Amanda Holden to return to Britain's Got Talent in 2012

Amanda Holden won the ultimate theatre star at the Cosmo awards

Amanda Holden has confirmed she is to return as a judge on Britain's Got Talent next year.

The pregnant star revealed the news at the Cosmopolitan Women of the Year awards, where she won a theatre prize.

"I'm thrilled as usual," she said. "I will wait to see who my co-judges are. I'm always told I'm safe. So then I just wait.

"I doubt Simon [Cowell] could sack a pregnant woman. I'd like to see him try."

Auditions for the sixth series of Britain's Got Talent are due to start in January.

Comedian Michael McIntyre has confirmed he will not be returning to the show after one series as a judge.

Amanda Holden revealed on Twitter in August that she and husband Chris Hughes were expecting a baby girl.

The news came six months after the 40-year-old lost a boy, seven months into her pregnancy.

She insists her pregnancy should not disrupt her role too much.

"I would be able to go in and maybe come out, have the baby and go back in," she said.

"So maybe they could get Louis [Walsh] to take over while I'm giving birth. Then I'll run back out again. They know I'll do that."

Simon Cowell appeared as a judge in the live rounds of the show this year and Louis Walsh sat in for David Hasselhoff while the US actor was appearing in a London pantomime.

There's no word on whether he will be returning as a judge.

Jai McDowall won last year's show and other previous winners include Paul Potts and George Sampson.