AMANDA Holden’s absence from Saturday Night Takeaway has been explained.

It comes as the Britain’s Got Talent judge, 53, is in the midst of a war with words with former X Factor favourite Sharon Osbourne, 71.

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Amanda Holden’s absence from the Saturday Night Takeaway finale has been explainedCredit: Getty

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The BGT judge was expected to appear on the last episode of Ant and Dec’s ITV showCredit: David Dyson – The Sun

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She branded former X Factor judge ‘bitter and pathetic’ the day beforeCredit: Getty

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‘Scheduling changes’ have been blamed – with Amanda’s prank on Dec broadcast the week beforeCredit: ITV
Fans had expected to see Amanda play her part in the final episode of Saturday Night Takeaway which aired on TV last night, with the star even listed in the credits.

Yet after she failed to appear – as the drama with Mrs O played out in full – Amanda’s absence has been clarified.

A representative for the DJ – who branded Sharon “bitter and pathetic” the day before – told The Independent it was due to “scheduling changes” and added: “Amanda was to be a guest on SNT for the airing of her prank on Dec.

“Therefore Amanda was not required on the show this evening.”

A spokesperson for ITV then added: “Holly, Gino, Amanda, and Olly Murs couldn’t make it into the studio tonight due to prior commitments.”

For her part, Amanda was seen all smiles as she ignored the drama just hours before.

Meanwhile, Ant and presenting pal Declan Donnelly, both 48, fought back tears as the last episode of the ITV game show played out last night.

The two-hour live finale of the much-loved ITV prime-time entertainment hit marked its 20-year anniversary.

Fans also told how they were left “genuinely heartbroken” as the show wrapped.

Amanda Holden strips off to go totally ‘naked’ and pose for nude drawing session at radio job
 

Shock spat

Amanda fired the first shots as she reignited Sharon’s feud with music mogul Simon Cowell.

The mum of two jumped to her boss Simon’s defence after he was slammed by Sharon and Louis, both 71, on ITV reality show Celebrity Big Brother last month.

This week, she told the Daily Mail: “I hated seeing certain people in a reality show dissing Simon – he’s the person who’s given them all the chances, given them a lot of money and a lifestyle they probably wouldn’t have had.

“It’s bitter and pathetic. It was like Cinderella with her two sisters in the background – just stabby, stabby, stabby.”

Sharon worked with Simon on the X Factor, which spanned between 2004 and 2007, as well as in 2013, and between 2016 and 2017.

It was like Cinderella with her two sisters in the background – just stabby, stabby, stabby

Amanda HoldenTV Personality

Clap back

Late Friday night, Sharon issued a stinging statement as she gave Amanda “an education” on what she deemed to be the facts.

She wrote: “A couple of your statements regarding myself are factually incorrect.

“The statement ‘I hated seeing certain people in a reality show dissing Simon – he’s the person who’s given them all the chances, given them a lot of money and lifestyle they probably wouldn’t have had.’

Who has won Celebrity Big Brother?

THE first Celebrity Big Brother aired in March 2001 on Channel 4.

Roll on 23 years and a switch to Channel 5 in 2011, CBB is now into its 23rd season and is being hosted for the first time by ITV.

Here’s who has won the coveted title so far:

Season 1 (2001): Comedian Jack Dee beat actress Claire Sweeney despite walking out of the house and evading security for about an hour. The series was also more memorable for Vanessa Feltz telling Big Brother to “f*** off” after chalking “incarcerated”, “ambushed” and “restricted” on the table.

Season 2 (2002): Take That favourite Mark Owen triumphed over TV host Les Dennis. The latter won over the sympathy of the audience after his marriage breakdown with his wife Amanda Holden.

Season 3 (2005): Maraca shaking Bez walked out the winner ahead of Blazin’ Squad’s Kenzie. The Happy Mondays star scooped the £50,000 and went on a 10-hour bender, blowing the cash.

Season 4 (2006): This was the season when Big Brother mixed things up – by sending in a non-celebrity from the fictional band Kandy Floss. However, Chantelle Houghton won over viewers and housemates alike and was crowned the winner. During her time in the house she found love with Ordinary Boys singer Preston. There was also added drama when George Galloway pretended to be Rula Lenska’s pet cat.

Season 5 (2007): Actress Shilpa Shetty won after being caught up in a racism bullying row with former BB contestant Jade Goody, model Danielle Lloyd, and S Club’s Jo O’Meara.

Season 6 (2009): Ulrika Jonsson beat Terry Christian, but controversy came in the form of rapper Coolio who was slammed by viewers as misogynistic, however, he finished in third spot.

Season 7 (2010): Alex Reid beat Dane Bowers and Vinnie Jones with a huge 65% of the vote. Alex married Katie Price one month later.

Season 8 (2011): In the first series to air on Channel 5, Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty was the unexpected winner, beating singer Kerry Katona.

