Amanda Holden: ‘The BBC wanted somebody slightly dangerous, so they got me’

The BBC had a very specific criteria for finding the host of their new quiz show, stipulating that they wanted someone who was ‘slightly dangerous’. Enter: Amanda Holden.

The broadcaster’s new gameshow, The Inner Circle, combines elements of fan-favourite programmes like The Traitors, Golden Balls and The Weakest Link.

The key to the show isn’t simply being the most knowledgeable in the room – it’s also figuring out the best tactic to deceive the other players so that you can take the prize money home in the end. It’s ruthless – and Amanda was in disbelief over the shocking betrayals that she witnessed from her hosting podium.

‘I made it up as I went along. That’s the thing that really sold it to me, because I felt like I could be funny and sassy – or try to be funny,’ she tells Metro of her presenting style.

‘There were no rules. I didn’t feel stuck in a box or nervous or worried because they trusted me to let loose. They said they wanted somebody slightly dangerous, so they got me.’

While there might be parallels to other shows that have come before, the Britain’s Got Talent judge explains that she is ‘mainly just herself’ on The Inner Circle, rather than trying to imitate other quiz presenters like Anne Robinson.

Amanda Holden is fronting a TV show on her own for the very first time (PictureBBC/Tern TV Productions/Graham Hunter) She admits that The Inner Circle is slightly Traitors-esque (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge)

‘I love Anne Robinson, but I think I’m mainly just me. I’ve spent years working with Ant and Dec, who make everything look easy, and that is a gift, and that has taken years and years of experience,’ she says.

‘Observing people like that and seeing how professional and quick they are, but also friendly and affable and professional, I’ve learnt from people like that. But I definitely will say I have my own style, because I’m quite off the cuff most of the time.’

Six competitors take part in The Inner Circle, all of whom are given a secret amount of money, which could range between £0 and £5,000 on the celebrity version of the show, or £4,000 on the civilian version.

They’re at liberty to discuss how much money they all have – but, they aren’t obligated to tell the truth. So whoever has the most money is well within their right to claim that they have nothing.

Amanda says that she ‘loves’ The Weakest Link’s Anne Robinson – but didn’t want to imitate her presenting style (Picture: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

On the celebrity version, the contestants are each paired up with a famous partner, who is there to help them win the money.

At the very end of the episode, when there are two players remaining, they have a choice – whether to split the combined prize money that they have, or shaft the other competitor to take home the lot.

However, if both choose to shaft, no one will win anything. It’s a brutal game – and ‘there are some great shockers’ as the series progresses, Amanda reveals.

‘I think it’s a real mix of everything,’ the 54-year-old says. ‘I’ve been there from the very start, rehearsing in church halls and seeing about the format and all the components of the game. They said they wanted a little bit dangerous, a little bit sassy and a bit adventurous – which is, I think, different to a lot of quiz shows.

‘It’s got a bit of Traitors. It’s got a bit of The Weakest Link. It’s got a bit of Golden Balls. I love those references, because that gives the audience of quizzes some references to what they love already.

‘But I think what we bring, especially to the afternoons, is a mini skirt, a high heel and a lash, as well as general knowledge and great gameplay. Because of the element at the end, where it’s all about trust, there are some shockers.’

The TV personality has been a part of the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel since 2007 (Picture: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) She’s also fronted several travel TV programmes with comedian Alan Carr (Picture: Joe Maher/Getty Images)

Amanda is obviously no stranger to TV, but The Inner Circle marks the first time she’s hosted a quiz show on her own, having previously been on the judging panel for Britain’s Got Talent and fronted programmes such as Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job with Alan Carr.

‘It was wonderful to be given the opportunity and be told that I definitely could work in that space, and somebody had the confidence to put me in that space. So I was really grateful for that, and to be on my own, obviously hosting for the first time,’ she states.

‘I’m always paired up with somebody, which is brilliant as well, because I love banter, and it’s a lot easier to host with somebody else.

‘For me, it was being part of the entire process. Literally sat on the floor in trainers working it out with the producers whether this game would work or that component could change.’

The Celebrity Inner Circle will premiere on Saturday October 4 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with The Inner Circle premiering on Monday October 6 at 4.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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