Lorraine Kelly has shown her support for Fiona Phillips after learning of her Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.
The former GMTV anchor, 62, revealed on Tuesday that she has been suffering with the memory-affecting ailment for the previous year.
Fiona, who is presently getting groundbreaking therapy in a London hospital, was diagnosed after months of brain fog and worry.
The former Strictly Come Dancing participant had already lost her mother, father, and uncle to Alzheimer’s disease and says she was “angrier than anything else” when she found out.
Since making her diagnosis public, Fiona has received a flood of support from the public and fellow broadcasters, including Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, who hailed Fiona as “quite brave” on GMB.
On Wednesday’s Lorraine, the Scottish host wished Fiona well as they examined the signs of early-onset dementia with ITV’s resident doctor, Dr Hilary Jones.
Lorraine, 63, described Fiona’s diagnosis as ‘blinking sad’ but praised the journalist for being ‘amazing and really optimistic as she always would be.’
‘It’s a cruel, horrible disease,’ she added.
Dr. Hilary, who has previously worked with Fiona, praised her as “such a warm-hearted person.”

Lorraine recalled her and Fiona’s GMTV days, describing herself as a “superwoman” for combining care for her parents, a high-powered profession, family, and friends.
‘I don’t know how she managed it. I was in awe,’ Lorraine added.
On Twitter, Lorraine also paid tribute to Fiona, writing: ‘She’s a good, kind soul and I pray the treatment works and results in a massive breakthrough for everyone dealing with this hellish disease. Sending her and her family all my love.’

What is early-onset Alzheimer’s disease?
Early-onset Alzheimer’s is also known as young-onset dementia or younger-onset Alzheimer’s. It is the label given to anyone who receives a diagnosis before they turn 65.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, an estimated 70,800 people with dementia in the UK have young onset, and Alzheimer’s disease accounts for around one in three cases of young onset dementia.
It is thought at least five in every 100 people with Alzheimer’s are under 65, however the figure may be higher.
According to the NHS, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s can begin with usually minor memory problems, but can develop into:
- confusion, disorientation and getting lost in familiar places
- difficulty planning or making decisions
- problems with speech and language
- problems moving around without assistance or performing self-care tasks
- personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, demanding and suspicious of others
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there) and delusions (believing things that are untrue)
- low mood or anxiety
Though she has kept the news private for 18 months, Fiona said she had decided to share her story to help end the stigma around Alzheimer’s.
‘There is still an issue with this disease that the public thinks of old people, bending over a stick, talking to themselves,’ she said.
‘But I’m still here, getting out and about, meeting friends for coffee, going for dinner with [husband] Martin [Frizell], and walking every day.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.