Season 9 (2012): Loose Women star Denise Welch triumphed over X Factor contestant Frankie Cocozza, after stripping off while drunk and jumping into the hot tub topless.

Season 10 (2012): Comedian Julian Clary got the nod in the vote over Coleen Nolan.

Season 11 (2013): The X Factor’s Rylan Clark beat couple Heidi Montag
& Spencer Pratt, who was competing as “one entity” and known as Speidi.

Season 12 (2013): Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby beat 5ive singer Abz Love

Season 13 (2014): Jim Davidson won after a blazing row with Linda Nolan. N-dubz Dappy took the second spot.

Season 14 (2014): Gary Busey – who chose to roam around the CBB house naked – beatboxer Audley Harrison.

Season 15 (2015): Katie Price won the battle of the Katies as she saw off controversial Katie Hopkins in the final. The biggest talking point was American blogger Perez Hilton’s raging row with Calum Best, but the series also saw two early ejections of Jeremy Jackson and Ken Morley.

Season 16 (2015): Apprentice star James Hill beat model Austin Armacost. Tila Tequila was evicted on just the second day after she was found to have posted support for Adolf Hitler on social media.

Season 17 (2016): Geordie Shore’s Scotty T won after sharing a kiss with fellow housemate Tiffany Pollard. Stephanie Davis was runner-up.

Season 18 (2016): Stephen Bear won the show despite a huge row with radio star James Whale. Ricky Norwood placed second but this season saw Christopher Biggins ejected from the house after making an anti-Semitic joke.

Season 19 (2017): Coleen Nolan entered the CBB house for a second time – and this time came out the winner beating Jedward. During her second stint, she had a massive showdown with horse star John McCririck.

Season 20 (2017): It was the battle of the reality show singers in the final, with  Popstars: The Rivals winner and Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding beating The X Factor’s Amelia Lily.

Season 21 (2018): Courtney Act, otherwise known as Shane Jenek, won with politician Ann Widdecombe as runner-up.

Season 22 (2018): Winning Dancing On Ice in 2024, was not Ryan Thomas‘s first reality show title. He won the CBB title in 2018, after a shocking “run-in” with Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallet, who falsely accused him of punching her. Actress Kirstie Alley came second.

“The truth is, you don’t know me, Amanda. You know nothing about my history in the music industry, my achievements, the artists I have worked with, the shows that I’ve produced, and my global celebrity.

“Unlike you, the brand of Sharon Osbourne is known worldwide.

“There are many countries that I could work in if I choose to however, I don’t have the ambition or time to do so, and unlike you, I don’t work in radio or pantomime.”

Talking of her glam life back home, which she said she usually keeps under wraps, Sharon continued: “Our worlds are totally different. I have been blessed with an amazing lifestyle throughout my entire life.

“Before you were born, I was living in a mansion in Beverly Hills and continue to do so today and continue to have my country estate in England as well.

“But there is something you should know. I never discuss money, lifestyle, or positions of power.

The truth is my money and success were not due to doing a couple of Simon Cowell talent shows

Sharon OsbourneTV Personality

“I find it to be classless and crude. However, you’ve now forced my hand to divulge these things to you and I honestly don’t want to seem like I’m bragging, but the truth is my money and success were not due to doing a couple of Simon Cowell talent shows.

“Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed doing them at the time as they were great fun. Yes, Simon paid me very well. Probably more than what you’re receiving today, but all of that my darling went on a few handbags.”

She added: “At the time that I worked on X Factor, I was the only judge who had global accomplishments with multiple million-selling artists, Grammy Award winners and arena and stadium headliners.

“I was also a very successful festival producer with Ozzfest which ran for 24 years, as well as a best-selling author and producer of the hit MTV show The Osbournes for which I received an Emmy Award.

“The bottom line, Amanda, is, that you’ll never be in my league, and you’ve picked on the wrong ugly stepsister

Sharon Osbourne TV Personality

“Amanda, I think you’re missing the point here. No disrespect to Simon Cowell but he NEEDED ME for musical credibility on X Factor and I delivered for him and together all of us made a great team.

“It was only after several seasons of X Factor that Simon started to build his music empire and I give him much kudos for what he built.

“But in case you are living under a rock, my husband is a music icon who has sold 170 million albums, won 5 Grammy Awards, and is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee. We have been married 42 years and we had a fantastic lifestyle before I ever heard of Simon Cowell.”

As she wrapped her scathing response, she added: “On closing, I hope I’ve given you a proper education about me so that the next time you choose to mention me, you’ll have some facts in your pocket.

“The bottom line, Amanda, is, that you’ll never be in my league, and you’ve picked on the wrong ugly stepsister.

“Sharon Osbourne.”

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Amanda, 53, stuck up for pal Simon as she called out what she deemed Sharon’s ‘stabby, stabby, stabby’ comments in the CBB houseCredit: Instagram

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Sharon, 71, issued a stinging comeback and said to Amanda ‘you’ll never be in my league’