27 August 2023 , 09:30
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Alison Hammond says that after years of getting “cold feet” at the thought of marriage, she is finally ready to settle down.
The single This Morning star has opened up about how she used to be scared of commitment and was always perfectly happy in her own company – but hinted times are changing. Alison, 48, said: “I think as soon as I hear the word marriage, I get cold feet. I think I’m just one of those people.
“I always think there’s something better but get a bit nervous to know ‘that is it’. “I just feel like I’m tied down and I don’t like it, when really and truly I’m getting to that age now where I think, ‘Alison, let go – it’s OK to settle down’.” The TV presenter also rubbished claims that she got married to the father of her son Aiden, 18. It has been widely reported that Alison wed cab driver Noureddine Boufaied. But she said while he was “a lovely guy” and they got engaged when she was 30, they never actually tied the knot.
Alison and her son Aiden (Getty Images)Alison, who also co-hosts The Great British Bake-Off, said: “A lot of people think I’ve been married… I’ve never been married. If you look online, it’s like, ‘Alison was married to Aiden’s dad’, but I wasn’t. We never actually got married. It was the perfect time but I don’t feel like we were ready. “He had the most beautiful smile and that’s what I fell in love with… Aiden’s got that smile as well.”
Noureddine was present when Aiden was born on Alison’s 30th birthday – and she recalls the song A Whole New World from Disney’s Aladdin, playing as she gave birth. She said: “He was there. He was loving it. He hadn’t bought me a present, so I was a bit miffed because I was like, ‘I can’t believe it’s my birthday and you haven't even bought me flowers or a card’.
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“I remember the surgeon was playing A Whole New World as Aiden came out.” Alison’s love life has been the subject of much speculation. The TV presenter, who appeared on Celebs Go Dating in 2020 but failed to find a long-term partner, has never revealed why she split from Aiden’s father.
Alison's ex Noureddine (alisonhammond/TikTok)
Alison said she gave birth to Aiden on her 30th birthday (Dave Benett/Getty Images)But in the years since, she has been engaged to security guard Jamie Savage and more recently dated landscape gardener Ben Hawkins. In February, Alison’s This Morning co-host, Dermot O’Leary, congratulated her on her engagement to Ben on air – but the star quickly denied it.
Dermot quizzed Alison after Ben’s dad, Colin, reportedly said his son had popped the question. Alison, who found fame in the third series of TV reality show Big Brother in 2002, has since said: “I absolutely love my own company. I have no problem with being on my own. In fact, I really quite like it.”
Speaking to Gyles Brandreth in an episode of his podcast Rosebud – which starts on Friday – the Birmingham-born star added: “I think that’s why I struggle in relationships, because I don’t want somebody around me all the time. “I absolutely love being on my own. I’m OK with it. I’ve never felt lonely.”