This Morning: Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary

This Morning: Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary

Q&A with Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary

• If any information is used, please credit: Alison and Dermot will present This Morning daily between 18 - 22 October at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub
• • Dermot: 'Our friendship is definitely the highlight of doing the show - it's lovely how it's been nurtured over time'
  • Alison: 'My eyes do light up when I get a text from Dermot!'
  • Ahead of hosting half term on This Morning Alison and Dermot reveal all about their friendship, their children, winning awards, and all things Halloween...

Are you both looking forward to a week of presenting This Morning together?

1. The last time we did it, I really enjoyed the intenseness of it and seeing him every single day [laughs]. I'm hoping to have a couple of meals out, some lunches with him as well.

1. Intenseness is the perfect word to describe it, but it's a pleasant intenseness. I like coming in every day for a week and getting into the groove and swing of it - and of course, seeing Alison every day.

A: Thanks, babes.

Do you get tired because you're not used to doing the show five days in a row?

1. Not when you've got a 15-month-old at home - he's the alarm clock, although he has been very good recently.

A: No, I'm buzzing for it.

1. Because you get to take random things home like that salt and vinegar spray a few weeks ago.

A: That's true.

What have been your highlights working together on This Morning so far?

1. Getting to know her and getting to trust her - our friendship is definitely the highlight, it's lovely how it's been nurtured over time. I've found a sister and a friend, which is nice. Something has really clicked in the last four months.

1. Yeah, it has. I also love the half an hour after the show where we can eat the food. It's like being in a restaurant with him. After the show, the lights go out and no-one takes any notice of us and we're there in our own little world!

1. Our highlights are also things like, 'That worked well last week.' I also like it when we're talking about stuff that's happening and you feel like you're tapping in on the conversation with the country.

Do you text each other outside of the show?

1. Yeah, two or three times a week, just a little check in. We did it more during the summer because we didn't see each other. I instigated it!

1. Did you? I thought it was me?

1. No, it was me.

1. I'm not sure about that one, babes. My eyes do light up when I get a text from Dermot! Although I'm still waiting for an invitation to Dermot's new house and spending some time in his garden, it's a big garden.

1. Yes, I do need to have you round, but me and Dee have recently moved, so we've got a bit of work to do before anyone comes round. It's boxageddon at the minute, but we'll get there. I'm filming in Birmingham in a few weeks' time, so someone may get a visitor.

What are your This Morning getting-ready rituals?

1. I've got a show tune. On the way in, I work out what song I'm going to walk into the make up room with. I even get it to the point of the song where it's going to be a good chorus before I step into the room. I did No More Tears by Barbra Streisand and Donna Air recently and Alison and I did a little dance before catching up on the week. I have to do something that makes her happy, otherwise she has a go at me if it's not funny enough!

1. Yeah, I love that I have to be honest. It brings me joy. I like that ritual, but when it comes to things like breakfast, I switch it up a bit. Some days I have poached eggs and avocado, other days I might just have a protein shake.

Have you had wardrobe malfunctions before or during filming?

1. I've never had anything, but I do tend to divert away from the lighter colours from a sweat patch point of view.

1. Not really. Sometimes I wear chains and they catch on my microphone, so you see the sound man running out and I'm like, 'Oh my god, what have I done?' And it's just my chain caught on my microphone, but nothing really serious has happened. The malfunctions are usually the props like the Spin to Win wheel. It can be temperamental sometimes.

Is there anything on the show you'd like to do more of?

D: I'd like to do more wildlife, some rambling or wild swimming.

A: I'd love to see you in your trunks, can we go swimming one day?

Congratulations on another This Morning NTA award. Do you feel really proud to be a part of it?

1. Yes, I do feel really proud. I've been here a long time. All these achievements have been incredible. I know people may think we take it for granted, but we really don't. I'm really honoured to be a part of the show.

1. I'm just relieved. If we hadn't won the NTA this year, there's no prize for guessing who would be to blame!

1. I texted Martin Frizell [This Morning's editor] and asked if I could have the NTA for a year.

1. You know you can buy replicas?

1. I don't want to pay [laughs].
   Would you like your children to follow you in your TV presenting footsteps?

1. Aidan is already adamant he doesn't want to do what I do, but I think he'd be good. He doesn't want to because his mum's doing it, but as he gets older I think he'll realise he likes it. At the moment, he's into Formula One, he's doing a college course on motorsports. I'm taking him to Dubai for the Formula One in December.

1. My little one is 15 months, so his likes are wheels and opening and shutting doors. His dislikes are when wheels fall off and doors shut and he can't open them! If he wanted to pursue the entertainment route, then great. My wife Dee [Koppang] is a director, so I'd imagine he'd end up somewhere in telly land, if he wanted to. As long as he's happy, that's all I care about.

Halloween is just around the corner, do you believe in ghosts and spirits? Have you ever seen one or experienced a presence before?

1. There is definitely something out there. I did Celebrity Haunted Mansion and we did a ouija board on that show and it frightened me to death! Honestly, I've never been so scared. It moved and one hundred percent it wasn't any of the contestants moving it. There was so much negative energy in the room, it was really frightening. We had to close down the board and make sure the spirits were happy to make sure they didn't follow us home. So I absolutely believe there is an afterlife without a doubt. By doing that ouija board I sensed and felt a spirit presence for sure - the way it was spelling out words really quickly...my heart was in my mouth. It was horrible, the force of it. I remember there were two little girls from 1920 who lost their lives in the fields, another guy had fallen in the shower and the last spirit just spelt out 'go away'... although they won't come unless you ask them.

1. Well I believe in something, I'm Catholic, so I'm quite superstitious… but I wouldn't say I've ever experienced anything.

1. I've said I feel my mum's guidance, but I haven't spiritually felt her yet. But I did dream about her recently, we were at the theatre having a laugh and chatting, that felt quite real.

Do you enjoy dressing up for Halloween?

1. I loved dressing up as the Lion for The Wizard of Oz! The team at This Morning are brilliant at transforming you into anything… I was even purple one year when I was Ursula!

1. My wife Dee and I love a fancy dress party, and she particularly likes Halloween. We always go to a party and she always takes it so seriously. We went as the two characters Steve and Robin from Stranger Things a couple of years ago, and we've been Karl Lagerfeld and his cat before too… so if restrictions allow this year, I'm all for it!

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