British television presenter Alison Hammond was rushed to the hospital from the set of ITV’s This Morning after experiencing sudden heart palpitations during a live broadcast. The 51-year-old host was presenting the live Friday episode alongside co-host Dermot O’Leary when she abruptly left the sofa and exited the studio before an ad break.
Alison Hammond leaves live broadcast during pet segment
Friday’s edition of the ITV show began at 10:00 BST with Hammond and O’Leary at the helm. At approximately 11:30 BST, during a segment about pets and veterinary advice featuring Dr. Scott Miller, Hammond was seen breathing heavily before making a swift exit. When the program returned from the commercial break, O’Leary addressed viewers directly about her sudden absence. “Welcome back to This Morning, Alison is feeling a little unwell, so she’s just had to duck out,” O’Leary told the audience. O’Leary later informed viewers that Hammond would not return for the remainder of the broadcast.
Hammond undergoes cardiac checks after heart palpitations
Later on Friday, Hammond shared a video update with her 1.9 million Instagram followers from a hospital bed, confirming she was undergoing cardiac checks. “Hello my lovelies, I know you’re all worried about me,” she said in the video message. “Honestly I am fine, first of all. I’m getting me old ticker checked out, I had a little bit of a palpitation, and now I’m getting it all checked out, but I think I’m okay.” Hammond added that she suspected the incident might have been a panic attack, noting that the medical staff were lovely and running appropriate tests. Despite wearing a hospital gown, the presenter appeared in good spirits and joked in her video caption, “Anything to have a day off,” while noting she was still wearing her television make-up.
Health scare occurs during busy professional period
The health scare occurred during a busy professional period for Hammond, who rose to fame as a contestant on Channel 4 reality show Big Brother in 2002. She joined This Morning as a regular host in 2021, eventually winning a National Television Award for best daytime program with the team. In addition to her morning television duties, Hammond began co-hosting The Great British Bake Off alongside Noel Fielding in 2023 and took over hosting duties for For the Love of Dogs in 2024. Just a week prior to her hospital admission, Hammond made headlines on the program by discussing her amicable 21-year co-parenting relationship with her ex-partner and the father of her son, Aidan.
What time did Alison Hammond leave the set?
What time did Alison Hammond leave the This Morning set?
Hammond left the live broadcast at approximately 11:30 BST during a pet segment on Friday’s episode.
Who co-hosted the ITV program during the incident?
Dermot O’Leary co-hosted the episode alongside Hammond and managed the broadcast solo for the remainder of the show after her departure.
What specific symptoms prompted Hammond’s hospital visit?
Hammond stated in her social media video that she experienced heart palpitations while on air, which led her to seek medical evaluation at a hospital.
Which other television shows does Hammond currently present?
Hammond serves as a co-host on The Great British Bake Off and presents For the Love of Dogs, alongside her regular role on This Morning.
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