Martin Frizell, the husband of former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, has opened up about a distressing moment in her Alzheimer's journey. In an interview with Bella magazine, he recalled how Fiona mistook their son for an intruder when he returned home from the army. 'Who's that man in the kitchen?' she asked. Frizell gently replied, 'That's Nat. Our son. He's home for the weekend.' He added that she was so distressed she didn't seem upset by her own question.
Fiona Phillips was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in 2022. The couple met in the 1990s while both working for GMTV, got engaged after just four weeks, and married in 1997. They have two sons, Mackenzie and Nathaniel. Frizell stepped down from his role at This Morning in February to focus on caring for his wife.
Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia in the UK, according to the NHS, causing a progressive decline in brain function. Risk factors include age, family history, untreated depression, lifestyle, and cardiovascular conditions. Phillips has been an Alzheimer's Society Ambassador since 2007, campaigning after her parents and uncle were also diagnosed with dementia.
Earlier this month, Phillips released a memoir, 'Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer's', detailing her battle with the condition. The Alzheimer's Society Dementia Support Line is available at 0333 150 3456 or alzheimers.org.uk.
