Alison Hammond insisted on not flying first class after an unpleasant seating encounter.
On Tuesday’s This Morning, former Big Brother star and co-host Dermot O’Leary – who is filling in for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby during the Easter break – were going over the day’s top stories, one of which was London City Airport getting rid of the 100ml liquid rule for hand luggage.
After Alison, 48, described the tearful moment airport security captured her with perfume before her trip, a guest inquired whether she was flying first class.
‘I don’t travel in first class, always economy,’ she said.
‘Oh come on you do,’ the stunned guest replied.
Alison quickly interjected: ‘Can I say something I’ve flown in first class once that’s the only time.’
‘I was upgraded because my chair broke so they upgraded me. It was amazing I’m not going to lie but I never travel first class.’
Alison’s travel preferences may alter now that it has been revealed that she will be replacing Matt Lucas on the upcoming season of Great British Bake Off.
Despite her years of expertise, the Bafta 2023 host had to audition for the position.
‘They made me interview random strangers, to obviously see if I’m good with different people,’ she recalled.
‘It was a weird audition,’ she added when speaking to The Sun.
Alison was instructed she had three weeks to keep the position a secret, but she ended up informing her 18-year-old son Aidan.
‘Can you believe I couldn’t tell anybody?’ she added.
‘You know what my mouth is like.’
GBBO showrunner and executive producer Richard McKerrow disclosed what the team was searching for in Matt’s replacement in the tent in February of this year.
He explained they had been looking for someone who would ‘look after the bakers during their experience and be curious about what they’re baking and to do it with charm, humour and kindness’.
Safe to say Alison easily fits into that description!
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.