Alison Hammond: ITV This Morning star receives Holly Willoughby’s support after ‘agonising break-up’

Alison Hammond has sparked rumours that she is single after making a cryptic comment on Monday’s episode of ITV’s This Morning.

The TV presenter, 48, from Birmingham, has fueled speculation that she’s split from Ben Hawkins, with a remark made whilst filling in for Phillip Schofield as Holly Willoughby’s co-host.

During the Morning View segment with presenter and journalist, Matthew Wright, Alison was discussing that people are now choosing to wear green rings in public to announce their single status instead of using dating apps.

Alison revealed that she was wearing green jewellery as a way of declaring her single status. She said: “More people are wanting to meet people out and about and having a green ring might be a good idea so that people know you’re single.”

She added: “As you can see, I’ve got my single ring on.”

Holly replied: “Hopefully you won’t need it for a lifetime.”

This comes just weeks after rumours started circulating that the bubbly brummie star had gotten engaged to her gardener boyfriend, Ben Hawkins.

Her relationship status also slipped out on Friday last week, when she was discussing the new Love Island spin-off show, with her co-host Dermot O’Leary. When mentioning the casting call for the new show, The Romance Retreat, which is for single parents looking for love, Dermot hinted to Alison that she should sign up.

To which she replied: “Hey, I’m single!” Alison added: "I’d give the money to charity, but I could do that, and find a nice man."

Insiders behind the scenes have claimed that Alison is devastated after her split from Ben, and is throwing herself into work as a form of distraction.

A source told Closer Magazine: “Alison is very good at putting on a brave face, but she really has been heartbroken by this agonising break-up. She’s being incredibly strong and, despite it all, she’s determined not to let this impact her career, which is only getting more exciting at the moment.”

They also revealed that Alison has been leaning on her co-star, Holly Willoughby, who she has worked with for 14 years, for support through the break-up

The source said: “Holly steps into ‘agony aunt’ mode when her mates go through any sort of heartache. She’s been helping to lift Alison’s spirits by not only being there for her to talk to, and being a shoulder to lean on.

“But also instilling her with confidence and helping her focus on how many positive things she has in her life. It’s like a form of counselling.”

Holly has reportedly stepped up and has been texting and calling Alison daily, as well as inviting her over for wine.

Alison recently took to Instagram to share a beaming selfie from her ‘girls night’ with friends Holly Willoughby, Emma Bunton and Nicole Appleton. The snap was captioned: “Girl therapy night! Needed that ❤️.”

Although Alison is suffering heartache in her love life, her career is going better than ever. She co-hosted the BAFTAs in February and was recently announced as the new Bake Off co-host, replacing Matt Lucus, 49.

She also confessed to Closer, earlier in the year, that she would love to crack America, saying: “I’d love to do that eventually. That would be cool, wouldn’t it?”

The TV star may have manifested it, as a source recently revealed that there have been talks of her potentially moving to the US. She is now feeling like she has the freedom to pursue such opportunities, as her son Aiden is now older and has finished school.