TV presenter reveals she has Alzheimer’s at age 62

Former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips has revealed that she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 62.

The TV presenter and journalist, best known as a former host of the ITV breakfast programme, told the Daily Mirror: “This disease has ravaged my family and now it has come for me. And all over the country there are people of all different ages whose lives are being affected by it – it’s heartbreaking. I just hope I can help find a cure which might make things better for others in the future.”

She added: “It’s something I might have thought I’d get at 80… I felt more angry than anything else because this disease has already impacted my life in so many ways; my poor mum was crippled with it, then my dad, my grandparents, my uncle. It just keeps coming back for us.”

Phillips, who is married to This Morning editor Martin Frizell and has two children in their early twenties, chose to speak out 18 months after she was first diagnosed.

Contrary to public perceptions of Alzheimer’s, “I’m still here, getting out and about, meeting friends for coffee, going for dinner with Martin and walking every day,” she said.

She revealed she has been accepted onto a trial for a drug that is hoped to slow the progress of the disease, adding: “My poor stomach is full of pin marks.”

Phillips, who fronted GMTV from 1997 until 2008, when she announced she would be leaving the show for family reasons. She has since made appearances as a guest presenter on Lorraine, appeared on Loose Women, and has written a regular column for the Daily Mirror for 20 years.

She has frequently spoken out about her family’s experiences with Alzheimer’s and campaigned for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

She previously said she feared inheriting the disease, adding: “My parents were relatively young when they got it; my mum was in her early 50s, although at the time, we just put it down to her being eccentric.”

Kate Lee, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Our thoughts are with our Ambassador Fiona Phillips and her family following the announcement that she’s living with dementia.

“Fiona has frequently spoken out about her parents’ experiences of dementia, and her support of Alzheimer’s Society has been hugely impactful and greatly appreciated.

“Sharing such personal news publicly raises much-needed awareness of dementia and we are extremely grateful to Fiona.

“We are here to offer our support to Fiona and her family and to everyone affected by dementia, through our website alzheimers.org.uk and dementia support line on 0333 150 3456.”