Alison: “I want a big white wedding”
Bubbly This Morning presenter Alison Hammond looks to the future after finding love with new man Ben Kusi, who she met on Celebs Go Dating
She told Closer she was “ready for love,” ahead of her appearance on Celebs Go Dating and, just weeks later, it appears Alison Hammond may have found her Mr Right.
Last week she was snapped smiling and giggling with her new beau, audio visual technician and aspiring actor Ben Kusi, after they met on the E4 show following encouragement from her This Morning colleague Holly Willoughby, who told her to go for a kiss.
And Alison, 45 – who enjoyed a mock wedding on air with Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, in 2017, as part of a stunt on This Morning following a joke proposal three months earlier – is dreaming big right now.
She tells Closer, “Without a doubt I want the white wedding, and I want the big dress. Obviously, I’ve had it with The Rock already, but I want to go even bigger! I want a bigger dress, and I want about 25 bridesmaids wearing different colours. I’d have a couple of weddings, to be honest – one abroad and one here. And the year after we get married, we’ll probably renew our vows.”
But dreaming big is nothing new for Alison. She starred in Big Brother in 2002, winning over the nation with her infectious laugh and personality, before landing a slot on
‘Once you’re good in bed, you’re always good in bed!’
This Morning, where A-listers including Harrison Ford and Hugh Jackman were won over by her warmth and humour.
But when it comes to relationships, she takes a less flirty approach and is very grounded in what she looks for.
DREAM GUY
Ahead of Celebs Go Dating airing – which was prerecorded – she said, “I’d most like to date Hugh Jackman, if he wasn’t married, or Will Smith… and The Rock, obviously. My dream guy has to be respectful and kind, and he has to be really good at massaging my feet – massaging is quite important. And he’s got to like cuddling, because I am a hands-on person. He’s also got to be someone who thinks about me – all the nice qualities that I’ve ever wanted. Someone who’s caring and might run my bath for me, or cook for me when I get home… I’ve got a long list, haven’t I?”
She’d also prefer to be with someone who didn’t know she was famous. “It would be lovely to meet someone who hasn’t got a clue who I am,” she says. “Wherever I go, I always get recognised, but I like it, it’s nice. I always say it’s good to make an effort with people, because you don’t know what you’ve done for that person – you might have uplifted them one day when they were feeling down.”
But the key priority for Alison is her son Aiden, 13, with ex-partner Noureddine Boufaied, and making sure he’s happy with whoever she dates.
Alison adds, “My dream guy is someone who will get on with Aiden. I’m really funny about introducing someone to my son. Unless I know for a fact that this person is sticking around, I won’t introduce him. Aiden has only met one guy I was seeing.”
And the star – who found fame after appearing in Big Brother – has tried meeting men in lots of different ways, and is refreshingly positive about every aspect of dating. She says, ”I’ve tried dating apps in the past – I’ve used Plenty Of Fish and I was on Tinder. I loved it. In fact, all of my dates have been pretty good, to be fair – I’ve always had a good time. However, if I don’t think it’s going to happen, I’ll probably bin you off – but most of the time, I’ll just enjoy the date. It’s good to get out there and date. I think it’s important; it’s enjoyable. I loved it. I totally get nervous before a date, though. I overthink what I’m going to wear, how I’m going to do my hair and my make-up – absolutely everything. Then I just go out and enjoy myself.”
SELF-CARE
It’s good to see Alison still in such high spirits. On Valentine’s Day, she sadly announced that her beloved mum Maria had passed away. She wrote on Instagram, “Today I dedicate Valentine’s Day to my beautiful, wonderful Mother Maria who passed away from liver and lung cancer…Thank you mummy for giving me the strength to move forward in the knowledge that you’re OK and with God in Heaven now. I will always remember you and try and make you proud. I love you mum.”
Alison had initially embarked on a weight loss journey at the start of the year, but admits things have taken a backseat as she deals with her loss, but she’s still being kind to herself and eating healthily and going to the gym.
She says, “I’ve been off it at the moment due to family problems and stuff like that. There is no weight loss. I’m eating the right food and going to the gym and I have a personal trainer. I’m not saying I’m happy with everything – but I’m happy in my own skin.”
When we last caught up with Alison, she told us she was “great in bed”, and when cheekily asked if that was still the situation she replied, “Babes – once you’re good in bed, you’re always good in bed. Of course, it still stands.”