Alison Hammond shared her true feelings for her co-host Dermot O'Leary as she appeared on This Morning. The presenter, who usually hosts the ITV daytime show on a Friday with the former X Factor host, made an early return to the programme on Thursday (October 13).
And she wasn't on to host or chat to another showbiz star, but to be interviewed herself ahead of her 'Best Presenter' nomination at the National Television Awards which takes place on Thursday night (October 13) at the London's OVO Wembley Arena and airs live on ITV.
After viewers were treated to some of Alison’s funniest moments over her 20 years on the show, the 47-year-old admitted over her awards nod: "I’ve got that imposter syndrome…I’m seeing it from the outside thinking ‘is this really real?’. I’ve been to that award's ceremony so many times and I’m alright sitting in the background and letting other people take the limelight."
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The 47-year-old went on: "Just to be nominated, I know everyone says it but it’s such a defining moment, I feel like I'm standing on the shoulders of giants in a way…and you guys voted and pushed me through! It feels so weird - there’s Graham Norton, Bradley Walsh and our Geordie Duo who are just incredible… and I’m sitting there with them!"
She concluded: "It’s just so bizarre and I’m just so grateful for this moment, I don’t care what else happens… we are going to have a great night tonight." When Phillip, 60, asked: "Have you quietly thought about what you might say?" Alison laughed: "Yes, I’ve got a speech… seven pages babes!
"I’m only joking! I’ll just go with the moment. Obviously, I would love to win, it would mean so much to me and my family. I’m just this girl from a council estate in Birmingham, I’ve worked really really hard, and I’m doing it for the everyday people that thought they weren’t good enough to be there, or couldn’t dream big enough so I want to do it for everyone else, so if I win, we all win man!"
Showing her support, Holly, 41, said unmusically: "You can do it!" before Alison admitted: "I feel like I’ve won already. It’s incredible… it’s a nice feeling to be seen and to be listened to." Holly added: "And it would be extra special this year because it is your 20th year here [on This Morning] which we all celebrated the other day."
Alison went on to speak about her time on the show over the last two decades. She said: "It was just lovely, it made me realise how devious my family are keeping it [the surprise] from me, but it was so lovely to see everyone and I couldn’t believe all the old footage you got from way way back…"
And it wasn't long before Phillip was asking Alison about her partnership with Dermot. "Dermot came to my house the other day and I just love him so much," the mum-of-one gushed. "He is my partner in crime. I just think he’s amazing. He came down and I cooked him some chicken, rice and peas and he said it was the best dinner he’s ever had!
"I said to him 'Aidan’s not very well so I’m just going to take him to the doctors, you chill out here', and he was like, 'No Al, I’m coming to the doctors with ya, I’m like his telly dad!' So we all went to the doctors all sitting in the waiting room." Laughing at the bizarreness of it all, she added: "Dermot O’Leary from The X Factor is in the doctors with me - it was so so weird!"
Alison and Dermot took over hosting Friday's This Morning from Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford in January last year. There have been rumours that the pair weren't gelling behind the scenes but have since gone on to disprove those claims. In June this year, a spokesman for This Morning were forced to confirm that the duo have become firm friends - and even socialise away from work together.
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."
And last month, following the Queen's sad death at the age of 96, Alison and Dermot, 49, headed to Green Park together where floral tributes were being laid and moved from Buckingham Palace in the late monarch's memory. They filmed some footage for the ITV show before appearing on the sofa with Holly and Phillip, with Alison sharing how moved she felt at being able to pay her respects alongside Dermot.
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