Susanna Reid shared her support for Fiona Phillips following news of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis at 62.
On Tuesday, the former GMTV host revealed that she and her husband, Martin Frizell, were left in “total shock” by the diagnosis after having feared her brain fog symptoms were a sign of menopause.
In light of Phillips’ announcement, Reid said on Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain: “We are all sending our huge best wishes this morning to Fiona Phillips, well known to all of you as the former presenter of GMTV, for more than a decade.
“She is a hugely popular presenter and journalist, we all know and love her, she has also been an incredible advocate to families living with Alzheimer’s.
“Her mother was diagnosed in her 50s, or the symptoms were certainly picked up, her father then in his 60s and her uncle as well.
“And now Fiona herself has been diagnosed, it’s called young-onset Alzheimer’s. She was diagnosed at the age of 61.”
Following Reid’s lead, her GMB co-host Ed Balls said Phillips was an “iconic broadcaster” and revealed how former PM Gordon Brown once asked her to ditch her broadcasting career in a bid to join the government.
However, he said: “I think we decided that broadcasting was her priority. So fair enough to her for deciding that – she would have been brilliant.
“I would guess that Fiona has been thinking about this for a long time and now it’s a reality that she’s been dealing with, and so bravely.
“She’s involved in a big trial to try and test out drugs which might make a difference and she wants to pioneer, she wants to talk about it,” he continued.
“She wants to help other people deal with this but she’ll be doing all of that, helping other people as she’s always done while also having to deal with it which is so tough.”
Reid shared: “We wish Fiona all our best, we send her all our love.”
Meanwhile on Twitter, Lorraine Kelly and Piers Morgan were among the celebrities paying tribute to Phillips, with Kelly saying she was “praying” for the star.
Scottish presenter Lorraine Kelly wrote: “As expected our much-loved Fiona is dealing with this shattering diagnosis with courage and optimism.
“She’s a good, kind soul and I pray the treatment works and results in a massive breakthrough for everyone dealing with this hellish disease. Sending her and her family all my love.”
The presenter and columnist said the disease had “ravaged” her family and she had long feared being given the diagnosis.
According to the Mirror, Phillips was diagnosed more than a year ago and is undergoing trials for a new drug that could slow the effects of the disease.
Phillips, who is an Alzheimer’s Society ambassador, told the Mirror: “This disease has ravaged my family and now it has come for me.
“And all over the country there are people of all different ages whose lives are being affected by it – it’s heartbreaking. I just hope I can help find a cure which might make things better for others in the future.”
As well as her column in the national newspaper Phillips anchored GMTV for more than a decade from 1997. She also competed on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2005.
She is taking part in clinical trials at University College Hospital in London, which aim to revolutionise future treatment.
Kate Lee, chief executive at Alzheimer’s Society, praised Phillips’ decision to share her diagnosis, which raised “much-needed awareness of dementia”.
