Amanda Holden reveals why she isn’t scared of ageing and how she deals with being an ‘older mother’

WHEN someone asks me my age and I reply I’m 46, I always think: “How the hell did that happen?”

I still can’t get my head around the fact that in a few years I’ll be planning my big 5-0 party

I’m not scared of ageing as there’s nothing any of us can do to stop it happening, but it does have its downsides.

Time moves so fast as you get older.

I feel like I’ve blinked and the past year has vanished.

When I was in my 20s and early 30s it felt like I had all the time in the world, but now the days fly by.

Lexi and Hollie are growing up so quickly and I wish everything would slow down.

Also, although I look after myself because I care about my appearance, my main motivation for eating well and exercising is because I’m an “older mother” (I hate that phrase!).

When I had my girls, I didn’t give my age a second thought – probably because it’s become the norm for women to delay starting families until later in life, and all my friends were in the same boat.

But now I realise I’m hurtling towards 50 with two young children, and I need to do everything in my power to stay as healthy as I can for them.

I want to be around for all the milestones ahead in their lives.

I just hope I have my 96-year-old nan’s genes.

She finds it really frustrating that her body is frail but her mind is still incredibly sharp, and hates it when people shout at her assuming she can’t hear them!

Her favourite phrase is: “I can do it myself,” and I hope I’m just as feisty when I’m an old lady.

Of course, there are lots of good things about growing older, too.

For me it’s the f**k it attitude I’ve developed, especially when it comes to my style – as you might have gathered from my choice of outfits for BGT.

I love showing that women my age can look good, dress glamorously and feel great about themselves.

Why should we hide our bodies because we’re a certain age?

It’s such an old-fashioned attitude.

If Chris and my girls say I’ve still got it, that’s all I need to hear.