Alison Hammond shares health update after leaving the This Morning studio mid-broadcast.

Alison Hammond, the Great British Bake Off host and This Morning co-presenter, left the ITV show mid-broadcast on October 2 after experiencing chest palpitations and was rushed to the hospital for cardiac checks. Huffington Post reported that Hammond clutched her chest, breathed heavily, and was guided off-set by production staff during a pet advice segment. Hours later, she posted a video from her hospital bed on Instagram, telling her 1.9 million followers: "I had a little bit of a palpitation and now I'm getting it all checked out."
Co-host Dermot O'Leary returned alone to finish the broadcast, informing viewers that Hammond was "feeling a little unwell" and had to leave. Wales Online reported that Hammond shared the hospital update in the late afternoon, expressing hope that the episode was just a panic attack. She told followers: "I'm so sorry I left you, I would never normally do that."
About 90 minutes into the 2.5-hour broadcast, Hammond became visibly distressed while the show featured resident veterinarian Dr. Scott Miller. Daily Mail reported she held her chest, breathed heavily, and was quickly removed from the set by production staff and O'Leary. The moment was dramatic enough that ITV removed the footage from its delayed ITV+1 catch-up broadcast to prevent alarming viewers.
After returning from the commercial break, O'Leary addressed the studio audience and television viewers directly. He said Hammond was "feeling a little unwell" and would not return for the rest of the show. US Magazine noted that O'Leary continued hosting alone, conducting scheduled interviews and cooking segments without a replacement co-host.
Later that afternoon, Hammond posted an Instagram Story video from her hospital bed, dressed in a patient gown, to reassure followers about her condition. She used humor while discussing her health, saying she was "getting me ol' ticker checked out" and hoped the palpitations were caused by a panic attack rather than a serious heart issue. Daily Mail reported she maintained full makeup in the video, keeping her tone light and upbeat despite the medical emergency.
In the hospital update, Hammond thanked her fans for their worry and concern. "I'm hoping it was just a little panic attack or something like that," she explained. Wales Online noted that doctors were performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) and other cardiac monitoring tests to rule out underlying heart rhythm problems and confirm whether the episode was anxiety-related.
Hammond, 51, has been a fixture on This Morning since 2003 and became a main Friday co-host alongside Dermot O'Leary in 2021. Mandatory reported that her abrupt departure left the show scrambling to complete the live broadcast without a replacement. ITV has not yet announced whether Hammond will return for upcoming episodes or if a guest presenter will fill in while she recovers.
The incident highlights how broadcasting networks must follow strict duty-of-care protocols when live presenters experience acute physical distress. Production staff responded quickly, removing Hammond from set and arranging immediate hospital transport. The speed of the response and Hammond's later reassurance suggest the situation, while serious, did not result in a life-threatening emergency.
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