‘I'm a cool mum – but my son doesn't think so!'

Alison Hammond opens up to new about her relationship with her teenager, remembering her late mum and interviewing TV superstars such as Oprah Winfrey

- GEORGIA TREVITT

It’s hard to believe that Alison Hammond hasn’t had her own memoir before now. The lovable TV presenter first rose to fame in 2002 when she was a contestant on Big Brother and she’s been on our screens ever since with stints on I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! and a long-running gig on This Morning under her belt. So it’s no surprise she has lots of stories to tell.

When we meet up with Alison in London to speak about her new book, it’s like chatting to an old friend. Throughout the interview, Alison affectionately calls us “babs” and has us smiling from ear to ear with her infectious laugh.

But it’s clear that Alison has a more serious side, too. After losing her mum Maria to cancer last year, the 46-year-old tells us she found it “difficult” to open up during the writing process. “Sometimes I can’t believe she’s gone and I pretend that she’s still here,” Alison says.

She also discusses being a mum herself – and admits that 16-year-old son Aidan, who she shares with ex Noureddine Boufaied, doesn’t want to “ride off the back” of her success.

Here, Alison talks about her favourite celeb interviews and presenting This Morning every Friday with co-star Dermot O’Leary...

We loved reading your book, Alison! Why was now the right time to write your first memoir?

Thank you! This is my time now and everything happens for a reason. I think that when you read it you’ll feel like you’re in my presence. I’ve been open and honest. I talk about everything – my mum dying, the men in my life, my showbiz world and my life before Big Brother.

Did you find the whole process emotional?