Alison Hammond returned to This Morning on Friday (October 9) for the first time since being escorted off-air by co-star Dermot O'Leary during a panic attack. The presenter, 51, was greeted with a joke from Dermot: "Don't leave me like that again."
What happened on air
During last Friday's (October 2) episode of the ITV daytime show, Alison was quickly taken off the programme by Dermot while appearing to clutch her chest. She later revealed she had been taken to hospital but assured fans she was fine, posting an Instagram update filmed while lying down in a hospital gown, joking about still wearing her make-up from the morning.
Over the weekend, the Great British Bake Off host revealed she had left the set after suffering a "massive panic attack." In a video on Instagram she said: "Hi everyone. I’m just getting in touch to let you all know I’m home, I’m safe, and I’m feeling so much better."
Alison's message to viewers
Back on This Morning, Alison thanked Dermot and viewers for their messages of love and support, saying: "In that moment, it was probably one of the scariest things that I have ever been through, it was surreal. I felt like I'd gone into another world... I felt like I went into that upside down world, I couldn't grasp my breath and it was a panic attack."
She added: "I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack." Alison also said: "I'm so glad I'm here. I'm so grateful, I'm so thankful to God, to everything in life. I'm so happy that I'm here and I'm so happy to see you [Dermot]. You were so wonderful and I'm so glad we're alive. If anything, it's made me look at life so differently."
Missing the Attitude Awards
Alison missed the Attitude Awards at London's Roundhouse on Wednesday (October 7), where she won The Honorary Gay Award. Kate Lawler accepted the award in her absence, reading a pre-written speech in which Alison apologised and said: "Some of you may have seen I've recently had a very public episode live on television. And let's be honest, if you’re going to have a breakdown, you might as well have it on ITV with loads of people watching."
Kate added: "I've spoken to Alison since, and it was one of the scariest things she has gone through. She didn't think she was having a panic attack, she thought she was having a f**king heart attack."
