Lorraine Kelly praises 'incredible' Fiona Phillips after 'cruel' diagnosis
Fiona Phillips was praised by friend and former GMTV co-star Lorraine Kelly during her show Lorraine on Wednesday morning, following her Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis being revealed.
The TV favourite shared her diagnosis on Tuesday evening, leading to a flurry of support from friends and fans online.
After posting about her "much loved" friend on Twitter following the news breaking, Lorraine took a moment during her show on Wednesday to once again throw support behind her friend.
The 62-year-old Mirror columnist was told she had the illness a year ago after suffering months of brain fog and anxiety.
Fiona is now undergoing trials for a revolutionary new drug which scientists hope could slow or even reverse the illness for millions of sufferers in the years to come.
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Lorraine Kelly shared her support for GMTV favourite and TV presenter Fiona Phillips (ITV)Speaking on Wednesday, Lorraine started off by saying: "Our Fiona… she looks incredible, she is incredible. She has been quite amazing."
As her show began later on, she said: "We start this morning with very sad news. It is really sad news but she’s been amazing. She's been really brave, really optimistic, as she would be. But it's a cruel, horrible disease. It's so blinking sad."
Dr Hilary Jones also discussed his friend and ITV co-star's diagnosis, saying: "She doesn’t know what the future might hold or how rapidly it might progress. She is such a warm-hearted person."
Lorraine then added: "There's nothing I can say, the word I want to use isn't allowed on television. We're just sending all our love," as Hilary shared his "love" for the star.
Fiona's news became public on Tuesday, and the TV presenter referenced the battles her family members, including both her parents, have had with the disease.
She revealed: "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."
Fiona Phillips has confirmed her Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Fiona Phillips - pictured with her husband Martin - was praised by friend and former co-star Lorraine KellyFiona went on: "It’s something I might have thought I’d get at 80. But I was still only 61 years old.
"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."
Fiona has been carrying the secret of her illness for 18 months but on Tuesday she chose to share the news with readers of the Mirror where she has been a columnist for almost 20 years.
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She told us: "There is still an issue with this disease that the public thinks of old people, bending over a stick, talking to themselves.
"But I’m still here, getting out and about, meeting friends for coffee, going for dinner with Martin and walking every day."
Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV1 and ITVX.
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