Martin Frizell has spoken candidly about the devastating impact of his wife Fiona Phillips' ongoing battle with Alzheimer's disease. The former This Morning editor appeared on Lorraine Kelly's ITV programme to provide a heartfelt update on Fiona's condition and to launch a stark critique of government inaction regarding dementia research.
A Personal Struggle with a Progressive Disease
Fiona Phillips, the celebrated journalist and broadcaster, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at just 61 years old. Now 65, she lives with what Martin describes as a "wretched" progressive brain disorder that causes severe decline in memory, thinking, and behaviour. Martin, 67, left his position at ITV after a decade to care for his wife full-time in 2024, and collaborated with her on her memoir, Remember When.
The Emotional Toll on Caregivers
Opening up about the emotional burden, Martin revealed he has battled "slipping into a depression" while watching Fiona "slip away" day by day. He shared a poignant new image of Fiona taken recently, explaining her deteriorating memory. "She doesn't remember Valentine's Day, she doesn't remember Christmas now, she doesn't remember New Year's," he told Lorraine. "It's wretched... not just for her but for the family as well."
Martin described the painful loss of dignity for his formerly dynamic wife, known for her bubbly personality and pride in her appearance. He acknowledged his own mental health struggles, stating, "I am conscious that I've never been a depressive person but I can slip into that." His respite comes from returning to broadcasting and podcasting work, though he admits to feeling guilty when away from Fiona.
Fiona's Current Condition and Small Joys
Despite the challenges, Martin emphasised that Fiona remains "very much with us" and retains her stubborn nature. He shared touching details about their daily life, including playing Rod Stewart music—a singer Fiona interviewed and befriended during her reporting career. "I think she's a contender for Rochelle and Marvin Humes' The Hit List because she can do all the tunes," he noted with affection.
Government Criticism and Funding Disparities
Martin delivered a pointed critique of government health policy, specifically targeting Health Secretary Wes Streeting. He expressed frustration that since Fiona's book was published in July 2025, he has noticed minimal public discussion about Alzheimer's. "Since I last spoke about her book, nobody has spoken about Alzheimer's. Wes Streeting—where is he on this? There's been nothing," he stated.
He highlighted that one of Streeting's first actions was cancelling targets for diagnosing Alzheimer's, a move criticised by charities and experts. Martin drew attention to significant funding disparities, noting, "Cancer gets sometimes as much as ten times as much funding as Alzheimer's and Dementia." He revealed his painful wish that Fiona had been diagnosed with cancer instead, because "there's drugs [to help]."
Martin criticised the NHS's reluctance to fund new American Alzheimer's drugs due to "cost benefit analysis," while Fiona remains on the same medication her mother received two decades ago.
Practical Advice for Dementia Caregivers
Drawing from his experience, Martin shared crucial advice for those caring for loved ones with dementia. He emphasised that challenging incorrect statements is counterproductive. "The experts say you are not supposed to challenge someone with Alzheimer's when they're saying things that are completely wrong," he explained, recalling moments when Fiona has insisted, "You're not my husband!"
He stressed that the most important rule is to avoid saying "no," instead maintaining rapport even during uncomfortable exchanges. "The textbooks say to never argue with a dementia patient," Martin noted, adding that with Fiona's strong personality, "even before the illness you could never win an argument."
Family Dynamics and Support Shortfalls
The couple lives with their two adult sons, Nathaniel, 26, and Mackenzie, 23, who also navigate Fiona's distressing delusions. Martin described elaborate scenarios where he must pretend to smuggle Fiona away from her parents, walking around the block while she proclaims, "I'll never forgive you for tricking me," before returning home as if nothing happened.
Despite anticipating the diagnosis as Fiona became increasingly withdrawn and anxious, Martin said the confirmation was "awful." He highlighted the lack of support for approximately 70,000 people with early-onset Alzheimer's in the UK. "As a family we are just kind of left to get through it and at some point we will need more support but there's just nothing really. You become kind of invisible," he told the Telegraph in a recent interview.
Martin also noted the delicate balance of discussing the disease, explaining that mentioning "Alzheimer's or dementia" upsets Fiona because "she knows the way it's going." His appearance on Lorraine aimed to raise awareness and pressure the government to increase research funding and support for dementia patients and their families.
