Police are investigating claims that This Morning presenter Alison Hammond was blackmailed.
The new Bake Off host was pressured to hand over large sums of money and a £5000 BMW by a blackmailer who said they would spread lies about her that would damage her advancing career, The Sun reported.
West Midlands Police said it is investigating the case of the 48-year-old, who presents the ITV staple alongside Dermot O’Leary and has recently been announced as the new co-host of The Great British Bake Off.
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: “We are investigating an allegation of blackmail of a woman in her 40s.
“We take reports of this kind very seriously and our inquiries are progressing swiftly.”
The Sun reported that it was a “friend” of Ms Hammond’s who blackmailed her over an eight month period. “I’ve been so naive and feel so stupid,” she reportedly told a friend afterwards.
“I trusted this guy who, it turns out, was only interested in my money,” she reportedly said.
“I thought he valued our friendship. I now know he only wanted me to fund his life of luxury.”
Birmingham-born Ms Hammond rose to fame as a contestant on the third series of Big Brother in 2002 and joined This Morning in the same year.
She currently presents the weekday daytime show with Mr O’Leary on Friday mornings and has has gone on to appear in multiple reality shows including I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Coach Trip, Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity MasterChef.
More recently, she appeared alongside actor Richard E Grant to host the 2023 Baftas.
It was confirmed last week that Ms Hammond will take over from Matt Lucas to present the upcoming series of Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off alongside comedian Noel Fielding.
Ms Hammond’s representatives have been approached for comment.
