Alison Hammond has opened up about one of the most painful memories from her mother’s final illness, revealing how comments about Maria’s appearance left her feeling deeply hurt as she watched her battle cancer.
The This Morning star lost her beloved mum in January 2020 after Maria developed sepsis while fighting lung and liver cancer. Years on, Alison has now shared why she finds it so upsetting when people casually comment on women’s bodies.
In an interview with The Telegraph earlier this month, Alison was asked about her own weight loss and the growing obsession with ultra-thin celebrity bodies. But rather than focus on herself, the presenter explained why she has become so uncomfortable with those conversations.
She said she tries not to comment on women’s bodies at all, before recalling the heartbreaking experience of seeing people praise her mum’s weight loss when the reality was devastatingly different.
Alison explained that when her mum lost a lot of weight while seriously ill with cancer, people would say: “Oo you’re looking great!” She admitted her reaction inside was: “Shut up! She’s literally dying!” and said the remarks left her “really upset”.
The emotional confession shines a light on the hidden cruelty that can sit behind so-called compliments, especially when they are aimed at someone going through a serious illness.
Alison has previously spoken about how much her mum meant to her, describing Maria as the person she turned to for everything. Their bond was incredibly close, and Alison has said there is still a “huge, gaping hole” in her life following her death.
She has also revealed that Maria played a major role in inspiring her to take her health seriously. After Alison was told she was pre-diabetic, she knew she had to make major changes. Her mother had type 2 diabetes and had been worried about her daughter for some time.
Reflecting on that turning point, Alison said: “My mum had type 2 diabetes and she was worried for me. So when I then found out that I was pre-diabetic, that was frightening. I thought, I have to be an adult about this. The sweets had to stop, and the fatty foods.”
In recent years, Alison has gone on to lose 13 and a half stone, but behind that transformation is a deeply emotional story tied to love, grief and the lasting impact of her mother’s guidance.
She has often shared just how involved Maria was in every part of her life, including her love life. Alison said: “I’d go to her about everything and she’d give her opinion. She’d say: ‘He’s not for you, Alison. He doesn’t bring anything to the table.’”
Sadly, Maria never got the chance to meet Alison’s new partner, model David Putman. The couple reportedly met years after Maria’s death and are now said to be secretly planning their wedding.
But while Alison may be embracing a new chapter in her personal life, the pain of losing her mum clearly remains close to the surface — and so does the anger over the comments that were meant as compliments, but landed like something far more devastating.
