This Morning host Dermot O'Leary quashes Alison Hammond 'bust-up' rumours
They host the show together on FridaysDermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond rumours are back in the spotlight, but the This Morning presenters say they are not feuding.
The pair addressed the long-running speculation while reflecting on a hard period for the ITV show.
Dermot and Alison have hosted Friday editions of This Morning since 2021. They also stepped in as a temporary main duo after Phillip Schofield left following his affair scandal and Holly Willoughby stepped down in 2023.
Speaking to Radio Times, Dermot said the show faced relentless attention during that rocky spell.
He said: “We were doing a show that, through no fault of our own, was on the cover of newspapers for 50 days on the trot.”
He added that he ignores the daily stories that zoom in on small live moments.
Why Dermot O’Leary Alison Hammond gossip keeps flaring up
Dermot said tiny gestures can quickly turn into dramatic headlines.
He said: “We’ll finish an item, I’ll look one way and Alison will look the other, and the papers will be like, ‘Bust-up on This Morning!’ It’s all bull[bleep].”
Alison also defended the loose, live style that viewers expect from the show.
She said: “You’ve got to be free to say what you want, and give your opinions. If you start editing yourself, you’ll lose the live element that people love.”
That freedom sits at the heart of This Morning. The show airs weekdays on ITV at 10am.
The presenters did admit they have gone on air while unhappy with each other. They said it has only happened a handful of times.
Alison said she could fake their chemistry if they were not speaking off camera. Dermot did not agree.
What their friendship sounds like off camera
The exchange stayed playful. Dermot also made clear how much he values Alison as a friend.
He said he doesn’t “like the idea of making Ali unhappy”. This is because “one, she’s such a good friend and two, because she’s basically a Jamaican mother, and you don’t want to get on the wrong side of her”.
He then summed up their partnership in simple terms.
He said they have a “great relationship” and he has taught Alison to “take life a bit more seriously, and she’s taught me to take it a bit less seriously”.
Read more: This Morning host Alison Hammond replaced by Angela Scanlon as viewers confused
Those comments come after years of pressure around This Morning. Much of that strain followed the fallout linked to Phillip Schofield’s departure.
For Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond, the message is clear. They may clash from time to time, but they reject the feud claims.
That does not erase how tough that ITV chapter was. It does suggest their on-screen chemistry comes from a real bond, not a polished act.
