EXCLUSIVE: Britain’s Got Talent star recalled the famous line ITV judge Amanda Holden said to him during his audition which didn’t land well with everyone at home
A Britain’s Got Talent star recalled the “backhanded” one liner Amanda Holden delivered to him during his audition.
Opera singer Paul Potts, 54, spoke exclusively to Daily Star in collaboration with Sky Vegas, as he reminisced about his time on the talent show which shot him to fame back in 2007.
At the time, the judging panel was just three famous faces – Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden. After Paul wowed the crowds and the judges alike, Amanda described the singer as a “frog that would turn into a prince” to the camera.
When asked how he felt about that line, Paul laughed: “Well, I didn’t go ‘Ribbit!'” before adding: “A lot of people still talk about Amanda [Holden’s] ‘lump of coal turning into a diamond’ comment – but I’ve always taken that as a compliment.
“Outside the UK, people don’t always understand the reference, but both coal and diamonds are made of carbon, so really, it’s not a backhanded remark as some have suggested.”
Paul continued: “I look back on that time with huge fondness. I had no idea it would be the crossroads in my life that it turned out to be. Over 1,500 performances later, and 18 years on, I’ve got no regrets.
“I often think about that coin toss – how it landed on heads – and how that one small decision changed everything. Sometimes the biggest moments in life come from the smallest, most unexpected choices.”
Paul also talked about his bond with the ITV judging panel – who he doesn’t seem to come across too much nowadays, apart from during his return to BGT’s The Champions in 2019.
The star explained: “When I was on the show, we didn’t really see the judges all that much. I did go and see Simon [Cowell] in his dressing room at one point, but overall, there wasn’t much direct interaction.
“I’m not sure what the process is like now, but when I took part in Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions back in 2019, I did get the chance to chat with all the judges.
“For returning acts or champions, that kind of access isn’t unusual. I’d been signed to Simon, and they all knew me from previous appearances, so the dynamic was different.
“I don’t know how approachable the judges are for contestants on the current show, but from my experience, Amanda [Holden] is usually great, and Alesha [Dixon] has always been very approachable. So, I’d imagine there’s a fair bit of interaction backstage these days.”
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
