Amanda Holden shops till she drops in LA... but it's a ferry different story for warden father Frank

By Jessica SatherleyThey may both be hard-working but the lifestyles of this father and daughter couldn't be further apart.

While Amanda Holden indulged in a spot of shopping in the Los Angeles sunshine, her father Frank was busy co-ordinating traffic on the Torpoint Ferry in Cornwall.

The 62-year-old was toiling away during his eight-hour shift in the south-west of England dressed in his fluorescent yellow vest.

Meanwhile, the Britain’s Got Talent judge could barely contain the shopping bags in her petite hands as she strolled around town in a black skirt suit and stiletto heels.

Worlds apart: As Amanda drowned in shopping bags in Los Angeles, her father Frank was working at Torpoint Ferry in Cornwall

Frank Holden, a former Naval petty officer, left Amanda’s mother Judy in 1975, when Amanda was only four and her sister Debbie three.

Last year, he told the Mirror that he had only seen his daughter three times in 30 years and hadn’t seen her for the last three.

But despite Frank being desperate to see her again, Amanda has still not really forgiven him for walking out on the family, who lived on a housing estate in Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire.

However, he has met Amanda's daughter, Lexi, now four, on at least one occasion.

And although he is her biological parent, Amanda refers to her stepfather Leslie Collister as ‘dad’.

Frank now shares a three-bed converted council semi in Torpoint with his partner of 25 years, Pauline.

Man at work: Although Frank is desperate for a reunion, Amanda has still not forgiven him for walking out on the family in 1975

A spokesman for Miss Holden said: 'Amanda has put the past behind her years ago and has seen Frank a number of times over the past few years as well as introducing him to her daughter Lexi in an effort to build bridges.

'Unfortunately he made the mistake of talking to the press on family matters which should have remained private which has meant that she isn’t keen on maintaining contact.

'She considers her stepfather Les to be her Dad as he brought her up from the age of five.'

Meanwhile, the blonde presenter hid from paparazzi under her movie-star shades yesterday, while sporting a tailored black suit with shoulder pads that would make WAG Alex Curran proud.

The 39-year-old only arrived at LAX Airport the previous night but jet lag wasn’t going to keep the shopaholic down.

Despite the long flight from London, Amanda still made sure to wear her skyscraper heels during the trip to keep up her glamorous reputation.

Spending spree: The Britain's Got Talent judge almost drowned in her shopping bags

Perhaps she was trying to cheer herself up with the spending spree after discovering she won’t be on the guest list for Piers Morgan’s wedding with Celia Walden.

They might work together on the ITV talent show, but the former newspaper editor has snubbed both Holden and Cowell on his big day.

Speaking to New! Magazine, Piers, 45, said he and Celia, 33, are planning a celebrity-free celebration.
He said: ‘Simon and Amanda will be distraught to hear that, but I’m planning a very, very small wedding and a big party.’