Amanda Holden breaks down in tears on-air as she speaks to friend who 'saved my life'

Radio presenter Amanda Holden struggled to hold back tears after receiving a mystery call live on-air from one of her close friends on her Heart Breakfast show this morning

Amanda Holden had to fight back tears when she was shocked by a surprise call from a woman 'who saved her life' on her Heart Breakfast radio show this morning (Wednesday, October 9).

After co-presenter JK revealed a surprise for Amanda, all she had to do was press a red buzzer to reveal what it was. And to her delight, it was her long term friend and and the woman 'who saved her life', Pippa.

After it was revealed that it was Pippa that she would soon be speaking to live on air, Amanda could hardly control her emotions as she broke down in tears and gasped before saying: "Oh don't, because that just makes me cry straight away" before adding: "Oh Pippa, you're actually there?"

Explaining her connection to the caller, Amanda elaborated: "Well, for anyone that doesn't know, I met Pippa years ago when I was making a documentary about midwifery and we became friends from that.

"But, thereafter she supported me through my very sad stillbirth that I had with my beautiful son, Theo and she's basically been there for the whole thing and then when I had Hollie, that birth wasn't an easy one either and she basically saved my life during the birth of my little girl Hollie that is now 12."

"So yeah, she is a friend for life and honestly anytime I've got an emergency or anything that happens to one of the girls or me, she is always the first person I call. She is like the light, the strength, she's a good laugh, she can drink me under the table, I love her. But primarily she's just got the answer to everything, always."

After hearing Amanda's words of gratitude for everything that she had done for her over the years, Pippa gave her words of encouragement as the radio host is currently on day three of her Big Ride To Work for charity: "I know you've got this Amanda. You are amazing, you'll just get your head down, do the challenge and you know you're doing so much good for other people and I know that's what drives you."

Starting on Monday (October 7) Amanda set out on her 250 mile cycle across the country, starting at her mum's house in Bude, Cornwall before passing through the likes of Somerset, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Surrey as she makes her way to the Heart studio in London on Friday. The cycle is in aid of Heart's official charity, Global's Make Some Noise, that is hoping donations will help 'change lives across the UK.'