Alison Hammond left the This Morning studio on live television on Friday, October 2, 2026, clutching her chest and struggling to breathe. Her co-host Dermot O’Leary told viewers she was “feeling a little unwell” and would be stepping away. She did not return. She was taken to hospital.
Within hours, Hammond posted from her hospital bed to reassure fans she was being checked out. By Saturday, she confirmed the full picture: NHS doctors had tested her heart, lungs, and blood. Everything came back clear. The diagnosis was a panic attack, a severe one, experienced in front of a live national audience.
Here is the full account of what happened, what Hammond has said since, and the career context behind one of British television’s most visible figures going through a health scare in real time.
What Happened on This Morning on October 2, 2026
Hammond and her regular Friday co-host Dermot O’Leary were presenting a segment about pets when the incident occurred. Without warning, Hammond left the studio mid-broadcast.
Viewers who watched the moment described it as alarming. One viewer tweeted: “Just watched This Morning seeing Alison Hammond get rushed off set clutching her chest was scary.”
After a commercial break, O’Leary addressed the situation. “Welcome back to This Morning,” he said. “Alison is feeling a little unwell, so she’s just had to duck out. Hopefully she’ll be back.”
She was not. O’Leary later confirmed that Hammond would not be returning and presented the remainder of the programme alone. Hammond was taken to hospital for evaluation.
Alison Hammond’s Statement From Hospital
Later on October 2, Hammond posted a video to her Instagram Stories from the hospital. She was wearing a hospital gown but appeared in good spirits, noting that she still had her makeup on from the morning broadcast.
“Hello, my lovelies,” she began. “I know you’re all worried about me. 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.”
She told followers she suspected it may have been a panic attack rather than a cardiac event. “I’m hoping it was just a little panic attack or something like that.”
She also apologized for leaving mid-show. “I’m so sorry I left you. I would never normally do that.”
Hammond later confirmed she was discharged from hospital and went home to rest.
Alison Hammond has reassured viewers after her sudden exit from the ‘This Morning’ studio while on air raised concern.
Posting from hospital, the TV personality said ‘everything is fine’ but that she’s getting her heart checked out. https://t.co/jipqbYSgfG
— TheShadeBorough (@theshadeborough) October 2, 2026
The All-Clear: Panic Attack Confirmed
On Saturday, October 3, Hammond posted a second update that provided the definitive answer.
“Thanks to everyone at the NHS who did the checks on my heart, lungs, bloods,” she said. “I’m all okay. It’s all clear. Which would mean that I had a massive panic attack on live TV.”
She acknowledged that panic attacks were new territory for her. “I’m really new to panic attacks, I need to learn more about it,” she said.
Hammond thanked the This Morning team, her fans, and O’Leary specifically. “I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone at This Morning who looked after me, all of your messages, Dermot, who has just been incredible.”
When This Morning returned on Monday, October 5, co-hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard opened with an update. “We just wanted to start with some good news about Alison,” Deeley said. “After she fell unwell during the show, she was taken to the hospital for checks, but now, thankfully, she has been given the all clear.”
Shephard added: “She’s home and resting and already feeling a lot better.” The show then played the video Hammond had shared over the weekend.
What Is Known About Alison Hammond’s Health History
The October 2 panic attack is the most significant on-air health incident Hammond has experienced, but it is not the first time health has affected her schedule.
In May 2026, Hammond missed a Friday edition of This Morning due to severe hay fever. Lisa Snowdon stepped in alongside O’Leary. Hammond described the episode as the “worst hay fever” she had experienced, saying it had “hit me like a bus.” O’Leary told viewers he suspected it was more than hay fever and might have been the flu.
Hammond has also been open about her mental health history. In her book “You’ve Got to Laugh,” she shared that she has PTSD connected to childhood bullying. She was taunted over her weight at school, with classmates calling her an “elephant.” She has described how references to elephants can still trigger anxiety and palpitations years later.
In recent years, Hammond has also spoken publicly about her weight loss journey. She has lost approximately 11 stone and has denied using Ozempic or other weight loss injections, attributing the change to lifestyle adjustments.
Who Is Alison Hammond? A Career Built on Personality
For readers outside the UK, Alison Hammond is one of the most recognized television presenters in Britain. She occupies a rare position in the industry: a figure who appears on multiple flagship programmes simultaneously and whose personal warmth has made her genuinely beloved rather than merely famous.
