Fiona Phillips has announced that she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Fiona, who is best known for being the former host of ITV breakfast show GMTV, confirmed her heartbreaking diagnosis yesterday evening.
After suffering with brain fog and anxiety since the end of 2021, the 62-year-old’s condition was finally confirmed last year.
In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Fiona chose to open up about how she has been coping with her new reality.
“It’s something I might have thought I’d get at 80”, she confessed. “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.”
The broadcaster went on to say that she is continuing to live her life as normal as possible with her husband Martin.
“There is still an issue with this disease that the public thinks of old people," she explained. “But I’m still here, getting out and about, meeting friends for coffee, going for dinner with Martin and walking every day.”
As her Alzheimer’s diagnosis is currently mild, Fiona was accepted onto a drugs trial for the condition, which requires drugs to be administered three times a day with needles.
“Even if it isn’t helping me, these tests will be helping other people in the future so I just have to keep going,” she insisted.
Since announcing the news of her diagnosis, many of Fiona’s fellow ITV journalists have expressed their support for her.
During this morning’s broadcast, Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid sent the team’s best wishes to a "hugely popular presenter and journalist,” adding: “We all know and love her.”
On Twitter, Lorraine host Lorraine Kelly also shared a message to Fiona, writing: "She's a good, kind soul and I pray the treatment works and results in a massive breakthrough for everyone dealing with this hellish disease. Sending her and her family all my love."
