“This Morning” host Alison Hammond left ITV’s live show on Friday, Oct. 2, after feeling unwell, then said from a hospital that she had a heart palpitation and was having it checked. The Alison Hammond hospital visit followed a moment on air in which she clutched her chest and stepped off set, E! News reported.
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What happened on This Morning
The episode was under way during a pet segment with TV vet Dr. Scott Miller when Hammond became visibly unwell. She was seen clutching her chest and breathing heavily before she left the set, and the show moved to a commercial break.
Co-host Dermot O’Leary stayed on air when the program returned. He told viewers that Hammond was feeling a little unwell and that he would present the rest of the show, and he hosted the remainder of the Oct. 2 episode alone. Hammond, 51, has been a familiar face on the ITV daytime program for years, and the Oct. 2 episode was being broadcast live when she left.
Alison Hammond hospital update: what she said
Hammond later posted a video on Instagram from the hospital. She said she had experienced “a little bit of a palpitation” and was getting it checked out, adding that she thought she was OK. She also said she hoped it had been a panic attack, and she thanked the medical staff caring for her.
Hammond has not announced a diagnosis. That means the cause of the episode remains unconfirmed, and her own comments are the main update available so far. Reality Tea noted that the scare came during a busy period for Hammond, who also fronts The Great British Bake Off.
What heart palpitations can mean
The National Health Service in the U.K. describes palpitations as a heartbeat that becomes more noticeable, often felt as racing, pounding, fluttering or irregular beats in the chest, neck or throat. Common triggers include stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, caffeine, alcohol and some medications. Less often, they point to a condition such as a thyroid problem or an arrhythmia.
The NHS says palpitations that last longer than a few minutes or keep coming back should be discussed with a doctor, and that anyone who also has chest pain, trouble breathing or a feeling of fainting should seek emergency help. Many cases need no treatment, and the right approach depends on the cause. Doctors may run an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to look at the heart’s rhythm. Neither Hammond nor ITV has said which checks she had or what the results were.
Alison Hammond hospital update at a glance
- Oct. 2: Hammond leaves the set during a live This Morning segment.
- Same day: She says from the hospital that she had a palpitation and is being checked.
- Diagnosis: None has been announced.
- Show: O’Leary hosts the rest of the episode alone.
- Return: No date has been shared.
Hammond is also known for hosting The Great British Bake Off. For related coverage, read our report on Ray J’s hospitalization, our look at TLC’s content deal with ITVX and our tribute to British TV figure Esther Rantzen. Fans of the baking show can also see Paul Hollywood’s new cookbook.
What’s next
No return date has been announced for Hammond on This Morning. ITV has not shared a timeline, and any further health details will come from Hammond or her representatives. Viewers looking for news should watch her official social media accounts, where she posted her hospital video.
