Amanda Holden is marking her 55th birthday in unmistakably glamorous fashion — whisking herself away to Dubai for a luxury break that has left fans stunned.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge gave followers a glimpse into her sun-soaked celebration on Instagram on Wednesday, sharing a series of striking snaps from her stay at the ultra-luxurious Banyan Tree Dubai, where rooms reportedly start at around £1,389 per night.
Amanda looked every inch the confident birthday girl as she displayed her famously age-defying figure in a collection of chic Melissa Odabash bikinis. The television star appeared relaxed and radiant, posing poolside with a drink in hand while modelling a vibrant orange two-piece and later switching into a mint-green bikini.
The presenter, who travelled to the UAE with husband Chris Hughes, captioned the post with a glowing review of the resort.
“I recently spent a few days celebrating my birthday with family and friends in the beautiful @banyantreedxb,” she wrote. “It’s an incredible hotel in the #BluewatersDubai area of Dubai.
“Beautiful resort beach and pools were stunning… (and there was no building work going on!) The hotel itself is super chic and the spa is to die for. Had the most unbelievable room and we were looked after so well. All my bikinis are @melissaodabash!”
Unsurprisingly, the comment section quickly filled with admiration from Amanda’s showbiz friends. Fellow Heart FM presenter Ashley Roberts simply wrote: “Looking good,” while former TOWIE star Jessica Wright declared her “the hottest 55-year-old.”
Amanda has previously been open about how she maintains her figure, revealing she runs three to four miles a week, practises Kundalini yoga and follows what she jokingly calls a “Viking workout regime.”
Despite the intense-sounding routine, the star insists she exercises for balance rather than pressure.
Speaking to TV Times, she explained: “I’m not a slave to any beauty or fitness regime because I love food too much. But the deal I struck with myself was I have to run for my rosé wine in the summer and run for my red wine in winter.”
While Amanda jokes that “it’s all downhill from your 20s,” she believes — much like Cher — that you can “turn back time” with the right approach to nutrition and movement.
“I’m from a generation of women who won’t fade into the background,” she laughed. “We’ll flaunt our bits for as long as we can. I certainly will — even when they’re drooping down to the floor, I’ll scoop them up again.”
Last year, the presenter also admitted that despite sharing glamorous bikini snaps online, she had been enjoying a daily drink with co-star Alan Carr during filming of Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job in Corfu.
Amanda has previously told the Daily Mail that her body confidence stems from years of gymnastics in her youth.
“I did gymnastics for years — it was what I wanted to do more than anything,” she said. “I didn’t finish until I was 15, so I think my body has always retained some sort of a figure.”
However, she is keen to stress that staying in shape doesn’t come easily.
“I hate it when you read about women getting into hot pants two weeks after giving birth — it’s not what people want to hear,” she said candidly.
“I haven’t been on my Peloton since July 18 when I went to Corfu and I have drunk every day. In the summer, that’s what I do — I let it all go, then I get it back in time for Britain’s Got Talent and the lead-up to Christmas.”
She added: “I’ll get back on the Peloton, drink at weekends, but I don’t stop myself from living. If you can’t tone it, tan it — that’s what I say.”
