Alison Hammond: ‘Everybody wants to be loved’
ThisMorning’s Alison Hammond talks about her journey on CelebsGoDating, and how she’s coping with the loss of her mum, Maria…
Roving showbiz reporter Alison Hammond – also an ambassador for WW (formerly Weight Watchers), is taking the plunge and joining the dating game – in front of thousands of viewers. The bubbly
ThisMorning presenter from Birmingham, who is mum to son, Aiden, 13, is one of the hopefuls on the latest series of
CelebsGoDating, joining a cast including ex
EastEnders actor Dean Gaffney and LoveIsland alumni Amy Hart. Sadly, Alison’s search for love comes at a difficult time for the 45-year-old, who recently lost her mum, Maria, to cancer. But as Alison says, life must go on. She’s charmed the socks off Hugh Jackson and Harrison Ford – but Hollywood stars aside, has anyone special caught her eye?
Alison, why did you want to take part in Celebs Go Dating?
I wanted some dating experience. And everyone just wants to be loved, don’t they? I don’t take part from the very start, I join the show a bit later – but I wish I’d been in it from day one. You know when they have ‘The Mixer’ in episode one, where they first meet members of the public they might want to date? Honestly, half the guys they turned down… I’d have been right in there!
Did you feel you were putting romance on the backburner?
Yeah... I’m really busy with This Morning and everything else, and just do not pay attention to my love life. Like, not one bit. I’m so driven with my career I just didn’t factor it in. So, to have an agency like they have on this show come along, and go, ‘Tell us what you want, we’re going to find the guys for you’ was great.
Have you been unlucky in love, would you say?
Maybe… I just don’t feel I’ve found The One yet. The person that’s totally compatible. I do settle a lot, too. I tend to go for men where I’m… ticking over, but not swept off my feet, you know? I’m a people-pleaser. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, so I always put the other person
first so I’d rather stay in dry relationship. It’s really hard. Then when I do say it’s over, guys think I’m joking!
You charm every Hollywood star you meet – it’s not confidence you’re lacking…
Look, I can strike up a rapport very quickly – I have to, for my job. That’s not the problem for me. It’s trying to work out if I actually like a guy first of all, if they excite me – because if they don’t, I’m off. The bar is set a little bit high with me. I meet a lot of nice men – but I can’t tell you whether I meet someone special or not…!
Do we see a different side to you on this show?
Oh god yeah, you’ll see me. I’m not just Alison that presenter that laughs all the time and flirts with celebrities. On This Morning I’m me, but I’m the happiest, most heightened version of me. On Celebs Go Dating, you see the real me. You feel very vulnerable – but once you get over that feeling, you relax and really enjoy it.
What can you tell us about your journey?
I can’t tell you too much, but… have you seen the film Ghost? Think of your favourite moment in that film. Yeah. Well, that might have happened with me… I’m a very emotional person, as you’ll see.
You’re an ambassador for WW – how’s that going?
Really well! I love it. I’ll be honest, doing Celebs Go Dating I’ve been going on dates, eating loads of food and the diet’s gone out the window. But that’s life, isn’t it? Sometimes you’re on it, sometimes you’re not. It is what it is. I’ve always struggled with my weight, I’m the most honest weight-loss ambassador you’ll ever come across! It’s like dating – you keep going, you keep trying. Why not?!