Amanda Holden appeared in EastEnders as Carmen, working alongside Ian Beale at a clothing stall, but fans are only just discovering the role and are amazed at how little she’s aged
Amanda Holden’s forgotten role in EastEnders has been revisited by fans(Image: Getty)
EastEnders fans have been stunned after learning that Amanda Holden once appeared in the BBC soap.
The Heart Radio host, 54, has recently made a return to the small screen alongside her best friend, Alan Carr, for a new overseas property renovation programme.
Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job is currently broadcast on BBC One every Friday and chronicles the duo as they spend a summer on the Ionian island of Corfu.
They’ve purchased a somewhat more modest property than in their previous series, but they’re facing a significant challenge.
Amanda’s professional career took off when she became a judge on the ITV reality programme Britain’s Got Talent in 2007 alongside Simon Cowell, reports OK!.
However, she previously pursued an acting career and featured in EastEnders long before becoming a household name.
In 1993, Amanda appeared in Albert Square as the youthful Carmen alongside Ian Beale actor Adam Woodyatt.
Carmen was employed at the clothing stall at Bridge Street Market and was keen to secure a permanent position there.
Her primary involvement centred around selling heart-patterned boxer shorts, which were anonymously delivered to Richard Cole, played by Ian Reddington, the market inspector, as a prank he found rather unamusing.
Amanda only featured in five episodes of EastEnders before departing Walford and moving on to a stellar showbiz career.
She previously discussed her brief role with her Heart Radio co-presenter, Jamie Theakston.
She revealed: “When I left drama school, EastEnders was one of the first jobs I got. I had to look after someone’s stall for half an hour, which was like four episodes or something. I was opposite Adam Woodyatt, your ex-flatmate! That’s not true.”
Amanda continued: “Ian Beale, I looked after a jewellery stall, and he had his fruit and veg, there was a lot of messing around with rude fruit, that’s all I’m going to say. I had a lot of fun; it was a nice show to do.”
EastEnders fans were taken aback when they discovered Amanda’s stint on the soap, with one Reddit user posting: “Another surprise! Another celebrity (before they were famous) appeared in EastEnders that I didn’t know about! 1993 – A teeny tiny Amanda Holden!”
Another chimed in: “Wow. I never knew about this one, it almost feels unusual to look at haha”, while another added: “I thought the same thing. Especially when I heard her speak. She had exactly the same voice as she has now lol.”
One fan commented: “Interesting I had no idea that she was in it before she got famous”, while another remarked: “Wow she hasn’t aged at all in 30 years.”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer
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