Alison Hammond has reportedly been left distraught after a 'blackmailer', once thought to be a friend, demanded money or they'd 'end her career'. It has been claimed that the This Morning host had already purchased a BMW car, worth an estimated £5,000, after the unidentified man threatened to "ruin" her.
The man who cannot be identified for legal reasons is alleged to have blackmailed the mum-of-one over a period of eight months. Sources claim that Alison met with officers from West Midlands Police on Tuesday and showed them a variety of messages from the person she claimed was once her friend.
Speaking to The Sun, a source close to Alison alleges that her blackmailer had vowed to "ruin" her career and had planned to make up false stories about her. An emotional Alison, 48, is believed to have said "I trusted this guy who, it turns out, was only interested in my money.
"I thought he valued our friendship. I now know he only wanted me to fund his life of luxury." An insider also claims that she had offered to pay for his rehab treatment to help kick his issues with drugs but he is said to have taken advantage of her, the Mirror reports.
"Out of the blue he said he could tell lies to make people think less of me, it was alarming," the source reportedly went on to share. "I'm a very generous person and was happy to spend money on him, I wanted to help him." The star is now said to be worried about the repercussions of reporting the male to cops.
News of Alison's reported ordeal comes after she was revealed as the new co-host of The Great British Bake Off. 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.
Confirming her new TV gig, which will see her join Noel Fielding in the famous tent, 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".
The Big Brother legend 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 since opened up about being a host on Bake Off and how the news was "bittersweet".
Speaking to The Sun, the mum-of-one 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 Alison 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."
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