Heartbreaking question Fiona Phillips asked her husband 72 times on drive
In a deeply emotional interview, former This Morning editor Martin Frizell has told how his wife Fiona Phillips has been severely affected by early-onset Alzheimer's.
Fiona was just 61 in 2022 when she received her devastating diagnosis, and the condition has already worsened dramatically. He told Newsnight 's Victoria Derbyshire: "I used to say good days and bad days, now I just say bad days or wretched days, I think wretched is a great word for it."
He recalled one heartbreaking taxi ride on the way to a hospital appointment where Fiona, now 64, was completely disoriented: 'In the cab ride, she asked me, 'Where are we going' 72 times.'
Martin explained that Fiona had to see doctors about an unexplained pain that may or may not be directly connected to her condition: 'She's got a secondary pain. We don't know where the pain's coming from. We don't know if it's physiological.
'I couldn't drive her because she panics, and it's bad enough just driving with that too. I wouldn't take her on public transport because I'm frightened.'
He explained that Fiona still looks just as she did when she was a regular face on TV, and so there's a good chance that she might be approached by a member of the public, leading to confusion and distress.
He said that Fiona couldn't understand why she was in the taxi, and kept repeating the same four words: 'I'd say, 'We're going to see the doctor and hopefully he'll take the pain away,' and then, literally 15 seconds later, [she'd say] 'Where are we going?''
In perhaps his most heartbreaking admission, Martin confessed that he would have preferred it if his wife had been diagnosed with cancer instead of Alzheimer's.
"My mum died from [cancer],' he said, 'My father had cancer, so I know what cancer can do.
'But I don't think Fiona is ever going to be able to taste a glass of wine again, walk on a beach properly again, go on holiday again, go to the theatre, go to the cinema, drive her car, or cook a meal for her children.'
He added: 'My worry is that on her deathbed, whenever that may come, and hopefully it's a long time from now, will she even know who we are?'
With cancer, Martin said, there is always a chance that the condition can go into remission, or at least be slowed down. But he added that, by contrast, there is no hope when it comes to Alzheimer's.
In November 2007, Fiona appeared in the documentary The Killer in Me, during which former England footballer John Barnes, political commentator Andrew Neil, and Heart FM DJ Toby Anstis all found out their risk of developing 11 major diseases, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
In August 2008, Fiona stepped down from helming ITV 's flagship Breakfast show GMTV Today, and, in a poignant moment, Martin shared a clip of her last words on the show, saying : 'It's been such a privilege sharing my mornings with you, and I won't forget you.'
This week sees the publication of Fiona's memoir, Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer's, which is co-written by Martin and journalist Alison Phillips.
The book charts the relentless progress of her condition — including memory loss, impaired speech, and difficulty with everyday tasks — it also highlights the challenges faced by those with early-onset dementia and their carers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
21 minutes ago
- Metro
Fiona Phillips' husband Martin talks her 'biggest frustration' with Alzheimer's
Martin Frizell has shared his wife Fiona Phillips' biggest uphill battle following her Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2022. The former ITV presenter, 64, and her husband Martin (ex-editor of ITV's This Morning) have been candid about what Phillips' life looks like navigating the early-onset neurodegenerative disease. An experience account of what the couple has been through over the past three years is recorded in the GMTV star's new memoir, Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer's, which includes Frizell's confession that cancer would have been easier to deal with. He also explained that they have secretly hired a carer to support Phillips, who is now struggling with daily tasks including dressing, bathing and cooking. Now, in a new discussion on ITV's daytime talk show Loose Women, co-panelist Jane Moore asked Frizell how Phillips is right now. Frizell started positively, saying that the 'good news' was that her 'mood had improved' and she had a 'better appetite' due to a new antidepressant she is on. It has meant she is in a 'much better place now than she was a few weeks ago' However, he continued: 'Fiona's main problem with her Alzheimer's right now is her frustration. 'She's someone who has worked from the age of 11, at a paper round. Didn't stop working till a couple of years ago when the Alzheimer's made it difficult to do so. Early-onset Alzheimer's is also known as young-onset dementia or younger-onset Alzheimer's. It is the label given to anyone who receives a diagnosis before they turn 65. According to Alzheimer's Research UK, an estimated 70,800 people with dementia in the UK have young onset, and Alzheimer's disease accounts for around one in three cases of young onset dementia. It is thought at least five in every 100 people with Alzheimer's are under 65, however the figure may be higher. According to the NHS, the symptoms of Alzheimer's can begin with usually minor memory problems, but can develop into: confusion, disorientation and getting lost in familiar places difficulty planning or making decisions problems with speech and language problems moving around without assistance or performing self-care tasks personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, demanding and suspicious of others hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there) and delusions (believing things that are untrue) low mood or anxiety 'She'll watch telly and she'll get frustrated that she's not working. She'll get anxious or frightened thinking about it. 