Hammond was born on February 5, 1975, in Birmingham, England, to parents of Jamaican descent. Before television, she worked as a holiday rep. Her first on-screen appearances came through small acting roles in British television shows during the 1990s, including Doctors, Palace Hill, and Chalkface.
Her breakthrough came in 2002 when she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Big Brother UK on Channel 4. She was the second housemate evicted, leaving on Day 15. But the eviction did not end her career. It started it.
After Big Brother, ITV’s This Morning hired her as a reporter. Her celebrity interviews became viral events long before that word applied to television. Her interviews with Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling remain among the most shared clips in British daytime TV history. In 2021, she was promoted from reporter to main presenter, taking over the Friday slot alongside Dermot O’Leary after Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford departed.
In March 2023, Channel 4 announced Hammond as the new co-host of The Great British Bake Off, replacing Matt Lucas and joining Noel Fielding. She returned to the show in 2026 alongside Fielding, Paul Hollywood, and Nigella Lawson.
In 2023, she co-hosted the 76th BAFTA Film Awards with Richard E. Grant. In 2024, she took over as presenter of ITV’s For the Love of Dogs, following the death of Paul O’Grady.
As of January 2026, Hammond also hosts the official Bake Off podcast. She has been dating David Putman, a masseuse, since late 2023. She has one son, Aidan, born in 2005 from her former relationship with Noureddine Boufaied.
What Happens Next for Alison Hammond
Hammond has been given the all-clear and is resting at home. Her co-hosts on This Morning confirmed on October 5 that she is “already feeling a lot better.”
There has been no announcement regarding any extended absence from either This Morning or The Great British Bake Off. Based on her own statements and the updates from her colleagues, Hammond is expected to return to her presenting duties once she has recovered.
The panic attack, while frightening in the moment, has not been linked to any underlying heart or lung condition. Hammond herself has said she plans to learn more about panic attacks going forward.
Quick-Reference Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alison Hammond |
| Born | February 5, 1975, Birmingham, England |
| Age | 51 |
| Heritage | British-Jamaican |
| Career Start | Big Brother UK Series 3 (2002) |
| Current Roles | This Morning (ITV, Friday presenter), The Great British Bake Off (Channel 4, co-host) |
| Co-Hosts | Dermot O’Leary (This Morning), Noel Fielding (Bake Off) |
| Health Incident | October 2, 2026: Panic attack on live TV during This Morning |
| Hospital Result | All clear after checks on heart, lungs, and blood |
| Partner | David Putman (since late 2023) |
| Son | Aidan (born 2005) |
| Notable Weight Loss | Approximately 11 stone |
| Book | “You’ve Got to Laugh” |
| Other Shows | For the Love of Dogs (2024), BAFTA Film Awards (2023), Celebrity MasterChef (2014) |
FAQs
What happened to Alison Hammond on This Morning?
Hammond left the This Morning studio during a live broadcast on Friday, October 2, 2026, after experiencing chest palpitations. She was taken to hospital for evaluation. NHS doctors checked her heart, lungs, and blood, and she was given the all-clear. She later confirmed the incident was a panic attack.
Did Alison Hammond have a heart attack?
No. Hammond initially suspected a heart palpitation and was taken to hospital as a precaution. After thorough testing, doctors confirmed there were no cardiac issues. The episode was determined to be a panic attack.
Is Alison Hammond okay now?
Yes. On October 3, Hammond confirmed she had been given the all-clear and was at home resting. On October 5, her This Morning co-hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard told viewers she was “already feeling a lot better.”
Has Alison Hammond had panic attacks before?
Hammond said she is “really new to panic attacks” and wants to learn more about them. She has previously disclosed in her book that she experiences PTSD-related anxiety connected to childhood bullying.
Will Alison Hammond return to This Morning?
No extended absence has been announced. Based on her own statements and the updates from her colleagues, Hammond is expected to return to her presenting duties after resting and recovering.
What shows does Alison Hammond present?
Hammond co-hosts This Morning on ITV every Friday with Dermot O’Leary. She also co-hosts The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4 alongside Noel Fielding. In 2024, she began presenting For the Love of Dogs on ITV.
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