Amanda Holden says she is “devastated” that she broke lockdown rules to visit her elderly parents in Cornwall.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge travelled 215 miles to their home in the south west after receiving a “distressing telephone call from her elderly father on Friday afternoon”, her agent said in a statement.
Amanda’s mum Judith, 71, and stepdad Leslie, 75, live in a tiny hamlet near Bude, where the star is a familiar face from regular visits pre-pandemic.
According to The Sun, she has been reported to police over the journey.
“Amanda is aware that all families are going through difficulty during these turbulent times but received a distressing telephone call from her elderly father on Friday afternoon,” the statement added.
“On balance Amanda felt the round-trip to Cornwall was necessary to contain the matter at her family home.
“Amanda did not act on a whim and has adhered to Covid rules every step of the way in all three lockdowns.
“Amanda is aware of the travel rules and is devastated she had to break them on this one occasion.”
Amanda, who celebrates her 50th birthday on Tuesday, is now back at her family home in Richmond upon Thames in London.
The TV star’s parents have both been vaccinated and she is being tested weekly and so “felt she was not putting her parents at risk”, the statement added.
Before receiving the call from her father, Amanda hosted her Heart Radio programme on Friday where she was presented with gifts for her birthday.