’ brand Revive Collagen. The Sun reported that she had applied to the Intellectual Property Office to trademark her name for future use on beauty products and a website, and for cosmetics and perfumes. The paper compared this to the success of other stars’ wellness brands. Gwyneth Paltrow has made £323m from Goop, and Holly Willoughby has launched Wylde Moon.
According to the notes, which cite the Intellectual Property Office’s Trade Mark Journal, the application was filed on 11 August and published on 18 September. It lists a much wider range of goods and services than the original report suggested. They include alcoholic drinks such as champagne, gin, vodka and ready-to-drink cocktails, plus non-alcoholic beverages. They also include podcasts, television and online video content, coaching, public speaking and masterclasses, and sun-care and tanning products. The notes say the application names Sheridans Solicitors LLP as her representative, and that the opposition period runs until 18 November. They say nothing suggests anyone has objected. These are categories in an application, not confirmation that any product or service will launch.
