Amanda Holden sparks Twitter backlash after comparing Britain's Got Talent performance to D-Day landings

Amanda Holden has received a dressing-down from Twitter users after she compared Britain’s Got Talent finalist, 79-year-old salsa-dancing Sarah "Paddy" Jones, to soldiers fighting on D-Day.

Asked to comment on the so-called dancing granny’s performance during Saturday's live final, Holden, 43, said she admired Ms Jones' "tenacity and heroism”, comparing it to the bravery of men who fought in the Second World War on the day that changed history.

"We've celebrated the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings this week, and the tenacity and heroism of the older generation in Great Britain is phenomenal. What you achieved on stage is second to none," she said.

Her rather ill-judged remarks came just one day after more than 650 ex-servicemen joined world leaders on the sands of Normandy to commemorate the largest seaborne invasion of all time.

And on Twitter, users were vocal in their criticism, questioning how the presenter could draw a comparison between dancing and combat.

Operatic boy band Collabro were crowned the winner, with opera singer Lucy Kay the runner-up and teenage rap duo Bars and Melody in third place.