This Morning viewers have been left divided over Alison Hammond's latest appearance on the show as they claimed they saw a 'different side' to her. The presenter was back at the helm of the ITV daytime programme on Thursday (May 25) after stepping in to host at the eleventh hour earlier this week.
It came following the shock news that Phillip Schofield was 'stepping back' from This Morning after more than 20 years amid rumours of a 'rift' with co-host Holly Willoughby behind the scenes. As a result, the show's usual Friday host has been fronting the programme, starting as usual with Dermot O'Leary before Craig Doyle stepped in.
After appearing on Wednesday's show, filling in for Dermot O'Leary who was taking time off to celebrate his 50th birthday, Craig was back on Thursday with Alison and the pair kicked off the penultimate episode of the week by welcoming Rishi Sunak into the studio.
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The Prime Minister was quizzed on a few different topics but the conversation was dominated migration numbers following the news that migration to the UK hit a new record high of 606,000 last year, driven by people from non-EU countries arriving for work, study and humanitarian reasons, new estimates show.
The interview then took a turn, with Mr Sunak being asked if he 'cries at shows like DIY SOS' and about the books he reads, telling the hosts and viewers that he's a fan of Jilly Cooper novels.
But while Craig was praised for doing a bit more of the grilling with Mr Sunak, Alison caused a divide for her style of interviewing the Tory leader. @transchronic tweeted: "Seen a completely different side to Alison #ThisMorning she has ample opportunity to press him but instead shoves specs on and calls him 'Rish'."
@Stepharrnee said: "I like Alison, but the way she's fawning over Rishi Sunak is making me feel a bit ill tbh. #ThisMorning." @treborchew10 complained: "Could Alison Hammond have been any more fawning over Rishi? #thismorning OK, it was never going to be a grilling, but honestly, you might have just as well have asked "what's your favourite colour?" Etc."
@LynzP01 fumed: "Alison’s totally swooning over him. Should only allow Craig to do the serious interviews. He was trying to question him seriously then Hammond asks the PM, when’s the last time you cried. What the actual fk! Pathetic! #thismorning."
But @kerrymarmstrong argued: "I think Alison is good at interviewing Rishi. Bring out a different side of him. Doesn't always need to be somebody from Eton, Oxford or Cambridge. #ThisMorning." @Lady9 shared: "#ThisMorning Loving Alison and Craig playing good cop bad cop with the prime minister. A much more relaxed approach, much prefer it."
@MrsKatGroves shared: "Craig and Alison doing an excellent job questioning the PM - polite but pushing for clarity and a few laughs thrown in. Rishi has come across a bit more relaxed and relatable, covered plenty of topics, so a good job well done I reckon #ThisMorning."
@IHEARTVEGAN added: "#thismorning Well done Alison. This is why you’re so amazing at this job. Being honest about your own experience, bringing your opinion and being real. Don’t lose that through this morning trying to give you that faux ‘polish’."
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