Fiona Phillips battles Alzheimer’s, a disease that has hit her family hard. She revealed about it in July 2023, when she was 62.
The well-known TV host shared how tough this news has been on her. Alzheimer’s hit Fiona’s family hard, affecting both her parents and other relatives.
The former GMTV presenter said it “decimated” her family. In talks, Fiona has opened up about her own battle with Alzheimer’s. She’s been honest about the rage and pain she’s going through.
Also, she noted that the disease not only impacts her but also brings back painful memories of her loved ones who suffered from it.
Recently, Phillips’ condition again became headlines after her husband, Martin Frizell, announced his decision to step down after a decade in the role.
ITV’s This Morning’s editor departure is set for spring 2025, and he cited a need to focus on “family priorities.” Frizell stated,
Next year, I’m expecting my family priorities to change, so I need to free up time for them. I love my team at ITV and will miss them and the thrill of live telly but it’s an always-on, 24 hours a day, seven days a week commitment, and I won’t be able to do both.
Martin Frizell
Frizell said family reasons for quitting the show, which many were quick to tie to his wife’s illness.
Yet some news outlets have linked his decision to ongoing talks about the work environment at ITV after scandals involving former host Phillip Schofield.
Talking about the controversy, Phillip has been caught up in a big scandal after admitting to an affair with a younger male coworker, which he called “not illegal… but it is unwise.”
Fiona Phillips experienced the loss of her parents and other family members to Alzheimer’s disease.
As we’ve learned, Fiona Phillips isn’t the only one in her family who has had to deal with Alzheimer’s disease. This terrible dementia took the lives of both her parents.
But her father and mother weren’t the only family members who faced this challenge. When she spoke about her diagnosis, she shared:
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.
Fiona Phillips
Fiona’s mum, Amy Phillips, was the first to succumb to Alzheimer’s disease.
Fiona’s mother, Amy Phillips, was the first of her parents to lose her life from Alzheimer’s disease. She worked as a nurse before moving into retail.
Amy started to show signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s when she was 53, she died in 2006 at 74 years old.
Fiona remembered that she first noticed something was wrong during a Christmas visit with her husband.
The journalist couldn’t wait to tell everyone about her baby, but her mum seemed oddly distant, touchy, and not ready for the holidays.
According to Fiona,
There was no food in the house… her (Amy) eyes were dead, and she was crying all the time.
Fiona Phillips
The mother of two also said something even more worrying was the “bizarre presents” her mother gave that Christmas, such as an “orange ladies jumper” for her youngest brother.
Nurse of the Year,Matthew Hodson, and me! pic.twitter.com/CYV2rEFV32
— fiona phillips (@realmissfiona) March 12, 2013When Fiona’s mum was heavily affected by the degenerative illness, she also had to take care of two little boys and keep up with her high-profile TV job. This made the presenter think about leaving her job, but she said,
That would have meant struggling to pay the mortgage and bills.
Fiona Phillips
Likewise, while talking about her mother’s condition, Fiona mentioned feeling guilty for missing the early signs.
The English broadcaster remembered that time when Amy’s actions first showed her illness. This happened at Fiona’s cousin’s wedding, and she said,
Mum was all over the place… she went to the toilet and she had forgotten to do up her skirt, so when she came back it fell down.
Fiona Phillips
Everyone was laughing, and she burst into tears. She said, ‘There’s something wrong with me,’ but we were just saying, ‘No, you’ll be fine.
Fiona Phillips
Fiona’s dad, Neville, was taken into custody due to the same illness that hunts Phillips’ family.
After Fiona’s mum, her dad, Neville Phillips, developed the same devastating disease. The initial symptoms appeared when he was in his early 60s.
Nurse of the Year Sarah Lewis who does inspirational work with injured troops at Headley Court. And me! #Nurse Awards pic.twitter.com/eMubiAX8Zv
— fiona phillips (@realmissfiona) May 9, 2014At that point, Neville’s condition was still in its early phases. But, by 2009, Fiona’s father began to display clear indications of a degenerative condition.
Exactly speaking, the police arrested Neville for driving carelessly. Fiona remembered how shocked she was to hear about the event. She said,
The police got hold of him and breathalysed him. He hadn’t been drinking. They bunged him in a cell and told no one.
Fiona Phillips
Afterward, Neville seemed confused and couldn’t remember why the police had detained him. Fiona stated that the family didn’t know he had Alzheimer’s at that time.
Soon after, Fiona again juggled her job, childrearing, and regular visits to Wales to look after her father. In time, she brought her dad closer when she found out he was living in bad shape.
Similarly, Neville’s condition was displayed on-screen. In a touching scene from Dispatches in 2009, Fiona and her dad browsed through family photos together.
When Fiona showed him a picture of her holding her son, Neville had trouble recognizing her saying,
I’ve just seen it, and… and it’s goes again.
Neville Phillips
Unfortunately, Neville passed away in 2012 at 76, leaving Fiona to deal with Alzheimer’s heavy impact on her family.
Please watch this. People with Alzheimer’s need your help during this horrible time. Thank you…. pic.twitter.com/Aa0rlVlqkm
— fiona phillips (@realmissfiona) May 13, 2020However, things didn’t end there for Neville. In 2018, Fiona described her father’s death as “manslaughter.“
According to the Alzheimer’s Society’s ambassador, Neville lost his life from multiple organ failure after receiving excessive medication in a mental health ward.
She expressed guilt for not seeking justice, noting that he had deteriorated during her visits, gaining weight and needing assistance to get up, clearly overmedicated for his Alzheimer’s.
