ITV presenter Fiona Phillips has been beloved for many since her debut on television in the 1990s. She is mostly known for having presented the ITV breakfast program GMTV between 1997 and 2008. Sadly, she has been fighting a silent battle against Alzheimer's, a degenerative neurological disease that mainly affects your memory. Fortunately, the TV presenter can count on the unconditional support from her husband, Martin Frizell, and their two sons. Here's what you should know.
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Fiona Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 62
Fiona Phillips bravely made her diagnosis known to the public in 2023, when doctors informed her that she was suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease, at the age of 62. She finally got the answer to her questions after struggling with brain fog and anxiety for months. In 2023, she wrote a column for the Mirror, during which she told her fans about her diagnosis, after taking a year to process the information herself. The presenter was shocked by the news, especially as she expected to be diagnosed much later in life, since her mother, father, uncle and grandparents all suffered from Alzheimer's disease. She explained:
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.
Two months after her Mirror column, Fiona Phillips revealed she was taking part in a clinical trial, which doctors hope can slow the effects of the disease, and perhaps even reverse them. For now, there is sadly no known cure for Alzheimer's disease. She told the Mirror:
I just hope I can help find a cure which might make things better for others in the future.
Martin Frizell is standing by his wife's side
Fiona Phillips has been married to This Morning editor Martin Frizell since 1997. They met while they were both working on ITV's breakfast show GMTV. They got married in Las Vegas after only a month of dating. Together, the couple has welcomed two children into the world, and they have been living under the radar for most of the time. During the presenter's interview with the Mirror, Martin Frizell stepped in to fill in the gaps in his wife's memory. He explained:
Before I didn’t ever have to worry about Fiona before and now I do. 'What is she doing all day while I’m at work? What is she doing in the evening if I’m out? What has she eaten?'
Their two sons remain by their side
The couple has got two sons, Nathaniel, 24, and Mackenzie, 21. Fiona Phillips left her job at ITV in 2008 to spend more time with her children, as well as looking after her elderly father, who was struggling with Alzheimer's too. She explained:
I love the job but I’ve got other responsibilities – the children, a home life, and an elderly dad who needs me.
At first, the TV presenter hid her diagnosis from her sons, as she did not want them to treat her differently. She told the Mirror:
I just didn’t want to make a big thing out of it where we all sit down as a family and announce we’ve got something to tell them. And I was worried they might be embarrassed in front of their friends or treat me in a different way.
Read more:
Fiona Phillips: New details about TV presenter's tragic condition have been shared
Sources used:
Mirror: Exclusive:TV icon Fiona Phillips shares heartbreaking update about her Alzheimer's diagnosis
Metro: Inside Fiona Phillips’ family life with This Morning boss Martin Frizell and their two children
The Sun: POWER COUPLE Inside Fiona Phillips’ marriage to This Morning boss husband Martin Frizell – 4-week proposal to secret toll of GMTV job
