ALISON Hammond has revealed that she worked as a receptionist after her This Morning TV career stalled.
Not only did she have to work a regular job, but she couldn’t afford her mortgage and was at risk of losing her home, until her mum paid it for her.
Six years into her career on This Morning, which began in 2002, things looked grim for Alison’s future on the show.
She thought her TV career was over in around 2008 when they got another TV star to do celebrity interviews.
Speaking to the Daily Mail in a new interview, Alison said: “They got Peter Andre in to do the junkets [celebrity interviews] instead of me, so I thought, ‘That’s it. It’s TV. Up and down’.”
But instead of letting the bump in her career get her down, Alison got a regular job away from TV to tide herself over.
While she was getting her hair done one day, she discovered the salon needed a receptionist.
Bold and confident, Alison asked if she could have the job, and they said yes.
“They also let me do the odd blow-dry,” she explained.
Alison added: “And my mum paid my mortgage so I didn’t lose my house.”
The beloved TV star got her on-screen career back and by lockdown, things were going even better for the star.
This comes as things are going well for the TV presenter, who now fronts This Morning every Friday with Dermot O’Leary.
She originally began hosting small showbiz segments on This Morning after her Big Brother success in 2002.
Her first appearance on the daytime show was in September 2002, when she headed up a “roving reporter” role for a diet segment.
Alison then went on to appear on many television programmes, including Celebrity Fit Club, Celebrities Under Pressure, and Big Star’s Little Star.
She has also appeared on Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes.
Alison also became a panellist on Loose Women, and in 2014, she competed in the 12th series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The This Morning star’s career is now more set in stone with her regular gig on the daytime show.
Her love life is also stable too, and she has been dating Russian model David since 2023, though keeps their relationship fairly private.
Alison’s romance was a surprise to many due to David’s age, with her beau thought to be turning 29 next month.
However, Alison – who is a mum to 20-year-old son Aiden – has said their love transcends any age barriers in a new admission.
Addressing the difference, the TV star explained: “I completely understand why people are interested when there’s a 22-year gap, but what I find interesting is that it’s not as interesting when it’s the man who is older.”
Talking to the Daily Mail, she continued: “Why is that? I just want people to be happy for us.
“We are absolutely in love.’
Alison’s comments comes after she revealed things were going “really, really well” for the couple back in December.
Ahead of spending Christmas together, along with her son Aiden, Alison gushed over her other half.
“Things are going really, really well,” she told the Mirror.
