Alison Hammond undergoes hospital heart checks after leaving live broadcast
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Alison Hammond has posted a video from hospital saying she feels fine as doctors check her heart after she became unwell during Friday’s live This Morning broadcast. She experienced palpitations and clutched her chest, then left the set with Dermot O’Leary and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Hammond, 51, said she hoped the episode was a panic attack and thanked viewers for their messages. O’Leary initially told viewers she had briefly stepped away, then confirmed she would not return to the programme. The incident occurred about an hour into the show while the presenters were speaking with TV vet Dr Scott Miller.
- Alison Hammond says she feels fine while doctors check her heart.
- She left This Morning after experiencing palpitations live on air.
- Dermot O’Leary finished the programme alone.
New here? Start with this
Alison Hammond is a television presenter on ITV's This Morning, one of Britain's most watched daytime shows. The 51-year-old is a familiar face to millions of viewers of the weekday morning programme.
During a live broadcast on Friday, Hammond experienced heart palpitations whilst on air approximately an hour into the show. She was visibly unwell and was quickly assisted away from the studio by her co-presenter Dermot O'Leary, prompting widespread concern from viewers who witnessed the sudden departure.
Hammond has previously spoken openly about her health journey, having lost significant weight in recent years following a pre-diabetes diagnosis that prompted major lifestyle changes. She is currently undergoing heart checks in hospital as a precautionary measure, and has indicated she believes the on-air episode may have been triggered by a panic attack.
Full account
Television presenter Alison Hammond was forced to abandon Friday's live broadcast of ITV's This Morning after experiencing chest discomfort during a segment about pets with co-host Dermot O'Leary. The 51-year-old became unwell approximately 90 minutes into the programme, visibly clutching her chest before O'Leary assisted her away from the studio. The live broadcast was interrupted by an advertisement break, after which O'Leary informed viewers of his colleague's abrupt departure without providing specific medical details.
Hammond was transported by ambulance to hospital for cardiac assessment. Later that afternoon, she posted a reassuring message from her hospital bed via social media, stating she was in stable condition undergoing heart tests. She attributed the incident to palpitations and suspected the episode may have resulted from anxiety rather than serious cardiac pathology. Expressing characteristic humour throughout her message, Hammond apologised for abandoning the programme, emphasising that such conduct would be entirely uncharacteristic of her professional approach.
The Birmingham-born presenter has built a substantial television career since gaining prominence on reality show Big Brother in the early 2000s. Her current broadcasting responsibilities include co-hosting The Great British Bake Off, presenting For the Love of Dogs, and serving as a regular Friday co-presenter on This Morning, a role which brought the programme a National Television Award for best daytime broadcasting. She has become recognised for high-profile television interviews and maintaining a prominent position within British popular culture.
Viewers expressed considerable concern online following the incident, with numerous social media users commenting on Hammond's wellbeing. O'Leary continued presenting solo for the remainder of Friday's programme after confirming Hammond would not be returning. Medical personnel at the hospital conducted investigations into her cardiac function. Hammond maintained her composure throughout the ordeal, joking whilst recovering that she had retained her television make-up from the morning's broadcast.
Where outlets differ
Source 3 states Hammond joined This Morning in 2003, whilst Source 2 specifies she became a co-host in 2021—the discrepancy likely reflects confusion between early guest appearances and formal co-hosting appointment
Source 1 provides more vivid description of the on-air incident, mentioning a television veterinarian appearing visibly worried and an audible retching sound in the background
Source 1 uniquely references Hammond's recent relationship with Russian model David Putman
Source 2 provides precise broadcast timings (10:00 BST start, 11:30 incident during pet segment)
Source 3 includes detail about Hammond's viral 2017 interview with Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford
More coverage
- BBC Entertainment — Alison Hammond has heart check-up in hospital after leaving TV's This Morning
- Deadline — ‘The Great British Bake Off’ Host Alison Hammond Has Heart Check After Health Scare Live On TV
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Alison Hammond shares video from her hospital bed and says her heart is being checked out after she was seen clutching her chest and rushed off air live on This Morning”.