For the Love of Dogs viewers slam ‘fake’ Alison Hammond as she returns to Battersea for festive special
FOR the Love of Dogs fans have ripped into Alison Hammond and branded her ‘fake’ as she returned to Battersea.
The This Morning fan-favourite was back on screens with a festive episode of the hit series.
It comes after her original debut earlier this year as the ITV show’s new host following Paul O’Grady‘s death in 2023.
Alison, 49, had been unfairly trolled for her hosting abilities, including interactions with the rescue dogs – and now fans have once again branded her ‘fake’.
Taking to social media, one fan of the show said: “After watching tonight where is the warmth Hammond is doing Hammond it’s all about her she is false very overrated and is just at this point overexposed not a good choice.”
A second wrote: “What the hell is this horrendous Hammond doing presenting this show she loves dogs like i love having a sore throat ffs.”
“I thought they were getting rid of her after all the complaints from the first series,” said a third.
During the festive special Alison met a seven-month-old spaniel Holly, who arrived severely underweight and needing an operation on her eye.
Earlier this year The Sun revealed that ITV bosses had green lit a full second series of For the Love of Dogs with Alison at the helm.
The mum-of-one hit back at her critics in a previous interview with The Sun, admitting ‘trolls will be trolls’.
She said: “I was actually surprised with how much [trolling] I got for doing the show.
“I could understand in the sense that Paul was so loved, and people were saying: ‘How can she do Love Of Dogs when she doesn’t have a dog? How does she love dogs when she doesn’t have a dog?’ It’s like saying: ‘How can you love children when you haven’t got kids?’
“It’s such a flawed argument for me, and all I would say is: ‘If you don’t want to watch it, don’t watch it.’ That’s what I would say to those trolls: ‘Don’t watch it then. If you don’t want to help Battersea, don’t watch it’.”
Alison Hammond's rise to stardom
SHE graces our televisions every Friday, as she co-hosts This Morning with Dermot O'Leary.
But just how did Alison Hammond first find fame?
2002 – Alison competed in Big Brother, and was the second housemate to be evicted . She won over viewers with moments such as when she broke the table in the garden by jumping up and down on it.
It was this year that she also started presenting for This Morning in a guest capacity.
2003 – Alison had a small acting role on TV drama Doctors.
2004 – This was the year that Alison returned to reality television, starring in shows including Celebrity Fit Club and Celebrity Stars in their Eyes – for which she performed as Nina Simone.
2010 – After several years of presenting gigs and reality show appearances, Alison was signed up to appear on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! She came in 10th place.
2014 – This was a busy year for Alison as she competed on both Celebrity Masterchef and Strictly Come Dancing, coming in 10th in the latter.
2020 – Alison appeared on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off – her first, but not last, time in the famous tent.
2021 – Alison co-hosted This Morning for three episodes alongside Phillip Schofield.
It was later announced that Alison and Dermot would be replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford as presenters of This Morning on a Friday.
2023 – Alison was announced as the new co-host of The Great British Bake Off, replacing Matt Lucas to present alongside Noel Fielding.
2024 – Following the death of Paul O’Grady, Alison stepped in as host of For The Love of Dogs.
2025 – An eight-part series titled Alison Hammond’s Big Weekend will premiere on BBC one next year, as she spends 48 hours with a celebrity in a bid to really get to know them.