Walking the red carpet at the BAFTAs last week, Alison Hammond appeared to be brimming with confidence as she posed for photographs hand-in-hand with her son, Aiden, 17.
The 47-year-old This Morning host – nominated alongside the likes of Graham Norton and Michael McIntyre in the entertainment performance category – looked sensational and couldn’t stop smiling in a bespoke dress and silver cape as she danced on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony.
Fans on social media described her glam look as “stunning”, “absolutely beautiful’’ and “perfection”, while others commented on her new confidence and star quality.
“The best I have seen her look. Dress, hair and make-up, stunning,” said one, while another added, “She’s done something, but whatever it is, it’s worked. She looks great.”
Alison herself Tweeted, “I was buzzing all night and, although I didn’t win a BAFTA, I did however feel like a winner standing next to my handsome son and wearing a bespoke @davidobrien75 dress.”
Last January, 19 years after she joined the programme as showbiz reporter, Alison landed a regular Friday morning slot presenting alongside Dermot O’Leary– an opportunity the former Big Brother star described as a “huge privilege and honour”.
While her witty and hilarious interviews with Hollywood stars, including Harrison Ford and The Rock, have had viewers in stitches, Alison’s confidence has soared recently, allowing her to tackle serious topics close to her heart – including speaking out against racism, opening up on single motherhood, and shedding light on the stereotypes suffered by people with obesity.
Now, insiders reveal that after years of suffering low self-esteem, she’s finally recognising her strengths.
“She’s feeling a million dollars at the moment. Her glam squad includes celeb make-up artist Mikey Phillips and she’s also working with celeb stylist Stevie B, who has been championing more daring choices and going for the ‘wow’ factor. She’d love to take over at This Morning as the new go-to favourite for stepping in when needed, and wants to be considered as a ‘first choice’ should either Holly or Phil decide to step down,” a source tells Closer.
“She’s finally starting to recognise her worth and can’t help feeling she’s been overlooked a little in the past.
“Coming from a reality television background, Alison just felt lucky to be in the This Morning studio and never wanted to rock the boat – but now she feels fully-fledged. She’s earned her stripes.”
Alison began acting professionally aged 13, but her big break came on Big Brother in 2002, quickly followed by stints on This Morning as well as reality shows including Celebrity Fit Club, I’m A Celebrity! and Strictly Come Dancing.
She fast became a fan favourite for her carefree and bubbly persona, but more recently opened up about traumas in her life, revealing how her obesity battle partly stems from her late father threatening to punish her with his belt if she didn’t finish her whole plate of Sunday lunch as a child.
After a gastric band procedure in 2014, Alison described it as “torture” when the scar tissue in her stomach swelled so much she was barely able to eat and often vomited – forcing her to have it removed two years later.
She went on to lose 2st after taking part in reality TV show, Sugar Free Farm in 2017 and became an ambassador for WW, but Alison has since admitted how she struggled through lockdown and has been diagnosed as pre-diabetic by her doctor.
Breaking down on screen in March as she detailed her journey with what she described as a “disease”, Alison sobbed, “I’ve had obesity all my life. Your regulation system is out of whack. You can’t control wanting to eat all the time.”
Alison now follows a healthy eating and exercise plan, but remains adamant that her size will no longer affect her life.
“I’m not going to stop enjoying myself or wearing sexy clothes or having sex with men,” she said in October.
And after recent reports suggested how the show’s golden girl, regular presenter Holly Willoughby, 41, could be set to leave This Morning to pursue her own passion projects – including wellness website Wylde Moon and more TV work alongside her producer husband, Dan Baldwin – the insider says Alison has the confidence to step up.
The source says, “Alison is not saying she wants to push anyone out of a job, especially not Holly who she has a lot of respect for, but there’s obviously been talk about the possibility of Holly wanting to move on at some point. That would mean a big shake-up when it comes to presenters and Alison wants the bosses to know that she’s very committed and eager to move up. She wants to be their first choice and feels that the work she is doing now is her best yet. It’s her time!”