In a dramatic twist on Monday’s edition of This Morning, host Alison Hammond interrupted a light-hearted chat with her co-stars Dermot O’Leary, Alison Phillips, and Gyles Brandreth to deliver urgent international news. Mid-conversation, she suddenly paused and declared, “I do have some breaking news for you,” capturing the attention of viewers across the nation.
Hammond revealed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had just landed in Saudi Arabia. His arrival, she explained, was to engage in high-level talks with two key Russian figures. This move comes as part of a broader diplomatic effort, with Rubio set to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov—an advisor to President Vladimir Putin, as reported by the Mirror.
According to a Kremlin spokesperson, both Lavrov and Ushakov are en route to Saudi Arabia to join forces with Rubio and US military adviser Keith Kellogg. Their combined efforts are aimed at preparing negotiations with Ukraine, marking the first face-to-face talks between the United States and Russian officials in two years.
Amid this unfolding diplomatic scene, Alison Hammond interrupted her colleague Alison Phillips, who was mid-sentence sharing her views on the peace efforts. Hammond interjected, “Well, can I just tell you some breaking news.” She then elaborated on the situation, noting, “Talking of America’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio has touched down in Saudi Arabia, this morning to start face-to-face talks with Russian officials for the first time in two years,” as reported by Wales Online. Her announcement sent ripples through the studio, underscoring the gravity of the international developments at hand.
This Monday broadcast saw Hammond and Dermot O’Leary stepping in for regular presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, both of whom are taking a brief break over the half-term. Ben Shephard, aged 50, recently confirmed on Instagram that he is pausing his TV duties, reassuring fans with his promise to return after a short hiatus. In his post, he enthused, “Ahhh lovely end of the week for me and @catdeeley Thanks for all your messages. I hope everyone is ready for some hardcore valentines/palentines/galentines (delete where appropriate) action!!” He also shared snapshots from last Thursday’s edition of This Morning, adding, “We’ll be back in the studio after half term!! Thanks @kenmckayphoto for these ace pics too.”
As global diplomacy unfolds with Rubio’s pivotal role in the discussions with Russian officials, This Morning provided a timely update on these international developments, reflecting the show’s commitment to bringing breaking news to its viewers even during periods of light-hearted banter.
