ALISON Hammond has candidly opened up about her relentless work ethic – tearing up when she explained at one point money was so tight she struggled to make her mortgage.
The star shot to fame in 2002 after appearing as a contestant on Big Brother, and soon was snapped up for segments on This Morning.
However, in 2007, she found herself at a loss with no other work lined-up and This Morning filming drying up, forcing her to reconsider her career in the spotlight.
She explained to The Guardian: “There was a time when I couldn’t pay my mortgage, and I was really famous.”
Picking up work at a local hairdressers, Alison explained she’d “answer the phone and do a few blow dries”, telling customers who recognised her she was simply “helping out”.
But away from the public, she relied on her mother to help her and son, Aidan, to help them out financially to keep them afloat.
“It’s not all good all of the time. But I was all right, you know?” she told the site, who noted that she cried while recollecting the moment.
“That’s television, it’s fickle and it’s part of my journey, part of my power.”
Alison’s hard graft eventually paid off, with her giggly interviews with celebrities becoming international viral sensations – and now she’s one of the most in-demand stars of British TV.
Her bubbly personality has become a hit with viewers, as well as her cheeky sense of humour and ability to crack even the most hardened celebrities.
As well as a now regular presenting spot on This Morning, Alison also hosts For The Love Of Dogs, and joins Noel Fielding in presenting The Great British Bake Off, which returns this autumn.
It’s net worth is now estimated at over £1million.
The star noted that she may not be invited back for the next series of Bake Off, and if she’s not, then she’ll be fine.
She noted even if her work dried up, she knows she’ll get back on her feet.
“I know I’ll be OK, because I’ve been OK before,” she said.
“I’ll go and work at Tesco and people will still love me.”
