Alison Hammond says she’s ‘struggling’ after suffering panic attack on-air: ‘It’s a vulnerable place to be’

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Alison Hammond has said that she’s been “struggling” since suffering a “breakdown” live on TV earlier this month.

The TV presenter, 51, was rushed off camera and sent to hospital during an episode of This Morning in October, later revealing that she had been suffering heart palpitations during filming. After getting checked out by doctors, Hammond confirmed that she had experienced “a little panic attack”.

Earlier this week, Hammond received Attitude Magazine’s Honorary Gay Award and sent her Big Brother co-star Kate Lawler to accept it on her behalf, with Lawler reading out a speech penned by Hammond.

“I’m absolutely gutted I can’t be here tonight to accept this incredible award in person,” Hammond said in her statement, read by Lawler on Wednesday (7 October).

“Some of you may have seen that I recently had a very public episode live on television, And, let’s be honest, if you’re going to have a breakdown, you might as well have it on ITV with loads of people watching.”

She added that her This Morning co-host, Dermot O’Leary, “handled it beautifully” and that having the moment happen so publicly “was incredibly difficult”.

“I’ve always tried to bring joy, laughter and positivity to people. So suddenly being a person struggling, rather than making everyone else laugh, is a very vulnerable place to be,” she continued. “I’m learning that vulnerability isn’t a weakness, and that’s something this community has taught me throughout with love.”

Speaking as herself, Lawler said that she had spoken to Hammond since the episode and that it was “one of the scariest things she’s gone through”.

“She didn’t think she was having a panic attack; she thought she was having a f***ing heart attack,” she said.

Lawler also labelled controversial political commentator Katie Hopkins as a “c***” after the right-wing figure hit out at Hammond’s panic attack being covered by ITV News.

She went on to say that Hammond “used to be a significant chumba womba”, to which Hammond replied in the comments: “I’m still a Chumba womba babs !! I thought it was a heart attack, it was very scary. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, even you cos you are beautiful on the inside and out.”

Hitting out at Hopkins in the speech, Lawler said: “Go crawl under the hole you came out of.”

During the broadcast on This Morning, Hammond and O’Leary had welcomed dog expert Dr Scott Miller onto the show to answer viewers’ canine questions when Hammond was suddenly seen clutching her chest in the edge of a frame while being helped away from the sofa by O’Leary.

The show then went to an ad break, after which O’Leary told viewers: “Welcome back to This Morning. Alison is feeling a little unwell, so she’s just had to duck out.”

On Sunday, Hammond – who also presents Bake Off with Noel Fielding – addressed her heart scare on social media, posting a video of her in a hospital bed. “I know you’re all worried about me. Honestly, I am fine, first of all,” she said.

“I’m getting me old ticker checked out. I had a little bit of a palpitation, and now I’m getting it all checked out, but I think I’m OK. I’m hoping it was just a little panic attack or something like that.”

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