Amanda Holden says daughter's 'all teed up' to land TV presenting job after nepotism fury

Ahead of presenting BBC One's The Celebrity Inner Circle this weekend, Amanda Holden has hit back at claims that her children are "nepo babies."

While acknowledging that her daughter Lexi's frequent appearances at glamorous red carpet events alongside her may have secured the 19-year-old a deal with prestigious modelling agency Storm, the BGT judge insists her daughters aren't actually fame-obsessed.

"It's so weird," Amanda told Closer Magazine, "they've sort of grown up with it all. They've come to Britain's Got Talent and I wish I could say they were really excited and super thrilled by it all, but they're just not."

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Nevertheless, Amanda has disclosed she'd love her 13-year-old daughter Hollie to present a special children's version of The Inner Circle, revealing: "Hollie came and stood on the podium and did my job and loved it, so I've got her all teed up for the junior version. She'd be a fabulous presenter for that."

Meanwhile, Amanda has admitted she was keen to help Lexi "get in somewhere" and believes there's nothing inappropriate about giving her children a boost.

"When I was young, I got a job in a fruit 'n' veg shop because my mum knew the fruit 'n' veg guy," she explains. "If you know someone that can help your child get in somewhere, you'll do whatever."

Amanda has voiced her frustration over people labelling her daughters as "nepo babies", simply because she and her husband Chris are part of the entertainment industry: "The word 'nepo' can be thrown around forever, but it's unfair it's been used in showbiz."

The celebrity maintained that her daughters are carving out their own paths based on their talents: "They have to have talent and backbone, and work to succeed."

For instance, Lexi has recently enhanced her own public image by sharing photos from a topless glamour shoot on her Instagram page.

She also participated in a catwalk show for Vietnamese fashion label Tran Hung at London Fashion Week last year, confessing: "I was absolutely terrified but I enjoyed the entire experience."

Amanda expressed her and husband Chris Hughes' delight at seeing their daughter embark on a modelling career: "We couldn't have been more proud of our daughter this evening walking in her first LFW show," she said.

"This year has been a significant one for her, she has worked really hard with her A-levels and she got herself into a top university. Chris and I love her to bits, and her little sister Hollie looks up to her so much. It's a wonderful moment for her."

Lexi has gone on to model for swimwear label Naia Beach, with Amanda praising the fact her daughter is making money whilst studying at university and will graduate debt-free: "She's not going to come out with a debt - that's amazing," the presenter said.