Martin Frizell, husband of former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, has revealed a heartbreaking moment when she failed to recognise their eldest son due to her Alzheimer's disease. In an extract from Phillips' upcoming memoir, Frizell describes how she became 'terribly distressed' after asking who the man in their kitchen was, not realising it was their son Nathaniel, 26.
Phillips, 64, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2023, initially mistaking her symptoms for menopause. The couple had feared the disease might be genetic and affect their sons, but genetic testing later confirmed they are not at risk.
Frizell, who recently stepped down as editor of ITV's This Morning, also shared that Phillips sometimes suffers from delusions, including once believing he had kidnapped her. He explained that while she usually recognises him, she doesn't always know he is her husband.
Phillips, who cared for both her parents with Alzheimer's, has been an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society and made documentaries about the disease. Her memoir, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, is set to be published.
