Alison Hammond appeared proud as punch as she posed for a rare selfie alongside her son as they both headed out to support Dermot O'Leary as he took on a very different role. Fans are used to seeing Alison and Dermot fronting This Morning every Friday and during the various holidays throughout the year.
But this week, during his time away from the ITV daytime show, Dermot, who is used to being in front of the camera as a presenter or behind the radio mic on BBC Radio 2, has been appearing on stage.
The 49-year-old has spent the last few days being the live and in-person narrator in Bleak Expectations - The Play at the Criterion Theatre in London's West End. "So, I appear to have tripped and somehow fallen onto the West End stage for a week…" Dermot posted on social media.
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"Luckily, I’ve got a wonderful cast & crew to hold my hand as I narrate the brilliant Dickensian parody - ‘Bleak Expectations’ at The Criterion theatre for one week only. (This week in fact. Until Sunday.) Not gonna lie: am a tiny bit nervous, so wanted to get a night under my belt before I uttered a word about it."
He added: "If you come, I hope you enjoy. It’s good to be terrified once in a while." And he didn't need to be terrified on Thursday night (May 11) as Alison headed to be in the audience alongside her teenage son Aiden.
Sharing a selfie to her Instagram Story of the pair outside the theatre, Alison wrote: "We are coming to see ya @dermotoleary." The 48-year-old former Big Brother star then shared a follow-up post featuring another selfie of herself and Aiden sat ready to watch the play.
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Tagging the show and Dermot, Alison added a GIF which said: "We are family!" And the new Great British Bake Off host appeared impressed by what she saw as she later posted a snap of herself with the cast - including Dermot.
"Thanks for a wonderful night. So, so funny," she typed with a crying laughing emoji. The post was then shared by Dermot to his own Instagram Story as he cheered: "She came!"
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Alison and Dermot, replaced Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as the main hosts of Friday This Morning, joining the show's main hosting duo Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. However, Alison had already spent the best part of 20 years on the programme, often being sent out to play games with members of the public and interviewing some of Hollywood's biggest stars.
There has previously been rumours that the pair weren't gelling behind the scenes but they have since gone on to disprove those claims. In June this year, a spokesman for This Morning was forced to confirm that the duo have become firm friends - and even socialise away from work together.
Alison has even previously shared how Dermot accompanied her to the doctors when she took her son during Dermot's planned visit to her Birmingham-based home. And she even previously called Dermot her son's 'TV dad'.
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