Alison Hammond makes This Morning return after health scare
Alison was forced to leave the show last Friday
Last updated 9th Oct 2026
A week on from her health scare live on This Morning, much-loved TV presenter Alison Hammond has returned to the popular show in full spirits.
Appearing alongside co-host Dermot O'Leary, Alison was her usual bubbly self as the pair briefly spoke to Lorraine Kelly before the show started at 10am.
Alison started the show by thanking both Dermot and viewers at home for their messages, before saying: "It was the scariest thing that I have ever been through, it was surreal.
"i felt like I'd gone into the upside down world, I couldn't grasp my breath and it was a panic attack. It's the first time I've ever experienced anything like that and secondly it was live on TV. I thought OMG my son might be watching so I just ran off.
" I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack."
Alison, who confirmed earlier this week she'd suffered a panic attack live on air, chose not to attend the Attitude Awards on Wednesday night (7th October), where she picked up The Honorary Gay Award at London’s Roundhouse.
Sending her Big Brother friend Kate Lawler in her absence, Kate told the audience: “I’ve spoken to Alison since and it was one of the scariest things she has gone through. She didn't think she was having a panic attack, she thought she was having a f---ing heart attack.”
Going on to read out an acceptance speech from Alison, Kate revealed she was incredibly disappointed to not be able to attend the event.
Alison later took to social media to share a photo of Kate with her award, writing: 'Thanks so much Kate for picking up this incredible award for me. I'm so proud to have my honorary Gay award'.
After falling ill whilst presenting This Morning alongside Dermot O'Leary last Friday (2nd October), Alison was rushed to hospital with heavy breathing and pains in her chest.
The Bake Off presenter updated fans from her hospital bed later in the day, revealing the NHS were carrying out all of the necessary checks, but she later revealed she'd suffered a 'massive panic attack'.
Posting a video from the comfort of her own home, Alison told her Instagram followers: "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 same of it.
"But it felt very real to me. I’m really new to panic attacks, so I need to learn more about it."
She later added: "I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone at This Morning who looked after me. All of your messages. Dermot, who’s just been incredible.
"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."
Check out Alison Hammond's amazing career so far:
For many of us, this was the first we'd ever see of TV darling and ultimate hun, Alice Hammond. But who could have seen her stratospheric success following her 2002 debut on Big Brother? Here's how she did it...
Before entering the mile-a-minute world of early '00s reality TV, Alison worked as an actress and had parts in 1997 drama The Locksmith and Doctors.
But it was her time in the Big Brother house, among other household names like Kate Lawler and Jade Goody house that really launched her rising star, and she left 11th place - WHAT were we thinking?
Later that year, Alison was invited to join the panel of ITV's Loose Women for the first time, and went on to become a regular fixture.
It was the following year though that Alison really came into her own as a valued member of the ITV family, landing the job of UK showbiz correspondent.
And BOY, did she smash it, with some of the most memorable and HILARIOUS interviews of all time (yes, we went there) under her belt. There was the enduring love affair with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson...
... the most magical Christmas moment since the birth of Jesus Christ...
... the undeniable flirty tension between her and Hollywood heartthrob Tom Cruise (back when he was slightly less problematic)...
And, who could forget, the time she met Arnie. Basically, Alison's phonebook is a who's who of the Hollywood elite.
But don't go thinking that megawatt celebrity interviews were the one string to her bow, think again. She's been a regular fixture on reality TV ever since 2002, and in 2004 joined Celebrity Fit Club.
It was only a matter of time really, wasn't it? In 2010, the fate of her career was well and truly sealed when she was invited into the jungle alongside Stacey Solomon, Gillian McKeith and Shaun Ryder, placing 10th.
Slightly less high-profile (but undoubtedly a whole lot more luxurious - even with the on-board toilets), in 2012 she starred on Celebrity Coach Trip where she visited Trieste, Italy, and Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Fast forward to 2014 and she joined the celebrity line up of MasterChef, but despite her best efforts in the kitchen missed on first place to actress Sophie Thompson.
Later in 2014, Alison, the humble gal from Birmingham, scored the holy trifecta of reality TV when she took part in Strictly Come Dancing with pro dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, placing 10th.
Alison made her children's TV debut in 2016 with a role in CBBC favourite and Tracy Beakers spin off, The Dumping Ground. She played steely, scary Ofsted inspector Rowena Spike.
Possibly one of the most underrated reality TV shows of the decade, the Celebrity Haunted Mansion opened it's doors to Alison in 2018, along with the likes of Simon from Blue, Katie Price, Luisa Zissman, Made In Chelsea's Marc Frances, TOWIE's Lydia Bright, and Corrie's Simon Gregson. WTH?
In 2019, Alison joined the cast of one of our fave dating shows, Celebs Go Dating. She had something of a romantic dalliance with TOWIE's James Lock, an obligatory break down on the agency sofa, and cemented herself as queen of our hearts.
Proving she's got a heart as big as her personality, in 2020 Alison joined the group of celebs under the marquee for the Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake off.
During the pandemic, Alison turned her hand to some serious reporting when she went back to school for an ITV documentary by the same name in a bid to have Black history added into the UK curriculum. Noble work indeed.
The ultimate career highlight: in late 2020, Alison landed the coveted role of This Morning host alongside Dermot O'Leary, taking over the Friday show from Ruth and Eamonn Holmes.
Author: Alex Ross
Alex Ross is a Digital Content Editor across Rayo brands, including the Hits Radio Network, Greatest Hits Radio, KISS, Cool FM and Magic Radio. After beginning her career as a Marketing Intern with Bauer Media in 2016, she transitioned into digital editorial and has spent the past decade creating engaging content for millions of readers. Whether it’s reality shows, sitcoms, gritty crime dramas or hard-hitting documentaries, Alex is an expert in all things TV, as well as knowing the ins and outs of celebrities.