Alison and Josie share a close bond'

As Alison Hammond's relationship with her boyfriend goes from strength to strength, a source tells new the Bake Off star hopes her good friend Josie Gibson can also be lucky in love

- Mitya Underwood

Alison Hammond and Josie Gibson have a busy few weeks of celebrations and fun coming up as they both enter a new decade. With The Great British Bake Off host Alison turning 50 on 5 February, and TV presenter Josie turning 40 on 24 January, a source says the milestone birthdays mark a fresh start for the BFFs, and the drama and heartbreak of the past few years will be put firmly in the past.

The pair have been close friends for years now, spending Christmases together and supporting each other during the fallout from the This Morning saga with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby last year. Now, with Alison blissfully loved-up with younger man David Putman – and looking incredible after losing 11st – our source says Alison would love to see Josie also find her own special someone.

Revealing why Alison is Josie’s biggest supporter, our source explained, “Alison has been a bit of a rock to Josie, who hasn’t had the easiest of times over the last year. The uncertainty of everything that happened at This Morning, with Phil and Holly leaving, then Cat [Deeley] and Ben [Shephard] taking over, left her a bit worried about her future.

“She’s been a good friend to Josie with the romance side of things too, and she’s told her that it’ll happen when she least expects it, and just to be open to it. She thinks Josie deserves someone who will appreciate and love her, and she’d love this to be the year she finds it.”