Alison Hammond has broken down in tears as she revealed the reality of her “fickle” financial situation.

The This Morning star, 49, who shot to fame on Big Brother in the noughties is one of the most recognisable faces on TV. With shows, including the Great British Bake Off and For The Love Of Dogs on her CV, you’d be forgiven for thinking the bubbly Brummie was laughing all the way to the bank.

However, in 2007, the star was left unused by This Morning and had no other work lined up. Opening up about her money woes at a time when she was well-known, Alison admitted: “There was a time when I couldn’t pay my mortgage, and I was really famous.”

She got a job at the local hairdressers, but if a customer recognised her, she would say she was helping out, then “I’d answer the phone, do a few blow dries,” she says. Her son, Aidan, still very young, was at home while her mum helped them financially.

Alison Hammond
Alison Hammond has admitted she doesn’t know if Bake Off wants her back next year ( 
Image:
Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon / Love Productions)

When Alison recalls the story in the Guardian, she begins to cry, as she explains: “It’s not all good all of the time. But I was all right, you know? That’s television, it’s fickle and it’s part of my journey, part of my power.”

The star joined Bake Off last year, replacing comic, Matt Lucas, who claimed he was quitting to focus on ‘other projects’. The mum-of-one, who actually eats the cakes, unlike co-host, Noel Fielding, has been a big hit with fans.

However, Alison admits the show might not want her back next year, insisting: “That’s OK. I know I’ll be OK, because I’ve been OK before. I’ll go and work at Tesco and people will still love me.”

One show which apparently does want the star back is For The Love Of Dogs. It has been reported that the next series will air in the first half of 2025 after rumours that Alison could be axed from the job. Viewing figures went down during the presenter’s debut series compared to the huge figures which the late Paul O’Grady amassed during his seasons. Alison’s episode in April received an average audience rating of 1.84m and reached 2m viewers at its peak.

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Paul gained at least double the amount of views according to ITV, with an average of more than four million viewers in 2021. Alison opened up after her show aired saying that she was trolled while it was on screen. She shared: “I was actually surprised with how much [trolling] I got for doing the show. I could understand in the sense that Paul was so loved, and people were saying: ‘How can she do Love Of Dogs when she doesn’t have a dog? How does she love dogs when she doesn’t have a dog?’ It’s like saying: ‘How can you love children when you haven’t got kids?’”

However, The Sun reported a source saying: ” ITV are delighted with how Alison performed at the helm of the show and are chuffed she’s going back to Battersea. It was a big risk continuing the show without Paul who obviously cannot be replaced, but Alison’s warmth and infectious personality shone through. It was a no-brainer to commission the series for another run and Alison is also delighted to be going back to Battersea.”