Alison Hammond was back on This Morning today and things got a bit too much - but not in a bad way. The presenter was back at the helm on the ITV daytime programme on Friday (June 24) alongside Dermot O'Leary.
As ever it was a jam-packed show and the hosting duo even got to go outside the ITV studio to make the most of whatever is left of the sun many of us have been enjoying over the last week. This was for a musical performance of My Fair Lady.
The cast gave viewers a first look at the new show by performing Wouldn't It Be Lovely outside of the ITV studios. Taking on the lead role of Eliza Doolittle, made famous by Julie Andrews, was Amara Okereke. The 25-year-ol has starred in the likes of Les Miserables and has more recently become the leading star of My Fair Lady.
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And Alison, 47, was very clearly touched by the beautiful rendition of the iconic song and came over to Amara with Dermot to congratulate her after she and her West End co-stars had finished their performance. But the TV star was visibly emotional and even cried as she spoke to her.
"I’m so emotional, I can’t believe how emotional I am watching that," she gushed after the performance. "Seeing a black woman in that role which I’ve watched since I was a child. Never thought I would ever see anything like that so it’s such a gift, you don’t realise," she continued.
"Doing that role and the representation and what it means to people like me. It’s wonderful. It was such a beautiful performance." Wiping away tears, she then said: "Oh gosh! You carry on," to her 49-year-old co-host.
Dermot went on to ask Amara about playing the leading role, to which she said it felt "amazing" to be playing Eliza on the stage to audiences each night. However, she did confess: "I can’t lie, it’s intimidating to follow in the footsteps of so many iconic women that have played the role."
And Alison's emotions were passed on to This Morning viewers. One tweeted: "Alison Hammond is just a beautiful woman inside and out." Another said: "Alison’s got me crying, lads THAT is why representation is so important."
It is the first time Alison and Dermot have been back hosting the show together since rumours of a backstage 'feud' were rife. However, they were shut down by ITV who said that the pair have risen to the challenge of joining the show as one of its new double acts during a pandemic.
A This Morning spokesman told the Mirror : “Despite the challenges of starting their on screen partnership during a pandemic, Alison and Dermot have developed a firm friendship and their chemistry has proved a ratings success.
"Since the pandemic ended, the pair are now able to enjoy socialising together post the show and have enjoyed spending time with each other's families too."
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