Fiona was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 61

The husband of Fiona Phillips, Martin Frizell, issued a heartbreaking health update on his wife on This Morning today.

During Friday morning’s (July 11) show, the former boss of the daytime show joined hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

In July 2023, Fiona announced she had been living with the disease for over 18 months. She was diagnosed at age 61. In their new memoir, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer’s, Martin shared his fears of his wife Fiona Phillips soon being “wiped away” by the cruel degenerative disease.

Fiona and Martin share two sons, Nathaniel, 26, and Mackenzie, 23.


Martin revealed Fiona was too unwell to appear on the show (Credit: ITV)

Martin Frizell issues health update on Fiona Phillips

As Martin sat down with Dermot and Alison, he revealed more about Fiona’s health while promoting their book.

While continuing to live with the disease, Martin revealed that Fiona has depression and would still like to work. “She wanted to be here, but she’s not well enough to come in and talk to you,” he explained.

Martin stated that their book was a “vehicle to give her a purpose”.

Alison admitted her decline has felt rather “sudden” since she was diagnosed. She asked Martin how “bad” Fiona was “right now”.

He replied: “She’d love to be here. But, she’s got anxiety, she’s got a secondary problem that causes her to be in pain a lot. It’s a lot of pain, which adds to the confusion.”

Martin explained there is a fairly recent photo of Fiona in the book where she is wearing a coat at the end of a road. “She thought I’d kidnapped her,” he told Alison and Dermot.

“You get all sorts of delusions and you get so worked up. She keeps saying, ‘I want to go home.’”

This prompted Alison to say, “So, she doesn’t recognise you, Martin?” However, Martin said she does “most of the time” but doesn’t know that he is her husband.

“It’s not frequent, but every now and then, she’ll want to go home to her parents,” he continued. Martin admitted he doesn’t have the heart to say “they aren’t here”.

Both of Fiona’s parents died from the disease. However, Fiona herself doesn’t carry the gene.


Fans shared their heartbreak following Martin’s appearance (Credit: ITV)

‘It’s a horrible disease’

Following Martin’s appearance, viewers at home felt emotional.

“I wish Martin Frizell, Fiona Phillips & their family well. Living with Alzheimer’s is just awful,” one user wrote on X.

“Poor Fiona,” another person shared.

“I don’t know if I am getting old, but I am in bits again! #thismorning So sad,” a third remarked.

“We’re all standing by you, Fiona Phillips,” a fourth said.

“It’s a horrible disease, feel for anyone dealing with it,” a fifth person shared.