Holden explains Brook departure

Holden says Kelly Brook was thrown in at the deep end

Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has spoken out about the departure of short-lived fellow panel member Kelly Brook.

Holden told Newsbeat: "It was one of those unfortunate things where nobody could foresee that it was game over when there were four judges."

Brook was hired alongside Holden, Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan in January but left after just six days.

Cowell said at the time that the format did not "support another judge".

Former Wild At Heart actress Holden said: "The line that was given to the press is absolutely the right line which is that because of the buzzer situation, four judges on our show doesn't work.

'Jeopardising show'

"If we didn't have the buzzers then it would definitely work like it does on American Idol and on X Factor.

"It was a really difficult thing to try and work out, when two people pressed the buzzer and two people didn't, then the person on stage didn't know whether to wait for all the buzzers to go...

Let's say we should rename the show Britain's Got Self Belief! Amanda Holden

"Ant and Dec were confused, we were all confused. In the end, the producers and everybody felt that it was jeopardising the show.

"It was nothing to do with Kelly Brook. She was thrown completely in at the deep end."

40 acts

Filming for auditions on the ITV show had already begun in Manchester with Brook on board when the model and actress left.

Holden and her fellow judges have since wrapped filming on the audition process of the show, which sees contenders compete for the chance to perform for the Queen at this year's Royal Variety Performance.

Holden said: "We literally finished it last Saturday. We've picked the last 40 acts for the live shows in May. Let's say we should rename the show Britain's Got Self Belief!"

In March the actress is kicking off The Pedigree Adoption Drive to benefit homeless dogs, which runs from Land's End to John O'Groats, with her own rescue dog Fudge in tow.