With the toxicity behind the scenes at This Morning following Phillip Schofield’s shock exit still rumbling on, it’s been made crystal clear that even the most popular of ITV’s stars can fall from great heights.
And last week, despite her incredible Hollywood glow-up, new golden girl Alison Hammond was keen to remind the daytime show’s viewers and her fans just why they fell in love with her as she shared her own insecurities and vulnerabilities.
Comforting an emotional caller who bravely opened up about her struggle with Lymphoedema, which she revealed caused her legs to swell, Alison, 48, offered advice on how to deal with thoughtless people who are quick to stare at other people’s bodies.
After being told by viewer Elaine that she was too scared to go to the beach in fear of judgement, Alison looked into the camera, responding, “I know exactly how you’re feeling but you can do this, you can be strong.”
She then admitted that she still continues to battle with her own body image, adding, “I have insecurities too. It’s not all perfect, what you see on TV. I don’t like taking my jacket off [on-screen]. But you’ve got to enjoy your life as, before you know it, we’re not here.”
Now a source reveals how the caller has sparked a new determination in Alison, who is keen to speak up about body positivity to support other women.
The insider says, “Alison has found that talking about her own struggles is a good way to feel that she can make a positive contribution and it’s helping her to take the focus off allegations of a toxic culture at ITV. She wants to show people she’s still the same person with the same daily struggles.
“It’s important to her to be a role model for people who feel helpless. Weight loss is a constant struggle that she’s lived with through her whole life, and she is determined to talk more about it to help others.”
Last year, Alison – who at her biggest was a size 28 and weighed over 20st – tearfully opened up to another caller over her own experience with obesity, sobbing, “It’s really difficult. You want all the bad things and you know you don’t look great. Sorry. It really touches me. The NHS need to see it more as a disease.”
Back in 2002 she was publicly humiliated when she broke a table during her Big Brother appearance, and in 2007, she admitted to having to hold back tears when a chair collapsed during her interview with actor Matt Damon. She has openly spoken about dieting and starred on Sugar Free Farm alongside Gemma Collins in 2017. Two years later she joined Weight Watchers, citing health reasons, and has been deluged with supportive messages from fans since as she has shown off her new figure.
The source adds, “Alison has felt humiliation in the past, but now she’s being looked up to for her incredible transformation. Still, there are some days where she doesn’t quite know how far she’s come.
“She would like to do her own documentary on obesity and feels she has a lot of responsibility in being a positive role model.
“She’s not afraid to talk about it or have a debate. She won’t be made to feel ashamed anymore and feels really empowered thanks to her success on screen.”
