Alison Hammond has disclosed that she was named after boxing legend Muhammad Ali, as her father served as his bodyguard. The 47-year-old presenter shared the revelation during an appearance on Holly Willoughby's Wylde Moon podcast.
Hammond recalled meeting Ali as a child when he visited Birmingham. 'Him and another couple of the guys would be Muhammad Ali's bodyguards, so occasionally my mum would take me to go and meet Muhammad Ali,' she said. She described how Ali once held her on his lap, saying she looked like his daughter, and performed a magic trick with a traffic light toy.
The This Morning star explained that her father, Clifford, was so devoted to Ali that he named three of his children after the boxer: Alison, Ali, and Alica. She admitted that she did not fully grasp Ali's significance until she was older, but remembered him as 'a lovely guy'.
Hammond also recently celebrated her 47th birthday on 5 February, sharing a black-and-white photo with her son Aiden, who shares the same birthday. Fans expressed surprise at her age, with many commenting on how youthful she appears.
