Fiona Phillips' Husband Provides Heartfelt Update on Alzheimer's Journey
Martin Frizell, husband of beloved television presenter Fiona Phillips, has shared an emotional update regarding his wife's ongoing battle with Alzheimer's disease. The former GMTV host, now 65 years old, received her diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's in 2023 after experiencing persistent symptoms including brain fog and anxiety.
"She's Still Very Much With Us"
During a recent appearance on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Frizell offered viewers a poignant glimpse into their family's reality. "To this day, Fiona is still very much with us," he affirmed. "She still looks the same. She was the world's most stubborn woman, and she's still the world's most stubborn woman, which is difficult when you try to give her medicine."
Frizell, who served as producer for This Morning for a decade until last year, explained that Phillips copes with her condition by avoiding discussion of the illness itself. "Her way of dealing with it, and everyone's different, is that she doesn't want to talk about the A-word, so we don't," he revealed. Instead, Phillips maintains her belief that she suffers from chronic depression, which Frizell confirmed is indeed another symptom of her condition.
Family History and Genetic Predisposition
When questioned by host Susanna Reid about whether Phillips inherited the disease from her parents, both of whom suffered from Alzheimer's, Frizell clarified the situation. "We did have a test and they said it's not genetic but she's more predisposed to it because both her parents had it," he explained. "She probably knew this was coming. It's not an old person's disease. You can get it at any age, children can get it and she got it in her fifties."
Frizell reflected on their family's communication about the illness, suggesting that perhaps more open discussion would have been beneficial. "We never spoke about it. Maybe we should – maybe the lesson is that people should speak about these things," he mused. "It's a difficult discussion to have. What should we do if X, Y and Z happens?"
Call for Increased Research Funding
The television producer issued a powerful plea for greater government investment in Alzheimer's research during his television appearance. "Why are we not putting more money into Britain's biggest killer?" he demanded. "It seems to be that Alzheimer's is the poor relation to all the other big diseases, something like cancer. The money isn't there."
Family Life and Personal Details
Frizell and Phillips have been married since 1997 and reside in south London with their two sons, Nathaniel and Mackenzie. Phillips documented her experiences with the disease in her memoir Remember When, published last year. Frizell stepped down from his role at This Morning in December 2024, citing anticipated changes in family priorities for 2026.
The couple's journey continues as they navigate the challenges of Alzheimer's together, with Frizell's recent comments providing both a touching personal update and a broader call to action regarding dementia research and awareness.
