Alison Hammond has issued a health update from her hospital bed after she abruptly left This Morning on Friday morning while clutching her chest. The ITV show began with Hammond and Dermot O'Leary at the helm, but she left after a segment about pets.
On-air exit
As Dr Scott Miller continued his segment, viewers could see Hammond clutching her chest as O'Leary escorted her away from the sofa. Heavy breathing and a loud retch could be heard off-camera.
O'Leary addressed her absence when the show returned after an advert break, saying: “Welcome back to This Morning, Alison is feeling a little unwell, so she’s just had to duck out. Hopefully she’ll be back.”
The former X Factor host later told viewers that Hammond would not be returning, and said: “Ali’s feeling a little unwell so I’ll be here for the rest of the show.”
Hospital update
The presenter has since issued an update on her Instagram from the hospital. Lying in the bed, she said: "Hello my lovelies, I know you're all worried about me. Honestly, I am fine. I'm getting the old ticker checked out."
"I had a little bit of a palpitation and now I'm getting it all checked out, but I think I'm okay. I'm hoping it was just a little panic attack or something like that."
She concluded: "I love you all, thank you for all your lovely messages. I'm so sorry I left you, I would never leave a TV show. But no, I wasn't very well... The doctors are so lovely and they're checking me out and hopefully everything's fine."
"Well, everything is fine! Look, I'm rocking it. Look how good I look, still got my makeup on from This Morning!"
Career highlights
Hammond joined the This Morning team not long after making her reality TV debut, initially working as a roving entertainment reporter before becoming one of the show's most recognisable faces.
In 2021, she stepped up to become a regular main presenter, joining Dermot O'Leary on Fridays as well as during school holidays and bank holidays.
Her television career has continued to go from strength to strength. In 2023, Hammond took on one of her biggest roles yet when she joined Noel Fielding as a presenter of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4.
The following year, she took on another much-loved presenting role, succeeding the late Paul O'Grady as host of ITV's For the Love of Dogs. Hammond quickly made the show her own, bringing her trademark warmth to her visits to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and winning over viewers as she met the dogs hoping to find their forever homes.
