Alison Hammond has shared why bagging her new hosting gig on The Great British Bake Off reduced her to tears as she was supported over her latest achievement. Last week it was announced that the This Morning star will be the new co-host of Bake Off alongside Noel Fielding.
She's replacing Matt Lucas on the hit Channel 4 show after the comedian announced his plans to quit back in December, explaining he was leaving as he could no longer commit to the programme’s schedule alongside his other projects. He described his time on the show as a "delicious experience".
Confirming her new TV gig, Alison shared a video to Instagram in which she interviewed herself - sort off. Alison filmed a celebratory cake which recreated the inside of the tent where the judges cast their verdicts on the contestants' bakes. Sweet figurines of Paul and Prue were included as well as ones of Bake Off's newest hosting duo.
"Yes it's breaking news, Alison Hammond is joining the team of the Great British Bake Off," the This Morning host could be heard saying behind the camera before zooming in on her own icing-based figure and asking: "Alison, have you got any words whatsoever?" Alison then said she was "absolutely thrilled" and confirmed she'd be meeting the new batch of bakers "soon".
She also appeared on This Morning just hours later where her new role was applauded by her co-star Dermot O'Leary. But after joking she was only on the show for the cake, Alison has now opened up about being a host on Bake Off and how the news was "bittersweet".
Speaking to The Sun, Alison said: "It was so exciting, I knew the news about three weeks before announcing it. The story was leaked but it was fine because we were ready to go with it anyway. I was over the moon, I've been sitting on it for three weeks. When it was leaked, guess who's birthday it was? My mum.
"I was kind of feeling like was it my mum who leaked this story. I'll do this on my birthday." And the 48-year-old said she was "devastated" that her mum is not here to see this huge new role after she sadly passed away in February 2020 after a battle with liver and lung cancer.
Breaking down in tears at the Burberry Diversity Awards 2023, Alison continued: "It was one of her favourite programmes. It makes me really emotional you even saying it." Getting choked up, Alison said: "Sorry I'm getting emotional as it's a really big thing and the fact that she doesn't get to see it. I'm devastated - it's bittersweet."
Alison also admitted that she struggled to keep the news to herself and told her son Aiden, 18, weeks ago. "Well I might have told one person, I think it was my son," she said. "You're not supposed to really but I was too excited and wanted to share it with him."
And speaking of the awards, it was a big night for Alison as she won the Media Champion in the Public Eye award at the Burberry British Diversity Awards on Wednesday night (March 22), saying she was "blown away at winning". In a post on Instagram after the ceremony, Alison, posing with her new silverware, said: "Blown away at winning a @britdiversity award tonight for Media Champion in the public eye presented by the lovely @palomafaith (who has cracked me up all night)."
She added: "Thank you so much I’m dedicating this award to all the single mothers out there making sacrifices in order to provide and inspire our future generations," and was quickly flooded with congratulatory messages. Vanessa Feltz replied: "Congratulations. Richly deserved."
Paloma Faith commented: "I love you send me the pic of us! I realised after i didn’t take one." Loose Women's Denise Welch said: "So proud of you." Married at First Sight 2022 star Thomas Hartley also added: "You deserve every award there is to offer. You’re a national treasure."
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