Alison Hammond is doing “so much better” after suffering a “massive panic attack” during a live edition of This Morning. Host Susanna Reid said on Good Morning Britain on Monday that the TV presenter, 51, was doing “so much better” after she shared an update on her Instagram page.
Incident on live TV
Hammond was taken off air during Friday’s This Morning after becoming unwell while presenting alongside Dermot O’Leary. The presenter had appeared to clutch her chest before O’Leary accompanied her from the studio as the ITV programme cut to an advert break.
The show had been halfway through a segment about pets when the incident occurred, with O’Leary later telling viewers that Hammond was “feeling a little unwell” and had “had to duck out”. Hammond later revealed that she had been taken to hospital for checks on her heart, lungs and bloods after initially experiencing palpitations.
Hospital checks and update
In a video shared on Instagram, the This Morning star reassured fans that she was “fine” and joked about still having her make-up on from the programme. She said: “Hello, my lovelies. I know you’re all worried about me. Honestly, I am fine, first of all, but I’m getting my 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 OK. I’m hoping it was just a little panic attack or something like that.”
Hammond also apologised to viewers for leaving the programme, saying she would not normally walk away from a live TV show. She added: “I’m so sorry I left you. I would never normally do that. I would never leave a TV show – so you know I wasn’t very well. Hopefully I’m going to be all right. The doctors are so lovely, and they’re checking me out, and hopefully everything’s going to be fine. I love you.”
She later corrected herself and insisted: “Everything is fine!” The broadcaster then joked about her appearance, adding: “I’m rocking it. Look how good I look – still got my make-up on from this morning. Lush.” She captioned the video: “Anything to have a day off.”
Doctors find no underlying problem
Hammond has now revealed that doctors found no underlying problem after carrying out a series of tests. Sharing another video with her followers, 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. Thanks to everyone at the NHS who did the checks on my heart, lungs, bloods. I’m all okay. It’s all clear. Which would mean I had a massive panic attack on live TV. I mean, the shame of it.”
She admitted that the experience had felt “very real”, explaining that she was new to experiencing panic attacks and would now need to learn more about them. Hammond also thanked those who looked after her at This Morning, singling out O’Leary for being “incredible”.
She said: “Honestly, it’s really warmed my heart. I didn’t necessarily want to be on the news or anything like that but this is a new world to me. I’m going to take stock, get some rest and I’ll see you soon.” The presenter finished the video by blowing a kiss to the camera and saying: “Love ya.”
Career background
Hammond rose to fame after appearing as a contestant on Big Brother in 2002. She has since become one of British television’s most recognisable presenters, appearing on shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and Strictly Come Dancing. She first appeared on This Morning in 2003 before becoming a regular presenter on the ITV programme, taking on a permanent co-hosting role in 2021.
The presenter is also known for her candid celebrity interviews, including an infamous 2017 exchange with Harrison Ford when she admitted she had never seen his 1982 film Blade Runner while interviewing him about its sequel, Blade Runner 2049.
