This Morning is all set for change following the exit of the flagship ITV show’s boss Martin Frizell. And his emotional decision to step down last month after a decade at the helm so he can be ‘around much more’ for his wife – former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, who is battling Alzheimer’s disease – has left presenter Alison Hammond ‘devastated’.
‘He’s been a real rock for the show. He’s going to be sadly missed,’ she said.
The former Big Brother star credits Martin, 65, for her thriving TV career. ‘I’m really thankful to Martin. He’s the one who got me back on TV. He literally was like, “Alison’s really good, why don’t we use her?” He was the guy who made me the girl.’
And now insiders say Martin’s departure has left Alison, 49, worried for her future on This Morning, which she mainly co-hosts with Dermot O’Leary.
‘With the editor of This Morning leaving, there is set to be a major shake-up on the show – and Alison is one of many stars on the show who are extremely worried about what the future will hold,’ our source tells Closer.
‘Alison was a big fan of Martin, and he always championed her. He’s seen her meteoric rise to the very top and she feels a bit shaky and vulnerable about the idea of someone new coming in and switching things up.’
The source adds, ‘Martin’s exit has come as a shock, and while she completely understands his position and admires him for prioritising his family, Alison can’t help feeling very unsettled. She loves what she does and doesn’t want anything to change that. But things could easily shake up under new leadership.’