Alison Hammond is back on the This Morning sofa after a terrifying health scare that forced her to flee a live broadcast last week. The presenter has opened up about the ordeal, admitting she genuinely believed she was suffering a heart attack on air.
The 51-year-old sparked concern last Friday when she abruptly walked off the ITV set mid-show while clutching her chest. She was taken straight to the hospital for cardiovascular tests. Doctors quickly determined that she had actually suffered a severe panic attack, an experience Hammond described as one of the most frightening moments of her life.
A Terrifying Shift in Reality
Returning to her usual Friday slot alongside co-host Dermot O’Leary, Hammond expressed deep gratitude for being back in the studio. She explained how the sudden surge of adrenaline felt entirely surreal, comparing the sensation to entering the “Upside Down” from the sci-fi drama Stranger Things.
“I felt like I went into the other world,” Hammond told viewers. “I couldn’t grasp my breath, and it was a panic attack.”
Because it was live television, she panicked about her family’s reaction. “I thought, oh my gosh, my son might be watching,” she said. “So I just ran. I ran off TV. I would never do that normally but I just couldn’t catch my breath.”
From her hospital bed later that day, she posted a reassuring update to social media, telling fans she was getting her “old ticker checked out” after experiencing sudden heart palpitations.
The Mental Toll of Live TV
Though she is now on the mend, Hammond confessed she felt intense anxiety about returning to the screen. She worried that if she stayed away too long, she would start blaming the studio itself for her symptoms.
“I actually thought, I don’t think I’ll come back, because then I would have made a thing that it’s This Morning that’s causing the panic,” she admitted. “But it can happen anywhere.”
To unpack what happened, Hammond and O’Leary spoke with psychologist and former BBC presenter Dr. Sian Williams. They discussed the hidden mental toll of working in live broadcasting, where presenters are expected to be constantly high-energy and “on” for the cameras.
Taking Stock and Moving Forward
According to the mental health charity Mind, panic attacks are extreme physical and emotional reactions to anxiety. They can hit anyone without warning, causing rapid breathing, chest pain, and a feeling of losing control.
For Hammond, who also hosts For the Love of Dogs, the scare has been a major wake-up call. The illness forced her to miss Wednesday’s Attitude Awards, where she won the Honorary Gay Award. Now, she is prioritizing her physical and mental well-being.
“If anything, it’s made me look at life so much differently,” she said, hugging O’Leary. “Taking stock, look after my health. I’m drinking a lot of water.”
Before moving on with the rest of the show, Hammond shared a bright message for her supporters: “I’m back, babes. Keep rolling.”