Alison ‘I’M SO WORRIED’
She’s just celebrated her one-year anniversary of co-hosting This Morning with Dermot O’leary, but Alison Hammond still fears for her future on ITV
Having gone from being the second contestant evicted on Big Brother in 2002, to becoming the nation’s sweetheart and co-hosting This Morning on Fridays alongside TV royalty Dermot O’leary, Alison Hammond has had one of the biggest career U-turns of all time.
But Alison, 47, still pinches herself every day. While she is an integral part of This Morning, it still leaves her in awe. ‘At first I was a bit star-struck by Dermot. I thought, “Oh my God, how am I going to work with him? He’s up there!”’ she admitted.
As a single mother, Alison has fought her way to the top and her spiralling debts when she entered the Big Brother house are a memory that she won’t forget easily. So, for Alison, her career is something she will never take for granted and recent calls for her to be fired will surely have rocked the star. But are Alison’s fears a real possibility?
While many see her larger-than-life presence endearing, others think her unprofessional. Coupled with the fact that she stepped into the very large shoes of Eamonn and Ruth, it was always going to be tricky and viewers are quick to criticise. ‘She’s a godawful presenter
and can’t help showing her ignorance at every opportunity. Time for her and Dermot to be fired I think,’ tweeted one viewer. While another said, ‘Who does Alison Hammond think she is? Making a flippant comment when chatting to Toff, saying – and I quote – “Get rid of the Queen and have Toff as queen!” Does Alison actually think she’s untouchable? So unprofessional and disrespectful to our Queen.’
UNSETTLING TIME
Alison has never rested on her laurels and is incredibly down to earth. So much so that she is just as concerned as the rest of us about the impending energy price hike crisis, which could see bills increase by 50% and leave millions unable to afford electricity. ‘What can we do? So many people will struggle, I’m so worried,’ she tweeted.
Having been in the red when she applied for Big Brother, Alison is no stranger to money issues. ‘I just wanted to win some money really, to pay off the debts I had. That was the reason I went in [to Big Brother], it was never a springboard to launch the career that I’ve had. It’s unbelievable to think about what’s happened to me. It was massive back in the day, to be £4,000 in debt – that was major. I was living at home. It’s a horrible feeling when you owe money.’
And that’s no doubt the reason behind her taking nothing for granted. On her celebrity status, Alison has said, ‘I don’t really buy into it if I’m honest, but I just hope people are happy when they watch me, if it gives them relief and it gives them pleasure. I don’t take it lightly, what I do.’
It’s been a huge period of change at This Morning recently, with Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes’ shock departure. Rumours have also dogged both Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield over whether they will stay on the sofa longterm and ITV are no strangers to trying new talent. So it would be no surprise if Alison also felt concerned about her longevity in the job.
PINCHING HERSELF
‘I DON’T TAKE IT LIGHTLY, WHAT I DO’
Thankfully, Alison has scores of supporters, despite her critics. And co-host Dermot couldn’t imagine presenting without her, saying, ‘We were thrown together on air for two and a half hours. We just sort of clicked about four months in, and we realised what we like about each other.’
So Alison will no doubt keep doing what she’s doing best. ‘Well, I’ve been doing that for the last 16 years if I’m honest with you, pinching myself the whole time. But do you know something? I think life happens for a reason. Everyone has their different paths and mine has just been crazy.’
We couldn’t agree more.