Amanda Holden faced a terrifying ordeal when her daughter, Lexi, 18, was hospitalized with life-threatening E.coli, nearly causing Holden to withdraw from Britain’s Got Talent.
The 53-year-old TV judge shared her harrowing experience, revealing that Lexi contracted the rare bacterial infection in May, before it became widely publicized. Initially, the cause of Lexi’s illness was unknown, adding to the family’s distress.
While Lexi’s condition deteriorated, Holden was busy filming BGT’s live shows. In a candid interview with The Sun, Holden described the difficult period, explaining how she considered pulling out of the show to stay by her daughter’s side.
Holden recounted rushing Lexi to a tropical disease hospital after being warned that Lexi was at risk of developing sepsis. Lexi was immediately placed on a drip, and her parents remained by her bedside for five days. Despite the dire circumstances, Holden continued to fulfill her BGT duties, spending days in the hospital and nights at the TV studio, often getting only two hours of sleep.
“I was filming Britain’s Got Talent live shows during this time and, had the situation worsened, I’d have had no hesitation in pulling out of the show,” Holden said. She expressed gratitude for the support from her fellow judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli during the stressful time.
Fortunately, Lexi is now recovering. Holden shared that her daughter is “doing so much better” and is back to “living life like a normal 18-year-old.”
Holden and Lexi decided to share their story to raise awareness about the condition, believed to be contracted from pre-washed supermarket lettuce. Holden urged everyone to thoroughly wash their fruits and vegetables, emphasizing the importance of recognizing symptoms that might be mistaken for stress or anxiety.
“The reason I am speaking out is because I want to make people aware of the symptoms they could easily put down to stress or anxiety. They should be taken seriously, especially if long term,” Holden warned.
Holden’s experience underscores the importance of vigilance regarding symptoms of serious infections, particularly those that can be misinterpreted as less severe issues like stress. By sharing Lexi’s story, she hopes to prevent others from enduring similar ordeals and to highlight the necessity of proper food hygiene.