Alison Hammond has revealed that she applied to go on Big Brother to try and clear her ‘traumatising’ debt.
The This Morning presenter, 47, shot to fame on the then Channel 4 reality show in 2002, proving to be hugely popular and going on to have an impressive TV career.
And ahead of going into the famous abode when facing huge debts of £3,000 in her normal pre-fame job as a holiday rep, Alison recalled believing it was a ‘good idea’ to go on the show and win the £70,000 prize money.
Looking back: Alison Hammond has revealed that she applied to go on Big Brother to try and clear her ‘traumatising’ debt
Speaking to On Jessie Ware’s Table Manners podcast, she said: ‘I was in Tunisia, repping, and everyone was reading the papers about Brian Dowling – he had won Big Brother.
‘And they were saying ‘you should go on Big Brother, you’d win it’.
‘And at the time, I had a debt of like £3,000 and at the time I was traumatised by.’
Throwback: The This Morning presenter, 47, shot to fame on the then Channel 4 reality show in 2002, proving to be hugely popular and going on to have an impressive TV career
Detailing her money struggles before getting her big break aged 27, Alison – who recently celebrated 20 years at This Morning – added: ‘Every time I got paid I just couldn’t make that debt go down.
‘So I thought that’d be a good idea to win £70,000 going in a TV show.’
Despite her gamble, Alison’s risk didn’t immediately pay off as she missed out on the winner’s prize fund of £70,000 and instead got expenses of just £30 per day after only lasting two weeks on the show – which was won by her pal Kate Lawler.
Tough time: ahead of going into the famous abode when facing huge debts of £3,000 in her normal pre-fame job as a holiday rep, Alison recalled believing it was a ‘good idea’ to go on the show and win the £70,000 prize money (pictured in 2002)
Big plan: ‘I was in Tunisia, repping, and everyone was reading the papers about Brian Dowling – he had won Big Brother. ‘And they were saying ‘you should go on Big Brother, you’d win it’ (pictured being evicted from Big Brother in 2002)
Since Big Brother, Alison landed a presenting gig on This Morning, where she eventually went on to be promoted to main anchor on Fridays with co-host Dermot O’Leary.
She’s also made several other TV appearances including I Can See Your Voice and Strictly Come Dancing plus she also has brand deals with the likes of Crown Bingo and DFS Furnishings.
The change in Alison’s fortunes was reflected the recent reveal in October that she was mistakenly charged £10,000 for getting her car serviced and didn’t notice the money was missing from her bank.
Success: Since Big Brother, Alison landed a presenting gig on This Morning, where she eventually went on to be promoted to main anchor on Fridays with co-host Dermot O’Leary
The television presenter stunned This Morning viewers while hosting the show on Friday as she explained the garage should have billed her £1,000 but took £9,000 extra in error.
Broadcaster Alison recounted: ‘I got my car serviced. I paid for the service and didn’t notice until they phoned me that they’d charged me £10,000. I hadn’t checked my balance.
‘They noticed a month later and called me to say they’d meant to charge £1,000, but they’d charged £10,000 instead.’
Vanishing cash: Alison Hammond, 47, was mistakenly charged £10,000 for getting her car serviced and didn’t notice the money was missing from her bank
Expressing her gratitude for the mechanic’s honesty, she added: ‘I didn’t even notice. That was nice that they told me.’
The story shocked her co-host Dermot O’Leary and guests Gyles Brandreth and Carol Vorderman with the trio left open-mouthed.
Alison recalled her experience just moments after they had discussed the cost of living crisis on the ITV show.
Blunder: The presenter stunned This Morning viewers while hosting the show as she explained the garage should have billed her £1,000 but took £9,000 extra in error