Dermot O'Leary was left looking mortified as he jokingly - and sarcastically - congratulated his co-host Alison Hammond on the rumours of her 'engagement' live on air on This Morning on Friday, Feburary 24 - which she was forced to awkwardly quash, revealing "I'm not engaged".
This news, which has been torn apart by Alison herself, comes just days after the father of her partner Ben Hawkins, exclusively revealed to the Daily Mail that the pair had 'proposed to one another' after two years of secretly dating.
As This Morning began, viewers heard as wedding bells played as Dermot said in jest: "I can't believe this but I hear a congratulations are in order, I can't believe you didn't tell us you were going to get married. This is amazing. I read it in the paper - I think I might have leaked it to the paper."
Read more: Vernon Kay to take over huge show on Radio 2
Acting quickly, Alison laughed: "Cut the music! It's fake news, babes. I'm not engaged, I'm so sorry I'm not engaged! I told you, whenever I'm engaged or getting married I would be the first one to tell you! I'd put all over the 'grams [Instagram] and TikTok!
"You know what I'm like. I'd do a reel. Do you know what I mean? I'd be all over it. There'd be a ring!"
"I was looking forward to walking you down the aisle!" Dermot joked.
This news broke - and soon put to rest - soon after Alison and her landscape gardener beau Ben were spotted together for the first time the morning after the BAFTAs on Sunday evening, reports The Mirror. The pair met when Alison hired Ben to maintain the garden at her West Midlands home some years ago.
Speaking of the pair's private relationship, Ben's father Colin told the Daily Mail: "They are really happy but they haven't got everything sorted just yet but they are both talking about marriage, that is true. What I do know is that when it happens none of us will know about it because it'll be done in private. That much they have told me.
"I love Alison to bits. She's the nicest woman we've ever met. I would love to tell you a load of stories and they are all good, but I can't because she's asked us to keep things private."
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am.
READ NEXT:
- Spencer Matthews Disney+ show with Bear Grylls to retrace steps of older brother who disappeared in 1999
- ITV Lorraine: Ranvir Singh gives Lorraine health update after 'composing' herself after emotional interview with Ukrainian family
- Pair up the previous Love Island couples to find out if you’re the ultimate superfan
- Two Euro flat renovated by Alan Carr and Amanda Holden now on sale for £128,000
- Couple who scooped £50,000 on Dragons' Den say experience was 'terrifying'
