There's no doubt about it – Alison Hammond is one of the UK’s most in demand TV personalities and in the coming weeks she's set to liven up our screens on The Great British Bake Off.
Pairing up with Noel Fielding, the 48-year-old is sure win the hearts of Bake Off fans across the country, thanks to her humour, warmth and talent.
But it hasn’t always been easy for the lovable lady. In fact, back in 2002, Alison only signed up to enter Channel 4's Big Brother house in the desperate hopes of winning the prize money to pay off her debts.
“I owed like £3,000, which I was traumatised by at the time,” she told the Table Manners podcast. “I just couldn’t make that debt go down. So I thought it would be a good idea to win £70,000 on a TV show.”
Working as a holiday rep in Tunisia at the time, she left her job to appear on the show – but ended up losing to her now close pal Kate Lawler, after just 15 days in the house.
“I was devastated,” Alison admitted. “I was enjoying myself and was really upset when I had to leave.”
Thankfully, her tears turned to triumph when ITV bosses, impressed by her naturally funny personality and on-camera presence, recruited her to join This Morning as a roving reporter.
And now the star is taking on yet another exciting role as the new co-host of The Great British Bake Off.
Replacing Matt Lucas, Alison will join Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, to help sort the soggy bottoms from the star bakers.
The baking competition's official Instagram page shared the exciting news back in March commenting, "We’re delighted to announce that Alison Hammond will be joining forces with Noel Fielding to host the next series of The Great British Bake Off on @Channel4 later this year. We cannot wait!"
“I was really chuffed,” Alison then told OK! on landing on the coveted role. “I didn’t realise how much I wanted it until I had to audition with Noel. My son was really excited as well, as he loves Bake Off.”
With filming now in the bag, Alison admits she fell foul of the free cakes on offer in the famous tent. “I’ve put on a stone,” she revealed. “I couldn’t believe it. I am literally going running tomorrow!
"Matt said he’d never do it again. I haven’t said anything… I’m just going to get bigger!”
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