Alison Hammond sobs about money worries – “I was really famous” | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

This Morning's Alison Hammond has opened up emotionally about her financial struggles despite being a familiar face on TV. The 49-year-old star, who first rose to fame on Big Brother in the early 2000s, has appeared on popular shows such as Great British Bake Off and For The Love Of Dogs.

Nevertheless, she ran into financial difficulties in 2007 when she was not hired on This Morning and had no other work lined up. “There was a time when I couldn't pay my mortgage and I was really famous,” she confessed.

During this time, Alison took a job at a local hairdresser. When customers recognized her, she would claim she was just helping out before taking on tasks such as answering phone calls and blow-drying hair.

Her young son Aidan stayed at home while her mother supported her financially, reports the Mirror.

In an interview with the Guardian, Alison teared up as she recounted her experiences. “It's not always fine. But I was fine, you know? That's what television is like, it's fickle and it's part of my journey, part of my strength,” she said.

Alison joined the Bake Off team last year, replacing comedian Matt Lucas, who left the team to focus on “other projects”. Unlike her co-host Noel Fielding, the mother-of-one actually eats cake and has been warmly received by fans.

Alison expressed her uncertainty about returning to the show next year, saying: “It's OK. I know I'll be fine because I was fine before. I'll be working in Tesco and people will still love me.”

Despite concerns about her future on the show, For The Love Of Dogs seems keen to have Alison back, with the next season reportedly set to air in the first half of 2025 amid rumors of her possible exit.

Ratings fell during Alison's debut series, with her April episode attracting an average of 1.84 million viewers and peaking at 2 million viewers – a stark contrast to the late Paul O'Grady's tenure, which consistently attracted more than four million viewers in 2021, according to ITV.

Alison spoke openly about the trolling she faced during the broadcast of her series, revealing: “I was actually surprised at how much [trolling] I got it for doing the show. I could understand that Paul was so popular and people would say, 'How can she do Love Of Dogs when she doesn't have a dog? How can she love dogs when she doesn't have a dog?' That's like saying, 'How can you love children when you don't have any?'”.

However, according to The Sun, an insider revealed: “ITV is delighted with Alison's leadership and overjoyed to have her return to Battersea. It was a big gamble to continue the show without Paul, who is irreplaceable, but Alison's charm and bubbly personality stood out. It was an easy decision to commission the series for another season and Alison is equally delighted to be returning to Battersea.”