Alison Hammond: Arlene Phillips says This Morning presenter has ‘no idea’ during controversial theatre row

Theatre director Arlene Phillips has come out against Alison Hammond after the This Morning presenter criticised theatre staff for banning singing during performances.

Alison, 48, from Birmingham, was co-hosting This Morning on Friday (7 April) when she discussed a violent brawl that broke out during a performance of The Bodyguard in Manchester.

It came after audience members began “trying to sing over the cast” with some people having to be removed from the performance. The show went on to be cut short on Friday evening.

During the debate on ITV’s This Morning, the television presenter said: “I can’t believe it. I’d be devastated. I’m not even going to go to that show now.”

Alison has since published a public apology on her Twitter account after viewers and theatre actors blasted her for not acknowledging how disrespectful the audience had been.

People were quick to point out how the behaviour of audiences had an impact on theatre performers and staff, with many actors sharing their personal experiences.

Alison said: “I had no idea the level of disruption audiences were causing and tried to make light of the topic on Wednesday’s show, and for that I’m truly sorry.”

Dame Arlene Phillips, who is a choreographer and theatre director, known for her work on productions such as The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music and Grease, has since responded to the television presenter’s comments about theatre performances

Arlene Phillips has said that Alison has “no idea what it’s like for performers” in response to the presenter’s Twitter apology.

The former Strictly Come Dancing judge took to her Twitter, writing: “Alison thank you for your apology but I would just like to say , you have no idea what it is really like for those performers in the shows where the songs are popular hits and certain members of the audience feel entitled to join in.

“Performers are unsure what to do. They are not trained when audiences get out of control and arguing with each other. It’s so distressing. Let’s hope this behaviour stops and normality returns.”

Despite Arlene speaking out against Alison Hammond’s comments, several celebrities have spoken out to defend the presenter.

Former bodyguard actress Beverly Knight has defended the This Morning host by retweeting the apology and saying: “This lady right here [heart emoji].”

Beverly won her first Olivier Award last week for her role in the new Suffragette musical Sylvia, after previously appearing in The Bodyguard at the Adelphi Theatre in 2013 and 2016.

A follower was quick to question the “damage” that had “already been done” by the comments made by Alison, with Beverly responding: “When someone screws up and owns it in an issue like this, they also own that harm may already be done.

“That is grace and decency. The bigger issue is what can be done to combat poor behaviour in theatres without wrecking it for the majority.”

Beverly also denied that the debate over audience behaviour was simply a “storm in a teacup” as she told another fan: “If only it was. On the same show in 2013 as I performed that role, the police were called to deal with drunken people fighting after a drunken person started to sing loudly.”