Alison Hammond is ‘in duty of care talks with ITV amid racist trolling
Alison Hammond is ‘in duty of care talks with ITV’ amid racist trolling over replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning
- The presenter, 45, is said to be struggling to cope with ‘vitriol’ she has been sent
- Channel ITV has previously faced widespread criticism over their after-care
- There have been tragic cases connected to shows Love Island and Jeremy Kyle
Alison Hammond is in duty of care meetings after racist trolling over her replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning.
The TV presenter, 45, is said to be struggling to cope with the ‘vitriol’ she has been receiving online.
It has prompted the channel to step in to ensure she is ‘staying positive’ amid the internet racist abuse.
The meetings come after previous criticism of ITV of its after-care, after cases involving the Love Island and Jeremy Kyle shows.
Comments seen by MailOnline have been sent to Alison since it was announced she and Dermot O’Leary would be taking over Eamonn and Ruth’s traditional Friday slot.
Confirmed: Alison Hammond is reportedly in duty of care meetings due to cruel trolling over news she is replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning (pictured with her new co-host Dermot O’Leary)
As well as racist abuse, there were also unfounded comments about whether she is at the same standard as the presenters whose role she is taking.
ITV is extremely cautious about mental health matters following a slew of tragedies of guests or hosts of some of its most popular shows.
Former Love Island contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis and host Caroline Flack all died of suicide.
The channel’s former hit The Jeremy Kyle Show was also taken off air permanently after a guest on the show is believed to have taken his own life.
It is understood duty of care meetings – like the one Alison had – are not unusual for the broadcaster’s slate of programmes. It is not known if Dermot, Eamonn or Ruth were offered them.
In June 2019 ITV’s chief executive Carolyn McCall signed off a Duty of Care charter, outlining its commitment.
Replaced: Show veterans Eamonn and Ruth – who have presented This Morning for 14 years – will be demoted to hosting the ITV favourite during holidays
Pals: The news comes after Alison revealed that presenters on This Morning aren’t the best of friends, amid claims she’s locked in a feud with Ruth and Eamonn
It said: ‘We want to ensure that working at, or with, ITV, is a happy, safe and productive work environment and will strive to review and improve our systems and processes.’
Insiders told The Sun: ‘Alison is a tough cookie, but the vitriol from some so-called fans of This Morning has been impossible for her to ignore.
‘As a result of Love Island and Jeremy Kyle tragedies, ITV are very serious about duty of care and arranged to sit down with Alison to see how she was. Alison confided that while the Friday gig is a dream come true, staying positive is a battle.
‘She was given advice on how to stay strong mentally and prepared for what to expect after the announcement was confirmed. Now Alison is determined to move on from the drama and prove to everyone why she deserved this job.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for ITV and Alison for comment.
On Monday, the replacement was officially confirmed, with an announcement revealing that 60-year-old show veterans Eamonn and Ruth – who have presented This Morning for 14 years – will be demoted to hosting the ITV favourite during holidays.
Steve Dymond (pictured) took his life after appearing on The Jeremy Kyle show where he failed the ‘lie-detector test’
Hampshire Coroner Jason Pegg said he had decided to make the presenter (pictured) an ‘interested person’ under the coroner’s rules in the case of Steve Dymond
Sophie Gradon, 32, and Mike Thalassitis, 26, took their own lives after appearing on the show
Love Island presenter Caroline Flack, 40, also killed herself an inquest into her death ruled
The incoming presenters will begin their new coveted jobs on January 8th, joining a lineup that also includes main hosts Phillip, 58, and Holly, 39.
Breaking her silence on the shake-up following weeks of speculation, Alison, 45, said in a statement: ‘I never dreamt that when I first joined This Morning – initially for a few months – that I would still be there 19 years later.
‘I genuinely care about the show and the viewers who watch, so it’s a huge privilege and honour to be hosting a show I adore so much. I’m just really excited to be doing even more of what I love alongside the lovely Dermot.’
Sharing his own statement, co-host Dermot, 47, said: ‘I’m deeply thrilled and honoured to be joining the This Morning team next year. We have huge shoes to fill and we are well aware what a privilege it is to be stepping into them.
‘Above all, we want to have fun and for you to be able to kick your weekend off with a smile, especially given the year we’ve all had.’
In an interview conducted before the shakeup was revealed, Alison claimed that only main hosts Holly and Phillip Schofield are off-camera pals.
Speaking out: In an interview conducted before the shakeup was revealed, Alison claimed that only main hosts Holly and Phillip Schofield are off-camera pals
The TV personality, who attended Ruth and Eamonn’s 2010 wedding, told The Sun: ‘We’re not on top of each other, do you know what I mean?
‘Phillip and Holly, they go on holiday together. They genuinely love each other, in a brother and sister way.
‘But literally when we finish everyone wants to go home to their families and see them. We’ve got it just right I think. But no they all go and do their own thing.’
