Popular TV presenter Alison Hammond has announced that she is stepping away from This Morning for a short break, with fellow presenter Josie Gibson temporarily taking her place. The news comes as a surprise to many of her fans, especially as it follows criticism she recently received over an interview with Hollywood star Robert De Niro.

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Alison Hammond Confirms Temporary Break

Alison, 50, has been a familiar face on This Morning since 2002, having first gained fame on Big Brother. Over the years, she has become a staple of British daytime television, known for her infectious personality and engaging interview style. In 2021, she was officially promoted to a full-time presenter on the ITV morning show, co-hosting the Friday editions alongside Dermot O’Leary, 51.

However, Alison has now revealed that she will be taking a brief hiatus from the show to focus on other commitments. Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK, she explained, “I’m having a bit of a break because I’m doing some other projects.”

She went on to reveal some of the exciting opportunities she has lined up during her time away from This Morning. “I’m doing Comic Relief on Friday, so I’m really excited about that – I’ll be working with Davina [McCall] to help raise money,” she said. “I’ve got a couple of other things in the pipeline, so I’m taking about a month off. Is that alright?”

While she assured fans that this is only a temporary break, many were still disappointed to learn that she will not be appearing on their screens for a while.

Josie Gibson Fills In for Alison

With Alison stepping away for the next month, This Morning has brought in another fan-favorite presenter to take her place. During the Friday, March 21 episode of the show, Josie Gibson, 40, stepped in as a co-host alongside Dermot O’Leary.

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Josie, who also gained fame through Big Brother and later became a regular contributor on This Morning, has stepped into Alison’s role before and is known for her warm, bubbly personality. Viewers welcomed her back, but Alison’s absence was still felt by many longtime fans.

Did Backlash Over a Robert De Niro Interview Influence Alison’s Decision?

Alison’s decision to take a break from This Morning comes just weeks after she faced criticism over an interview she conducted with legendary actor Robert De Niro.

The interview, which also featured actress Debra Messing, was part of the promotional tour for their latest film, The Alto Knights. During the segment, Alison tried to bring some lighthearted fun to the interview by playing a game. She read out a list of nicknames, and De Niro and Messing had to guess whether they belonged to real-life gangsters or were simply the names of her old school friends.

While Debra Messing appeared to enjoy the game and even won a prize – a bouquet of fake flowers – some viewers felt that De Niro did not share her enthusiasm. Comments on social media suggested that the Goodfellas star seemed unimpressed with the segment, with one viewer on X (formerly Twitter) writing, “He’s definitely thinking, ‘How the [bleep] did I get here.’” Another user joked, “Robert De Niro was straight on the phone to his agent after that.”

Despite the online criticism, Alison has not directly addressed whether the backlash played a role in her decision to take a break. Instead, she has emphasized that she is simply taking time off to work on new projects.

What’s Next for Alison?

Although she won’t be on This Morning for the next month, Alison’s schedule remains packed. In addition to her role on Comic Relief, she has hinted at other upcoming projects, though she has not revealed specific details.

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Alison has been expanding her career beyond This Morning in recent years. She is also a co-host on The Great British Bake Off, a role that has further cemented her status as one of the UK’s most beloved TV personalities.

For now, fans will have to wait a few weeks to see her back on This Morning, but in the meantime, they can catch her in her other ventures. With her signature charm and humor, there’s no doubt that Alison will continue to thrive, whether she’s on This Morning or elsewhere.

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