Alison Hammond revealed on ITV's This Morning that she experienced a panic attack during her show last Friday, believing at first she was having a heart attack and had to be hospitalized for checks. Returning to the show, Hammond thanked viewers for their support and explained how the unexpected event felt like being in a surreal "Upside Down" world from Stranger Things. She also discussed with psychologist Dr. Sian Williams about the pressure of live TV presenting and how she overcame her anxiety to return to work.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Friday morning during the ITV show "This Morning," Alison Hammond, 51, left midway through her broadcast after clutching her chest, escorted by co-host Dermot O’Leary. Initially believed to be experiencing heart-related issues, she went to a hospital for tests and later revealed on Instagram that doctors found no serious health problems. She disclosed that the incident was actually caused by a severe panic attack, which felt very real and terrifying at the time. Hammond expressed her gratitude to viewers and colleagues alike for their support during this difficult experience. She also thanked NHS staff who conducted various medical checks including heart tests, blood work, and lung examinations, all of which came back clear. Since then, she has returned home feeling much better and acknowledged the overwhelming kindness from everyone involved.
Written for “Alison Hammond Health Scare” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
Alison Hammond has said she feared she was having a heart attack on air when she had to rush off ITV's This Morning, mid-way through the programme last week.
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she → publish → programme
The presenter appeared to clutch her chest as she left the show last Friday, and was taken to hospital to have a heart check-up.
She turned out to have suffered a panic attack, and said the experience was "probably one of the most scariest things I've ever been through".
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I → appear → things
Returning for her weekly slot on Friday, she told viewers: "I couldn't catch my breath and I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack.
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I → return → attack
I feel so grateful.
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I → feel → ?
I feel so thankful to God, to everything in life."
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I → feel → life
She added: "It felt like a heart attack.
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It → add → attack
Alongside co-host Dermot O'Leary, Hammond introduced the programme by thanking him for holding the fort after her dramatic early exit, and also thanking everyone who sent good wishes.
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who → introduce → wishes
She added: "It was the first time I've ever experienced anything like that.
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I → add → that
Secondly it was live on TV so I thought, oh my gosh, my son might be watching.
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son → think → TV
So I just ran.
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I → run → ?
I ran off TV.
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I → run → TV
I would never do that normally but I just couldn't catch my breath."
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I → do → breath
'Like a wave'
The panic attack came on very quickly, she explained.
"It just was like a wave, something which I've now found out is adrenaline.
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I → come → wave
That came into my body.
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That → come → body
I couldn't catch my breath and I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack.
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I → catch → attack
The experience has given her a new perspective on life, she continued.
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she → give → life
"I'm so happy that I'm here, and I'm so happy to see you," she said, putting both hands on Dermot's cheeks before hugging him.
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she → see → him
And I'm so glad we're alive, and if anything it's made me look at life so much differently.
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me → make → life
I'm drinking a lot of water."
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I → drink → water
The 51-year-old compared the feeling of the panic attack to crossing into a "surreal" place like the otherworldly Upside Down in TV show Stranger Things.
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old → compare → Things
I felt like I went into the other world - what's that show that I loved?
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I → feel → that
You know when you go into the Upside Down world?
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you → know → world
I felt like I went into the Upside Down world.
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I → feel → world
I couldn't grasp my breath, and it was a panic attack."
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it → grasp → breath
Hammond and O'Leary also spoke further about panic attacks with former BBC Breakfast host and psychologist Dr Sian Williams, who has written a book about anxiety.
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who → speak → anxiety
Hammond said she had been unsure about returning to This Morning - but felt that if she didn't come back this week, she may never do so.
"
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she → say → Morning
I'll be honest with you, I was anxious about coming back.
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I → come → you
But I thought, if I don't come back today, I probably wouldn't come back.
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I → think → ?
"I actually thought, I don't think I'll come back, because then I would have made a thing that it's This Morning that's causing the panic.
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that → think → panic
But it can happen anywhere.
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it → happen → ?
It comes in ebbs and flows."
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It → come → ebbs
She and Williams also discussed the pressure of presenting live TV.
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She → discuss → TV
"I do live TV all the time, I didn't realise it was having - I don't know if it was having an impact - the fact that you have to be 'on' in order to do it.
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you → do → it
I don't know," Hammond said.
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Hammond → know → ?
She concluded the segment by telling viewers: "I'm back, babes.
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I → conclude → viewers
Following her departure from last Friday's episode, Hammond posted a video from a hospital bed saying she was "getting my old ticker checked out" after what she described as "a little bit of a palpitation", which she hoped "was just a little panic attack".
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she → follow → palpitation
She missed the Attitude Awards on Wednesday, where she won the The Honorary Gay Award.
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she → miss → Award
The Birmingham-born presenter also hosts TV shows including This Morning and For the Love of Dogs.
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presenter → bear → Dogs
Also known as anxiety attacks, panic attacks can affect anyone, regardless of age, background or whether they have a history of anxiety.
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they → know → anxiety
According to the MIND mental health charity, panic attacks are an extreme anxiety response.
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attacks → accord → charity
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
