Alison Hammond returns to This Morning after panic attack and tells viewers: 'It was the scariest thing'
Alison believed she was having a heart attackAlison Hammond has made her This Morning comeback after suffering a severe panic attack live on air.
The TV presenter, 51, was midway through a viewer phone-in last Friday when she suddenly ran off set.
Alison was clutching her chest and gasping for breath. At the time, she believed she was having a heart attack.
Alison has now returned to This Morning for the first time since her medical dash.
Opening Friday morning’s episode with her co-host Dermot O’Leary, she addressed what had happened.
Alison went on to admit that she would never have returned to the ITV show if she didn’t come back today (Friday October 9, 2026).
Alison Hammond returns to This Morning after panic attack
Brummie TV star Alison was all smiles as she and Dermot welcomed viewers to today’s episode of This Morning.
Wearing a maroon checked dress, Alison quickly spoke about last Friday’s incident.
Alison told viewers: “Hello, I’m back.” Dermot told her: “Don’t leave me like that again!”
Alison was whisked to hospital midway through last week’s show. Dermot was left to present the show alone.
She thanked Dermot for “holding the fort” but admitted just how “scared” she was at the time.
Alison told viewers: “It was one of the most scariest things I’ve ever been through. It was surreal.”
Alison compared it to the TV show Stranger Things, adding: “It was like I went into the Underworld. I couldn’t grasp my breath.
“I feel guilty I didn’t have a heart condition. It’s the first time I’ve ever experienced anything like that.
“I was thinking, ‘It’s live TV, my son is watching at home, so I just ran. It was instant.”
Dermot recalled how Alison had whispered to him that she ‘didn’t feel too good’. Moments later, she was in a full panic attack.
“It was just a wave,” Alison explained to him. “I’ve since learned it was adrenaline. I couldn’t catch my breath thought having heart attack. You were absolutely wonderful.”
Alison Hammond sparks This Morning panic attack segment
Within minutes of This Morning starting, Alison and Dermot welcomed Dr Sian Williams into the studio. They also talked through what Alison had experienced.
Dr Sian applauded Alison for returning to This Morning at her first opportunity.
She told her: “Well done you for getting back on the sofa. You did a really good thing there. You normalised it, you okayed it and you’re back doing the job.”
Alison did, however, admit she felt nervous about returning.
“I’ll be honest, I was anxious about coming back,” Alison said. “But I thought if I don’t come back today, I won’t come back.
“I then would have made a thing that it was This Morning that caused it.”
Dr Sian has agreed to return to the show to hold a phone-in with viewers about panic attacks.
It’s great to see you back, Alison!
