Alison Hammond's life offscreen including weight loss surgery and and her 'sliding doors' moment
16.04.2024 - 18:51
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Alison Hammond has come a long way from being reprimanded by Big Brother after breaking a garden table on the reality show. She was trying to make contact with the outside at the time - and 22 years on, the world has certainly taken notice of her.
She applied for Big Brother to clear her debts but after being spotted by a television producer, has gone on to become one of the best-loved names on British TV. After starting with occasional slots on This Morning, she now hosts some of the country's most popular shows.
Last year the Brummie took over from Matt Lucas as co-host of The Great British Bake Off. And she's also stepping into the shoes of much-missed Paul O'Grady to present For the Love of Dogs.
Of her latest role, Alison, 49, has said: "I am very aware that I can never replace the iconic Paul in this wonderful series, but if I can continue to shine a light on the brilliant work done at Battersea and help to tell the stories of those beautiful dogs, then it will be an absolute privilege to give it my all."
Read on for everything you need to know about Alison and her life on and off screen.
Alison grew up in Kingstanding, in the north of Birmingham, and went to Cardinal Wiseman School. She then moved to Hall Green, living just round the corner from her mum.
A budding performer as a youngster, Alison joined the Central Television Workshop at the age of 11 but drama school remained out of reach for financial reasons. She performed as an extra on the BBC nurse drama Angels and Marjorie and the Preacherman and later starred in CITV’s Grange Hill parody Palace Hill.
She told Gal-Dem: "I was kind of thrust into the world of television early on. My mom said to me, I want to get you off the streets."
In her early 20s she