Former This Morning presenter takes dig at Alison Hammond’s interview skills

A former This Morning star has claimed that TV personality Alison Hammond is ‘no interviewer’.

Jaci Stephen, who worked on the ITV show for seven years, issued an unexpected dig at The Great British Bake Off co-host.

Despite praising This Morning’s Soaps Expert Sharon Marshall and Gyles Brandreth, Jaci appeared to not hold Alison, 50, to the same high esteem.

Writing for The i, Jaci said Sharon, 54, her ‘successor as Soap Queen’ is ‘terrific… and also a very fine writer on EastEnders’.

Continuing, Jaci also described Gyles as a ‘joy and if I had my way he’d be on TV 24/7’ before saying: ‘His intelligence, quick wit, charm and all-round brilliance never fail to impress.’

However, finally, Jaci wrote about Alison, who has been a Friday co-presenter since 2021, by saying: ‘I like Alison Hammond, but she is no interviewer, and the idea that she is needs to be knocked on the head with a very large mallet.’

Alison has worked on This Morning since 2002, serving as a reporter and presenter until 2021.

In that year it was then confirmed that she and Dermot O’Leary, 52, would succeed Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as the regular Friday presenters.

Jaci, meanwhile, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster served as the resident TV and film critic on This Morning from 1997 until 2002.

The 67-year-old, who formerly wrote a column for the Daily Mail, reportedly did not get her contract renewed after ITV bosses were unhappy when she published a positive review of a rival show.

Last year, Alison responded to the criticism of her repeatedly booking major presenting gigs and being a prominent face on TV by saying: ‘I’ve worked hard for 22 years to get here.’

In a new interview for The Guardian, the bubbly star with a famously infectious cackle was asked if she has concerns about becoming ‘overexposed’.

She replied: ‘No. If I need to rest up or a job doesn’t appeal, I won’t do it.

‘I’m good at saying no. I turn down 10 things per day, no exaggeration.’

Alison continued: ‘It looks like I’m on TV a lot, sure, but I stand out partly because it’s still not the norm to see a Black woman doing this. I don’t want to bring race into it, but no one says that about Davina [McCall] or Ant and Dec.

‘I’ve worked hard for 22 years to get here.’

This comes after she, along with the likes of Cheryl Cole, was rumoured to be taking part in the next series of Celebrity Traitors.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: All Coronation Street exits, returns and new arrivals coming in 2026

MORE: Who’s The Masked Singer star Can of Worms? All clues and theories so far

MORE: James Martin worried he’d ‘killed’ celebrity guest on ITV show