On Wednesday, November 6, Alison Hammond’s name was all over the media again. During this week’s broadcast of The Great British Bake Off, she was shocked by a joke about her age. The reaction of viewers was also mixed.
During Dessert Week, when one of the competitors, Dylan, was busy making tiramisu, Noel Fielding and Alison approached his worktop to see how he was coping. At this moment, Fielding compared Dylan to the comedy character Frank Spencer, who is known for his clumsiness. However, Dylan was confused, as he did not know who it was. Alison, surprised, said that it was because he was too young!
In response to this, the 20-year-old baker admitted to the hosts that when he told his parents that Hammond and Fielding were both 50 years old, they were very surprised. Alison exclaimed that she was only 49 years old. And Dylan responded that their average age was still 50. The woman continued the debate with, “You know what? That means I stood in line a little longer than you, Dylan.” The contestant’s response was: “A little bit? You’ve been in the queue 2.5 times the amount I have.”
Co-presenter Noel decided to step in with a joke to lighten the mood: “He hasn’t even come in the shop yet!” However, this didn’t stop Dylan from asking Alison: “Do you feel closer to death?” She repeated his question, to which the 20-year-old replied: “Well no because my body isn’t decaying. After 27 your body starts decaying.” Hammond decided to end the conversation by stating a fact: “At the end of the day, you could go and get hit by a bus. You could die before me!”
Comments on the dispute ranged from disapproving of Dylan’s jokes to support of his sense of humour. One user said that the exchange was one of the most awkward moments of the show. However, many came out in support of Alison Hammond, as few could believe that she is not 35 years old. According to users, she looks amazing!
Life off camera: personal life, new relationships, raising a son
Alison Hammond was born on 5 February 1975 in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. She grew up in Kingstanding, Birmingham’s north area alongside her two siblings. To provide a decent life for her children, their mother worked long hours, sometimes even holding two jobs at once, including as a manager at Tupperware.
Alison went to Cardinal Wiseman School, and also attended drama workshops run by Central Television from the age of 11. Unfortunately, she was unable to attend drama school due to lack of funds.
Hammond was engaged to cab driver Noureddine Boufaied from 2005 to 2014. The couple had a son, Aidan, in 2005. Despite the breakup, Alison and Noureddine remained friends and still maintain a good relationship. Hammond always speaks fondly of her ex.
It is also known that she was in a relationship with security guard Jamie Savage, with whom she broke up in 2017. According to her, their breakup was the worst news ever. She also stated that she was no longer ready for a relationship, as their breakup was too hard for her. However, in 2020, on the set of Celebs Go Dating, she met audio technician Ben Kusi, with whom she was in a relationship for a short time.
In December 2023, Alison Hammond announced that she was dating David Putman. At the same time, she admitted that they had already been in a relationship for a year and a half, but no one knew about it. Despite the 23-year age gap, Alison says she is very happy with her Russian boyfriend.
Alison maintains a warm, close relationship with her son Aidan. According to her, she even received his blessing to date David. In addition, the son gave his mother some advice on romantic matters. Aidan decided to follow his own path and Alison supported him in this in every way. In the summer of 2024, he got a job as a DJ at a festival, and Alison was very proud of him.
From first appearances on TV to hosting This Morning
In the early 2000s, future Brummie celeb made her first television appearance in the third series of the Channel 4 reality series Big Brother. Although she didn’t last long on the show and was second housemate to be evicted, Big Brother in 2002 gave her career a major boost. In an interview with Birmingham Living Magazine, she admitted that taking part in the show turned her life upside down.
In 2003, Alison began working as a showbiz reporter and interviewed celebrities for ITV’s This Morning. Many of her moments as a reporter have gone viral due to her improvisation and pranks.
In addition, in 2002, Alison appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors, where she played Danielle. She has also appeared on Loose Women as a guest panellist in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2019.
2004 was also a year rich in projects. Alison could be seen in such shows as Celebrity Fit Club, Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes and Christmas Lights.
Incredible career rise
In the 2010s, her career took off. In 2010, Hammond became a participant on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, in which she placed 10th and was evicted fourth. In 2012, she took part in Celebrity Coach Trip, and Big Brother’s Bit On The Side.
In 2014, Alison starred in Celebrity MasterChef and twelfth series of Strictly Come Dancing as a contestant. Her dance partner was Aljaz Skorjanec, but the couple finished in tenth place.
In 2017, Alison Hammond appeared on Sugar Free Farm on ITV. In this show, TV personalities must give up sweets and head out into the fields to grow healthy food. The challenge proved too much for the TV personality, reducing her to tears. That same year, she appeared as a participant on Let’s Sing and Dance.
In 2018, she made her Hollywood debut as she voiced the character Frankenginger in the animated movie Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.
In 2020, she also starred on Celebs Go Dating and The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off.
Alison as a participant in the most popular shows and host of programmes and awards
2020 has been the biggest year of her career. She replaced Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning on a Friday, co-hosting alongside Dermot O’Leary. Following the resignation of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby in the summer and autumn of 2023, Alison and Dermot took over as presenters on other days. It is for this reason that Alison is most recognized as the This Morning presenter.
In 2021, she was invited as a judge on I Can See Your Voice and also became a guest on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
In 2022, Alison performed as Witchetty Grub in The Masked Singer. She also presented the documentary Alison Hammond In at the Rich End: The Riviera.
In 2023, Hammond was given the honor of hosting the 76th British Academy Film Awards with Richard E. Grant.
What surprises does Alison Hammond have in store for us?
On April 8, 2024, it was announced that Alison Hammond would present her own show on the BBC next year. Alison Hammond’s Big Weekend will consist of six series and will see Alison spend 48 hours with some of Britain’s most famous people, giving viewers a new insight into their daily lives at home. Hammond herself promises that the show will be very funny, but also frank, as she is going to reveal all the secrets of stars.
Additionally, this April, Alison became the new face of the documentary reality series For the Love of Dogs, replacing Paul O’Grady, who passed away on March 28, 2023, at the age of 67 from sudden cardiac arrhythmia. The show began airing in 2012 and has since won the love of viewers with its sincerity and kindness.
Last year, she also became a co-host of The Great British Bake Off, replacing Matt Lucas. The beloved show is currently in its 15th series, which began airing on 24 September 2024.
