Amanda Holden has fired back this morning after fans ‘switched off’ her ‘awful’ presenting with co-host Alan Carr on ITV’s Royal Variety Performance.

The annual charity event which sees a host of singers, dancers and entertainers perform for the royal family, was last night hosted by Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden and comedian Alan Carr, who picked up the mantle from Bradley Walsh last year.

The show, which also saw BGT winner Sydney Christmas perform for King Charles, was shown on ITV1 on Sunday night but this morning Amanda Holden woke up to find scores of complaints from fans who had switched off the show citing her and Alan as the reason.

@joolzieje said: “The worst RVP I have ever watched. Alan Carr and Amanda Holden were out of their depth and made me cringe.

An American singer shouting out the National anthem! Cancer jokes in front of the king. Too many to mention! I should have turned off! Car crash TV”

Alan Carr and Amanda Holden hosted the ITV Royal Variety Performance this year (Image: ITV)

King Charles III was in attendance at the Royal Variety show (Image: ITV)

@sarahjayell said: “Switched off #RoyalVarietyPerformance – can’t abide Amanda Holden and Alan Carr hosting. Full on Cringe and not funny. Bring back good old fashioned variety shows, with a proper compere.”

@edparnell said: “So, you’re telling me the best you could do to present the Royal Variety Performance were Alan Carr and Amanda Holden? Two icons of mediocrity.”

Now, Amanda Holden has fired back at media reports about the fan complaints as she posted: “I know we should ignore. But it seems the same headlines literally word for word appear EVERY year….

“For whoever hosts @royalvarietyperformance – (Bradley Walsh got the stick last year ) so sad as it’s an honour to host this wonderful CHARITY event.

“This journalism is unspirited and awful to wake up to after such a joyous and successful evening. Me and @chattyman loved every second.

“All the big shows get battered… Merry Christmas you lovely lot. Our ratings were brilliant so that’s what counts xx”

Other celebs who had hosted the show in the past jumped in to defend Amanda. Romesh Ranganathan said: “Rob and I got an absolute pasting – ignore it x”

And fans backed Amanda too. @mowgley0803 said: “You can never do anything wrong in my eyes Amanda. I think you’re bloody brilliant! Been a fan since Wild At Heart and Cutting It days.”

@michellebadenx said: “Anything you and Alan do together is a joy.”

@jennietayls said: “I thought you were great. It’s the first time I’ve watched the full programme for ages.”