Bake Off's Alison Hammond 'secretly panicking' over appearance despite transformation

Great British Bake Off host Alison Hammond is reportedly feeling the pressure of ageing, an insider has claimed.

Alison, who first gained fame on reality show Big Brother in 2002, has not only had a successful career as a presenter – hosting This Morning and Bake Off – but she's also had some success as an actress. However, despite her flourishing career, a source told Heat Magazine that constantly encountering age-defying stars like Demi Moore and Gillian Anderson on the This Morning sofa has led Alison to scrutinise her own looks.

"Alison has confessed that she's really been feeling the pressure lately to stay looking young and ultra-glam on TV," they revealed. They further claimed that the Birmingham-born star is "secretly panicking" about maintaining her appearance.

Alison, 49, has indeed undergone a significant transformation in recent years – reportedly losing an impressive 11 stone after revamping her diet, giving up sugar, and starting a new exercise routine, including boxing. She discussed the turning point in her weight loss journey on This Morning, admitting: "I was nearly 28 stone I'll be honest with you and that is morbidly obese. And I used to buy an extra seat because I didn't want to put anyone in a situation where I was touching them."

Alison stepped onto the scales of a weighty decision when she contemplated a gastric band to hasten her slimming efforts: "It's actually quite a difficult thing. It just didn't work for me. I didn't like the feeling of it. You still feel hungry but you can't eat," reports Birmingham Live. 

With her 50th birthday looming, Alison feels the heat in the ferociously competitive TV industry, particularly within daytime broadcasting where age can be cruel to women. A source close to her confided: "Alison knows that the world of TV – especially daytime TV – can be brutal for women of a certain age."

While peers such as Cat Deeley and Amanda Holden are deftly defying time's toll, concerns about maintaining her vibrant image torment Alison: "Alison just doesn't know if she's going to be able to keep up her glam looks over the course of the next few decades," revealed the insider.

The pressures may have led her to ponder cosmetic procedures despite warnings from peers: "Her friends have begged her not to mess with her looks," shared the informer, highlighting the ultimate concern that cosmetic enhancements could spiral into perpetual touch-ups.

The trepidation over potential addiction to surgery is palpable: "She knows it's a slippery slope," added the mole, acknowledging the relentless pursuit of perfection under the limelight: "but sometimes it feels like, whatever you do to make yourself look better in terms of spotlight, it never seems enough."

Reach PLC has contacted Alison’s spokespeople for a statement.