Alison Hammond reveals she suffered ‘massive panic attack’ on live TV

Alison Hammond arriving for the National Television Awards. Picture: Ian West/PA

Alison Hammond has revealed she had to leave the set of This Morning after suffering a “massive panic attack”.

On Friday the TV presenter, 51, was accompanied off the ITV programme by colleague Dermot O’Leary while appearing to clutch her chest.

The ITV show, which was halfway through a segment about pets, quickly cut to adverts, and returned with O’Leary saying Hammond was “feeling a little unwell” and “had to duck out”.

Hammond has now shared a health update, explaining that she had suffered a panic attack.

Posting a video on Instagram, she said: “Hi everyone. I’m just getting in touch to let you all know I’m home, I’m safe, and I’m feeling so much better.

“Thanks to everyone at the NHS who did the checks on my heart, lungs, bloods. I’m all okay. It’s all clear.

“Which would mean I had a massive panic attack on live TV. I mean, the shame of it.”

She continued: “But it felt very real to me. I’m really new to panic attacks, so I need to learn more about it.

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone at This Morning who looked after me. All of your messages. Dermot, who’s just been incredible.

“Honestly, it’s really warmed my heart. I didn’t necessarily want to be on the news or anything like that but this is a new world to me. I’m going to take stock, get some rest and I’ll see you soon.”

Ending the video, she blew a kiss to the camera and said “love ya”.

During the show O’Leary, 53, said he hoped Hammond would return to finish the broadcast but later told viewers: “Ali’s feeling a little unwell so I’ll be here for the rest of the show.”

Later on Friday Hammond shared a video on Instagram assuring fans she was fine and joked about still wearing her make-up.

“Hello, my lovelies. I know you’re all worried about me,” she said while lying down and wearing a hospital gown.

“Honestly, I am fine, first of all, but I’m getting my 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.”

Addressing viewers she added: “I’m so sorry I left you. I would never normally do that. I would never leave a TV show — so you know I wasn’t very well.

“Hopefully I’m going to be all right. The doctors are so lovely, and they’re checking me out, and hopefully everything’s going to be fine. I love you.”

Correcting herself, the Birmingham-born broadcaster said: “Everything is fine!

“I’m rocking it. Look how good I look — still got my make-up on from this morning. Lush.”

She then jokingly captioned the video: “Anything to have a day off.”

Hammond rose to fame in 2002 when she appeared as a contestant on Channel 4 reality show Big Brother.

She has since featured on programmes including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and Strictly Come Dancing.

She first appeared on This Morning in 2003 and became a co-host in 2021, and is known for memorable TV moments and celebrity interviews including once admitting to Harrison Ford she had never seen his 1982 film Blade Runner while interviewing him for its sequel Blade Runner 2049 in 2017.