Britain’s Got Talent act The Haunting and Amanda Holden’s swearing spark 192 Ofcom complaints

The TV presenter claimed she had a panic attack after the spooky act 
Complaints: Amanda Holden with The Haunting
Dymond/Thames/Syco/Rex
Emma Powell28 May 2019

Nearly 200 people complained to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom after a terrifying Britain’s Got Talent act saw Amanda Holden swear before the watershed.

Magician Elizabeth, aka The Haunting, left Holden visibly shaken as she pulled her on stage to take part in her spooky act.

Some 192 complains were made about the first live semi-final of the series: 154 about the act and 38 relating to Holden’s expletive.

An Ofcom spokesperson told Standard Online: “We are assessing these complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”

Holden shouted “f***” after being led to a room backstage in the dark, before later revealing the ordeal caused her to have a panic attack in the advert break.

Speaking to Stephen Mulhern on Britain’s Got More Talent she said: “I said ‘oh my God, oh my God don’t fire me for swearing’. I had a panic attack and went to the toilet lots of times.”

Holden apologised for using an expletive on live TV, telling viewers: “I just really want to apologise I said a really terrible word. Massive apologies. I can honestly say I feel terrified.

“It’s a terrifying, amazing, thrilling experience – but I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that I really wouldn’t. It was amazing.”

Amanda Holden - In pictures

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Holden is no stranger to Ofcom complaints on the show, having previously irked viewers with her fashion choices pre-watershed.

In 2017, the watchdog received 683 complaints over the course of the series, which were mostly about Holden’s wardrobe.

She sparked controversy by wearing a very low-cut Julian Macdonald dress which some viewers deemed “inappropriate”.

Britain’s Got Talent is on ITV, tonight at 7:30pm

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