SIMON SAYS… Amanda Holden backed by Simon Cowell after ‘classless’ star’s furious bust-up with ‘nasty and awful’ Sharon Osbourne

SIMON Cowell today backed Amanda Holden after her extraordinary public bust-up with Sharon Osbourne.

He sent a message of support after the women had a huge online war of words over Cowell and money — which saw Sharon ranting on Twitter at “classless” Amanda over a magazine interview in which she called the 71-year-old “nasty and awful”.

BGT judge Amanda, 53, had been defending Simon Cowell after comments by Sharon and Louis Walsh on Celebrity Big Brother last month, about the way he ditched them from the X Factor.

Earlier tonight a source told The Sun on Sunday: “It’s one of the first rules of celebrity; you never cross Sharon Osbourne — but Amanda stands by her comments.

“Her phone was inundated with messages of support from loads of well-known names, all sympathising hugely.”

Simon sent a message via text from his fiancee Lauren Silverman.

The source said: “Simon doesn’t have a phone so she did it on behalf of them both.

“For her part, Sharon is at a stage of her career where she really doesn’t give a s***.”

A spokesman for Amanda said: “Amanda is aware of Sharon’s incredible career but, just like her, Amanda will always defend those close to her.”

The source added Amanda still managed to enjoy the sun today as she spent the weekend with her husband and two daughters at their £8million London home.

They said: “It will be business as usual as she returns to her Heart Breakfast radio show tomorrow, and will reunite with Simon at Tuesday’s BGT press launch in London.”