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Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Heartbreaking question Fiona Phillips asked her husband 72 times on drive
Fiona Phillips's husband Martin Frizell has told how her advancing condition has left her increasingly confused and isolated – unable to understand why she is being taken to hospital In a deeply emotional interview, former This Morning editor Martin Frizell has told how his wife Fiona Phillips has been severely affected by early-onset Alzheimer's. Fiona was just 61 in 2022 when she received her devastating diagnosis, and the condition has already worsened dramatically. He told Newsnight 's Victoria Derbyshire: "I used to say good days and bad days, now I just say bad days or wretched days, I think wretched is a great word for it." He recalled one heartbreaking taxi ride on the way to a hospital appointment where Fiona, now 64, was completely disoriented: 'In the cab ride, she asked me, 'Where are we going' 72 times.' Martin explained that Fiona had to see doctors about an unexplained pain that may or may not be directly connected to her condition: 'She's got a secondary pain. We don't know where the pain's coming from. We don't know if it's physiological. 'I couldn't drive her because she panics, and it's bad enough just driving with that too. I wouldn't take her on public transport because I'm frightened.' He explained that Fiona still looks just as she did when she was a regular face on TV, and so there's a good chance that she might be approached by a member of the public, leading to confusion and distress. He said that Fiona couldn't understand why she was in the taxi, and kept repeating the same four words: 'I'd say, 'We're going to see the doctor and hopefully he'll take the pain away,' and then, literally 15 seconds later, [she'd say] 'Where are we going?'' In perhaps his most heartbreaking admission, Martin confessed that he would have preferred it if his wife had been diagnosed with cancer instead of Alzheimer's. "My mum died from [cancer],' he said, 'My father had cancer, so I know what cancer can do. 'But I don't think Fiona is ever going to be able to taste a glass of wine again, walk on a beach properly again, go on holiday again, go to the theatre, go to the cinema, drive her car, or cook a meal for her children.' He added: 'My worry is that on her deathbed, whenever that may come, and hopefully it's a long time from now, will she even know who we are?' With cancer, Martin said, there is always a chance that the condition can go into remission, or at least be slowed down. But he added that, by contrast, there is no hope when it comes to Alzheimer's. In November 2007, Fiona appeared in the documentary The Killer in Me, during which former England footballer John Barnes, political commentator Andrew Neil, and Heart FM DJ Toby Anstis all found out their risk of developing 11 major diseases, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. In August 2008, Fiona stepped down from helming ITV 's flagship Breakfast show GMTV Today, and, in a poignant moment, Martin shared a clip of her last words on the show, saying : 'It's been such a privilege sharing my mornings with you, and I won't forget you.' This week sees the publication of Fiona's memoir, Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer's, which is co-written by Martin and journalist Alison Phillips. The book charts the relentless progress of her condition — including memory loss, impaired speech, and difficulty with everyday tasks — it also highlights the challenges faced by those with early-onset dementia and their carers.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fiona Phillips and Martin Frizell's health fears for sons after star's diagnosis
TV star Fiona Phillips and Martin Frizell were worried for their sons after the veteran broadcaster was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2022 at the age of 61 Fiona Phillips and her husband Martin Frizell shared their fears for their sons Nathaniel, 26, and Mackenzie, 23, after the TV star was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The former GMTV host, 64, initially thought she was having menopause symptoms when she first started experiencing "brain fog and anxiety". The mum-of-two went onto be diagnosed with the same devastating condition her parents suffered from, with the star caring for them both. Fiona was only 61 when she was diagnosed with the condition. When Fiona and her husband Martin, 66, first learned of the diagnosis, they worried whether it was genetic and could affect their sons. They quickly did a genetic test and were relieved to find out Nathaniel and Mackenzie weren't in danger of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Writing in her upcoming memoir, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, Martin wrote: "We did tackle one fear and talked to Fiona's consultant about whether she had inherited the illness from her parents. "She then had a genetic test, because if she carried the gene for Alzheimer's, there was a danger the boys would have it, too, which in turn might mean them thinking about IVF if they wanted children, in order to break the genetic line." He added in an excerpt shared with MailOnline: "Thankfully, the test was negative. That meant she didn't carry the gene so the boys wouldn't either." Martin, who spent ten years at the helm of ITV This Morning, stepped down from his position in February to care for Fiona, taking on many tasks he had once taken for granted. The couple employ a trained carer to help too, with the 66-year-old explaining that on bad, confused days his wife demands to see her parents, who have sadly passed away. Martin and Fiona married in 1997 and went on to have sons Nat and Mackenzie. With her Alzheimer's disease progressing, Martin heartbreakingly shared that his wife sometimes forgets they are married, while Fiona told how much she was struggling to accept the diagnosis in the beginning. He revealed that while Fiona can dress herself, she sometimes doesn't do it "correctly" and puts things on the wrong way round. He also revealed his wife becomes very fond of one piece of clothing and will want to wear it "over and over again." Fiona is best known for presenting ITV breakfast programme GMTV Today. The star began her career in local radio and was also a Daily Mirror columnist and Loose Women panellist. And while the presenter feels disconnected from her family as her illness progresses, her husband said he can get lonely.
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Fiona Phillips' 'painful' days as Alzheimer's leaves star unable to wash hair
The much-loved broadcaster was sixty-one when she learned she had early-onset Alzheimer's disease back in 2022 - her family has opened up about how the disease is progressing TV presenter Fiona Phillips, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease three years ago, has opened up about her everyday life with the condition. Television executive Martin Frizzell, who has been married to Fiona for 28 years, spoke of his wife's vulnerability in the couple's joint memoir titled Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the UK, which causes an ongoing decline of brain functioning including memory, thinking skills and other abilities. The progressive, life-limiting condition is the UK's leading cause of death for the last ten years. Former Mirror columnist Fiona, 64, initially thought she was having menopause symptoms when she first started experiencing "brain fog and anxiety". The mum-of-two went onto be diagnosed with the same devastating condition her parents suffered from, with the star caring for them both. Martin, who spent ten years at the helm of ITV This Morning, stepped down from his position in February to care for Fiona, taking on many tasks he had once taken for granted. The couple employ a trained carer to help too, with the 66-year-old explaining that on bad, confused days his wife demands to see her parents who have sadly passed away. In excerpts from their heartbreaking memoir published in the Daily Mail, he told of his wife's daily routine. "It is January 2025 as I write this, and Fiona needs a lot of help," said Martin. "She needs help showering and brushing her teeth. She can do these things physically, but is unable now to think about how she should do them... "I wash Fiona's hair because she wouldn't know what shampoo or conditioner to use or how wet her hair needs to be or that she must rinse the soap suds out afterwards. And most nights I'll say, 'Right, we need to brush our teeth before we go to bed,' and I'll put the toothpaste on the brush and hand it to her." Martin and Fiona married in 1997 and went onto have sons Nat and Mackenzie. With her Alzheimer's disease progressing, Martin heartbreakingly shared that his wife sometimes forgets they are married, while Fiona told how she much she was struggling to accept the diagnosis in the beginning. Martin explained that while Fiona can dress herself, she doesn't do it "correctly" and sometimes puts things on the wrong way round. He also revealed his wife becomes very fond of one piece of clothing and will want to wear it "over and over again." Fiona is best known for presenting ITV breakfast programme GMTV Today. The star began her career in local radio and was also a Daily Mirror columnist and Loose Women panellist. And while the presenter feels disconnected from her family as her illness progresses, her husband said he can get lonely. "It feels selfish to say that because this is not about me – it's about Fiona and she's the one who is really suffering in all this," said Martin. "She's the one who feels lonely and scared and is often in pain."
