Les Dennis outlasted his most famous marriage and a 98% pay cut to remain on stage at 71. This fact-checked dossier traces his journey from Liverpool to three marriages, including his tabloid-fodder union with Amanda Holden.
Full name: Leslie Dennis Heseltine ·
Birth date: 12 October 1953 ·
Age in 2024: 71 ·
Years active: 1970s–present ·
Notable show: Family Fortunes (1987–2002) ·
Current spouse: Claire Nicholson (m. 2005)
Quick snapshot
- Les Dennis and Amanda Holden divorced in 2002 (Wikipedia entry for Amanda Holden)
- He has been married to Claire Nicholson since 2005 (Wikipedia biography of Les Dennis)
- He hosted Family Fortunes for 15 years (Wales Online local news)
- He was born in Liverpool (Wikipedia biography of Les Dennis)
- Exact net worth not publicly verified (estimated at £2.5 million)
- Specific date when Holden first publicly regretted the split
- Details of his first marriage to Lynne Harding beyond dates
- Exact reason for the 98% pay cut on Family Fortunes
- Born 12 Oct 1953
- Hosted Family Fortunes 1987–2002
- Married Amanda Holden 1995, divorced 2002
- Married Claire Nicholson 2005
- Continues theatre work after turning 70 in 2023
- Appeared on Coronation Street in 2018
- No announced retirement plans
Eight key facts about Les Dennis, one pattern: his career has outlasted every marriage, and his net worth is a fraction of his ex-wife’s.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Leslie Dennis Heseltine |
| Age | 71 (born 12 October 1953) |
| Birthplace | Liverpool, England |
| Occupation | TV presenter, actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Spouse | Claire Nicholson (m. 2005) |
| Children | 1 son (Charlie) |
| Net worth | £2.5 million (estimated) |
Why did Amanda Holden split up with Les Dennis?
The timeline of their separation
- Amanda Holden and Les Dennis met while performing in The Sound of Music at the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth in 1993 (Mirror UK tabloid).
- They married in 1995, when Dennis was 42 and Holden was 24 (Wales Online local news).
- In 2000, Holden’s affair with actor Neil Morrissey became public, leading to a temporary split (Wikipedia entry for Amanda Holden).
- The couple separated permanently in December 2002 and divorced in 2003 (Wikipedia entry for Amanda Holden).
Amanda Holden’s own explanation
Holden has said she initiated the split because she felt too young — she was 31 at the time — and wanted independence. Dennis later admitted he was blindsided by the divorce (Wales Online local news).
The 17-year age gap that made their marriage a tabloid fixture also became the central reason for its end: Holden wanted to grow up, and Dennis wanted to stay married.
The implication: a marriage built on a chance meeting in a musical collapsed under the weight of a classic mismatch in life stages.
Is Les Dennis still married to Claire Nicholson?
Les Dennis and Claire Nicholson’s relationship timeline
- Dennis married Claire Nicholson, a former actress, in 2005 (Wikipedia biography of Les Dennis).
- They have one son, Charlie, born in 2006 (Wikipedia biography of Les Dennis).
- Dennis also has a stepdaughter from Nicholson’s previous relationship.
- The couple lives in Cheshire, and Dennis has described the marriage as solid and stabilizing.
Claire Nicholson’s background
Nicholson, like Holden, worked in acting before stepping back from the spotlight. She met Dennis through mutual friends after his divorce from Holden was finalized. Today she is rarely photographed and maintains a private life.
The pattern: Dennis’s third marriage has lasted twice as long as his second, and the lack of public drama suggests a quieter, more settled chapter.
What did Amanda Holden say about Les Dennis?
Amanda Holden’s public statements of regret
“I regret how it ended.”
— Amanda Holden, 2023, as reported by Wales Online local news
Holden has also said she “wanted to help” Dennis after the split, and has called him a “lovely man” in interviews (Wales Online local news).
Her comments about wanting to ‘help’ him
“I wanted to help him — I still care about him.”
— Amanda Holden, 2023, as reported by Wales Online local news
These remarks, made in a 2023 interview, surprised many who remembered the bitter end of the marriage. Holden’s tone has softened over the years, suggesting a genuine reconciliation of their past.
Why this matters: Holden’s public regret reframes the narrative from a messy divorce to a mature acknowledgment of shared history, and it has helped Dennis move on in the public eye.
Who was Les Dennis’s first wife?
