More than two decades after one of Britain’s most talked-about celebrity scandals, comedy actor Neil Morrissey has once again reflected on his infamous affair with Amanda Holden — admitting, with dark humour, that it was a mistake he still regrets.
The Men Behaving Badly star, now 61, had a five-week romance with Amanda back in 2000 while she was married to TV presenter Les Dennis.
The relationship, once exposed by newspaper reports, sent shockwaves through the entertainment world and ultimately led to the breakdown of Amanda’s marriage.
‘Don’t Do It’ — A Joke With a Heavy Past
Neil recently revisited the scandal during an appearance on the Restless Natives podcast, hosted by Martin Compston and Gordon Smart.
Asked to share three pieces of life advice, Neil delivered a list that mixed humour with hindsight.
“Don’t p*** into the wind,” he began.
“A gentleman’s socks should always match his shoes.”
Before adding, to laughter from the studio:
“And don’t f*** a game-show host’s wife.”
Martin reportedly broke down laughing — but behind the punchline lay a chapter of Neil’s life that has followed him for more than 20 years.
‘I Was Still Getting the Blame’
The affair became public in 2000, at the height of Amanda’s marriage to Les, who was then hosting Family Fortunes. The fallout was swift and brutal, with headlines dominating tabloids and public opinion firmly divided.
Amanda and Les divorced in 2003.
Speaking back in 2014 on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, Neil admitted he felt the scandal had never truly gone away.
“I was still getting the blame,” he said at the time.
“There were some hateful things written in the papers — but you think it’ll all be tomorrow’s fish-and-chip paper.”
“But people are still going on about it.”
A Scandal That Wouldn’t Fade
Despite the passing of time, the affair has remained one of the most infamous celebrity scandals of the early 2000s — often resurfacing whenever either name appears in the headlines.
Neil’s latest comments suggest that, even now, the episode lingers in his memory as a cautionary tale rather than a joke.
While his words were delivered with humour, the undertone was clear: the fallout was real, public, and lasting.
Life After the Fallout
Following the collapse of her marriage to Les, Amanda later found happiness with record producer Chris Hughes, whom she married in 2008. She is now one of Britain’s most recognisable television personalities, best known as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent.
Neil, meanwhile, continued his acting career but has never entirely escaped association with the affair — a reminder of how one short relationship can cast a very long shadow.
‘People Never Forget’
More than 23 years on, Neil’s candid remarks underline a simple truth of celebrity life: some stories never fade, no matter how much time passes.
And while the comment raised laughter on the podcast, it also reopened a chapter many believed had long been closed.
