Alison Hammond was told she was 'too famous' to return to her former job after appearing in Big Brother.
The 47-year-old has been a regular face on This Morning for the best part of 20 years.
But her time on-screen actually began on the civilian version of the then Channel 4 reality show.
Alison appeared on the third series of Big Brother in 2002 and has revealed that she chose to go on the show due to it having a large cash prize.
READ MORE: Holly Willoughby makes grim Ruth Langsford confession from backstage at ITV This Morning
Speaking to Holly Willoughby on her Wylde Moon podcast, By The Light of The Moon, Alison said that at the time she had a debt of £4,000 to pay off.
When landing a spot on Big Brother, she also had an opportunity to take part in Blind Date.
But Alison, 47, opted to head into the famous house because of its prize of £70,000.
However, she spent just 15 days in the house and was the second person to be evicted.
"Being on [Big Brother] you either become really well known or financially rewarded," Holly said to her on the podcast.
Alison interjected: "Well, I wasn't financially rewarded after that show without a doubt."
After leaving the Big Brother house, Alison tried to get her old job back at a cinema in Birmingham.
"I wanted to go back. At the time, I had a job at the cinema. But they said, 'No, I can't go back,'" she told Holly.
Her This Morning co-star then asked: "And they said you can't go back because..."
"I was too famous," Alison laughed, "I was like, too famous and they said I would take away from the fact that people just want to go to the cinema and it would be just too busy."
She added: "And I was like, 'Can't I just go and do the hot dogs at the back?'
"They said, 'Alison, let's see what it's like in a months time and then give us a call.'
"I had no job. I said I'm going to have to sign on for this period while I'm not working."
Alison then tried to receive employment benefits and despite trying to hide in a hoodie, she was spotted.
"On the way out the security guard said, 'It's lovely to see you Alison. See you next week,'" Alison said.
But Alison's luck soon changed
"Literally, two weeks after that This Morning rang," she said before revealing she was only supposed to stay for three-months.
In January last year, Alison was made one of the permanent hosts of the show alongside Dermot O'Leary.
It came after years of being the show's roving showbiz reporter among other roles.
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