Purple plaque for Amanda's former home (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Purple plaque for Amanda's former home

5:10pm Friday 23rd December 2011 in South Winchester

TV star Amanda Holden could be about to join the ranks of some of the greatest figures in history – when a plaque is put up on her childhood home in Hampshire.

English Heritage have run a scheme for decades where blue plaques are added to the previous dwellings of notable people – providing they have been dead for at least 20 years. But property company Zoopla is setting up a rival project where the former homes of today’s top celebs are awarded purple plaques, often showing the stars’ humble beginnings Under the scheme, Amanda’s former home in Tangledown, Lower Chase Road, Waltham Chase is likely to be awarded with a plaque in the coming months.

The property website who are running the scheme say they are waiting for permission from the current owner before the purple information panel – which will have the star’s name and dates she lived at the home – is put up.

Amanda was born in Bishop’s Waltham and lived there until the age of four but moved to nearby Waltham Chase when her parents, Judith Harrison and Naval petty officer Frank Holden, split up.

She attended Swanmore Secondary School, now known as Swanmore Technology College, until the age of 16 when she moved to Bournemouth.

Her acting abilities began to shine through when she was living in Waltham Chase – and she joined Bishop’s Waltham Little Theatre Company at the age of nine.

She has gone on to present ITV hit show Britain’s Got Talent and has played a starring role in a number of TV series – including Wild at Heart, Cutting It and The Grimleys.

Most recently, she has played Princess Fiona in West End musical Shrek – but gave up the role in October because she is expecting her second child.

Purple plaques have already been put up on the former homes of David Cameron, Lewis Hamilton, Gary Barlow, Liz Hurley and Chris Evans.