Amanda Holden has opened up about dealing with empty-nest syndrome when her daughters move out of the family home.
Holden sat down with best friend Alan Carr where she explained that being a “busy parent” is hard and that she sometimes dismissed her children when they were kids.
She explained: “When your children, when they leave home, you then only spend like a year of your life with them – ever again.
“And they say you have 18 summers and then you’re lucky to see them. Oh my God! I know, but it’s so terrible because you wish so much of it away.
“When you’re a, like, busy parent, you just go, ‘Oh, god,’ or you’re like, ‘Shush,’ or ‘Hurry up,’ or ‘what?’ or you're on your phone, or you’re cooking dinner or something goes wrong.
“It’s like, ‘Don’t interrupt me.’ I spent my life going, ‘Hurry up, don’t interrupt.’ And then you go, ‘Oh, my gosh,’ and then they turn round and they’re not even there and they’ve gone.”
Amanda has two children - Lexi, 18, and Hollie, 11
INSTAGRAM/AMANDA HOLDEN
Making things worse, Carr asked: “So how are you going to cope when your ones fly the nest?” leaving Holden to hold back her tears and simply reply: “Don’t.”
Fans of Holden’s were quick to sympathise and commented on the video which she had posted on her Instagram account.
“Three years down the line I still struggle with empty nest syndrome,” one user commented before another added: “Then we have grandchildren,” alongside a smiley face emoji.
A third noted: “Can’t even watch it without welling up about mine leaving! Feeling churned up inside and out with tears in my eyes for you and for me!!”
Amanda and Alan's Italian series recently came to an end
BBC
“So very true - wish I’d cherished it more. It goes so fast!” one agreed before another said: “I was broken when mine left - but believe me they keep coming back!”
“Life is too short, enjoy and have fun,” a fifth advised alongside multiple love heart emojis. (sic)
Holden broke down to Carr during their BBC travel series The Italian Job which just finished its second series.
The pair travelled around Tuscany, Italy, and continued to share their passion for travel and interior design together.
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Amanda Holden broke down thinking about her daughters leaving home
BBC
For the next run of episodes, the pair may need to change the name of their show as they could be moving the location.
Carr revealed: “We’ve loved making two series of Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job, but we’re not doing a third there — we’ve done enough Italy now.
“I had a great time performing stand-up in Lisbon recently, so maybe the plan could be to restore a house in Portugal.”