This Morning's Alison Hammond has reportedly handed over thousands to a blackmailer who she once believed was her friend.
It's claimed that the star who found fame on Big Brother claims that a blackmailer had vowed to "end her career".
Alison, 48, had already purchased a BMW car worth an estimated £5000 after the unidentified man threatened to "ruin" the Birmingham-born presenter.
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.
The man who cannot be identified for legal reasons is alleged to have blackmailed the mum-of-one over a period of eight months.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police told the Mirror today: "We are investigating an allegation of blackmail of a woman in her 40s. We take reports of this kind very seriously and our enquiries are progressing swiftly."
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.
Alison 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 source went on to claim Alison said: "Out of the blue he said he could tell lies to make people think less of me, it was alarming.
"I'm a very generous person and was happy to spend money on him, I wanted to help him."
But despite her personal turmoil, Alison has been putting on a brave face and continued to appear on television during the troubling ordeal.
However, the star is said to be worried about the repercussions of reporting the male to West Midlands Police
Last week, the Mirror revealed that Alison was replacing Matt Lucas on The Great British Bake Off.
She becomes the first non-white judge or host since the show started broadcasting almost 15 years ago.
One source said: "Alison is a great choice. She will bring warmth and humour to the tent in spades. We're laughing just thinking about it."
Her selection for the plum role comes after Alison, 48, wowed the show’s fans in 2020 with her stint on the celebrity version for Stand Up 2 Cancer.
Going up against James Blunt, Alex Jones and Joe Sugg, she declared: "I do think that good food and good baking comes from the heart - and I've got a lot of heart."
The Mirror approached Alison's representatives for comment.