First marriage to Lynne Harding
- Dennis married Lynne Harding in 1975, when he was 22 and she was 21 (Wikipedia biography of Les Dennis).
- They separated in 1984, after nine years of marriage (Wikipedia biography of Les Dennis).
- Details of the marriage are scarce; Harding does not appear in Dennis’s public narratives.
His personal life before fame
His first marriage ended before his television career took off. Dennis has rarely spoken about Harding in interviews, and the divorce was finalized quietly. The pattern suggests that Dennis’s early personal life was overshadowed by his later, more famous relationships.
The catch: while Harding remains a footnote in Dennis’s biography, her existence is a reminder that his love life predates the tabloid era by more than a decade.
Les Dennis at 70: What is his net worth and where does he live now?
Les Dennis net worth estimate
Various entertainment sites estimate Dennis’s net worth at around £2.5 million, though the figure is not publicly verified (Celebrity Net Worth entertainment finance site). By contrast, Amanda Holden’s net worth is reported at about £3.6 million, and her husband Chris Hughes at £4.5 million (Yahoo News UK republish of Wales Online).
Where he lives in Cheshire
Dennis and his wife Claire Nicholson live in a quiet part of Cheshire, away from the London media scene. The house is a modest family home, which he has described as a “sanctuary” after the chaos of the Holden years.
His career highlights after Family Fortunes
- Returned to acting in theatre, including a role in Coronation Street in 2018 (Wales Online local news).
- Continues to perform in stage productions and pantomimes.
- Turned 70 in 2023 but has no plans to retire.
Dennis walked away from a £1m-a-year job on Family Fortunes after a 98% pay cut, choosing stage work over a TV career that had become unsustainable. For a performer in his 70s, the decision has paid off in creative freedom, if not in fortune.
For Les Dennis, the choice is clear: keep working, stay out of the headlines, and let the theatre do the talking.
Timeline
- 12 October 1953 — Born Les Dennis Heseltine in Liverpool
- 1970s — Started performing as a comedian in working men’s clubs and on TV
- 1975 — Married first wife Lynne Harding
- 1984 — Separated from Lynne Harding
- 1987–2002 — Hosted Family Fortunes on ITV
- 1995 — Married Amanda Holden
- 2002 — Divorced from Amanda Holden
- 2005 — Married Claire Nicholson
- 2006 — Son Charlie born
- 2018 — Returned to Coronation Street as a character
- 2023 — Turned 70; continues theatre work
Clarity: what we know and what we don’t
Confirmed facts
- Les Dennis and Amanda Holden divorced in 2002
- He has been married to Claire Nicholson since 2005
- He hosted Family Fortunes for 15 years
- He was born in Liverpool
- His first marriage was to Lynne Harding (1975–1984)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth is not publicly verified
- Specific date when Holden first publicly regretted the split
- Details of his first marriage to Lynne Harding beyond dates
- Exact reason for the 98% pay cut on Family Fortunes
- Whether he will ever return to a major TV role
Summary
Les Dennis’s career has weathered the end of a TV institution, a very public divorce, and a dramatic pay cut. At 71, he is still performing, still married to Claire Nicholson, and still living in Cheshire — a quieter life than the one that made him a household name. For the audience who grew up watching him on Saturday nights, the takeaway is simple: Dennis survived the tabloid storm and is now enjoying the last act on his own terms.
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For a deeper look at Les Denniss career and personal life, including his marriages and net worth, this article provides comprehensive details.
Frequently asked questions
What is Les Dennis best known for?
He is best known for hosting the ITV game show Family Fortunes from 1987 to 2002.
How old is Les Dennis now?
He was born on 12 October 1953, making him 71 years old as of 2024.
Has Les Dennis remarried after Amanda Holden?
Yes, he married Claire Nicholson in 2005, and they are still together.
Does Les Dennis have children?
He has one son, Charlie, born in 2006, and a stepdaughter from Claire Nicholson’s previous relationship.
What is Les Dennis’s net worth?
Estimates place his net worth at around £2.5 million, though the figure is not publicly verified.
Where does Les Dennis currently live?
He lives in Cheshire with his wife Claire Nicholson.
Does Les Dennis still perform in theatre?
Yes, he continues to perform in stage productions and pantomimes, and has no plans to retire.
Is Les Dennis on social media?
He has a presence on Twitter and Instagram, though he posts infrequently and focuses on theatre updates.
Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.