'This was a fearless women. She spent decades doing this. Seeing her now in that anxious phase is horrible. The whole of Alzheimer's is horrible, as such.' In a recent Instagram post, shown above, he shared a video of Phillips out for a walk holding a magnum ice cream as she thanked people for reading her book. People shared their well-wishes at the time. 'Sending Fiona so much love. She really looked out for me in my GMTV days, my telly mum and I will never forget how she comforted me when I was going through a tough time in my relationship,' Anna Williamson wrote. 'ending you lots of love, Fiona. You were so kind to me when you came up to my house in Norfolk to do my first interview after I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2008. More than just a colleague… A truly kind, talented and beautiful person!' Trisha Goddard echoed. During an interview with the Telegraph, her husband, 66, also recalled the 'gut-wrenching' moment they discovered Phillips' diagnosis. He said: 'We went to [the hospital] to get the results of tests, and the consultant said: 'I'm sorry, but I believe it's Alzheimer's.' And it's like, oh. Gulp. Then he said, 'I'll go and get you a cup of tea, here's some reading for you.' 'He pushed a leaflet across the table and on the front cover was an old couple, with a Zimmer frame, basically saying: 'How to live well with Alzheimer's.' It just doesn't relate to you.' Before adding: 'It shouldn't be happening to someone as young as Fiona. It was utterly gut-wrenching. Sickening. We just looked at each other. S**t! What are we going to do now?' More Trending The couple have been married for 28 years and share two sons, Nat, 26, and Mackenzie, 23, who underwent genetic testing to confirm that the disease wasn't hereditary, with the blood tests 'coming back negative'. Fiona's parents both died after being diagnosed from the disease. In her memoir, Phillips explained how 'agonisingly difficult' she is finding life now. View More » 'Sometimes I get halfway through a sentence and I can't remember where I was heading with it or the word I was looking for. It feels awful,' she said, comparing her condition to 'trying to chase a £5 note that's fallen out of your purse on a gusty day'. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Cereal bars might seem healthy - but they contain additives linked to weight gain
A groundbreaking clinical trial has revealed how ultra processed foods (UPFs) can harm the body even when not high in salt, sugar or fat - suggesting the way food is made might affect our health Martin is responsible for the health and science beat at the Mirror. He has experience reporting over a decade including medical advances in everything from cancer to dementia and obesity around the world, as well as breakthroughs in the UK. Martin covered the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to scrutinise the state of the NHS. Martin runs a number of Mirror campaigns including; Dentists for All, Give a Pint Save a Life, Fair Care for All and Change the Law for Life. UPFs have been the subject of some debate in Britain ever since TV doctor Chris van Tulleken's blockbuster book Ultra-Processed People. Many suspect the additives packed into everything from cereal bars to pastries, pies, wraps and ready meals - to make them taste nice and last longer - could actually be harming us. But this is very difficult to prove because until now, observational studies have just shown that people who eat more UPFs are more likely to be ill and overweight. This is complicated by the fact that UPFs are also more likely to be high in calories, fat, sugar and salt. And people who eat a lot of UPFs are also more likely to smoke and do less exercise. So Professor van Tulleken and his colleagues at University College London have run a clinical trial to to tease out the impact of these multiple industrial processes and the addition of ingredients not typically found in home cooking. The trial involved 55 people each given eight weeks trying two diets matched exactly for levels of fat, saturated fat, protein, carbohydrates, salt and fibre. The only difference was that one diet was made up of only UPFs, and the second a diet included only minimally processed foods such as porridge oats and home cooked spaghetti bolognese. Participants lost twice as much weight on the non-UPF diet - proving for the first time there is something going on in the processing. Professor van Tulleken, of University College London, said: "The global food system at the moment drives diet-related poor health and obesity, particularly because of the wide availability of cheap, unhealthy food. This study highlights the importance of ultra-processing in driving health outcomes in addition to the role of nutrients like fat, salt and sugar." Tracy Parker, nutrition lead at the British Heart Foundation, said: 'These findings support what we have long suspected – that the way food is made might affect our health, not just the nutrients it contains.' Chris van Tulleken's book Ultra-Processed People was adapted into a BBC Two documentary called Irresistible: Why We Can't Stop Eating. They explore the addictive nature of UPFs and their impact on our health and society. UPFs typically contain preservatives, emulsifiers, artificial colours and flavours which are used to enhance taste, texture and prolong shelf life. They are hard to avoid. Most supermarket sliced bread is a UPF as well as shop-bought sandwiches, wraps, pastries, instant noodles, crisps, some breakfast cereals and ice cream. The new trial ensured both UPF and non-UPF diet options met criteria using the NHS-backed Eatwell Guide, which outlines recommendations on how to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Despite this, after eight weeks on the non-UPF diet participants lost 2% of their body weight, compared to 1% after eight weeks on the only-UPFs diet. Scaled up over a year it suggests a 13% weight reduction in men and a 9% reduction in women on the minimally processed diet, but only a 4% weight reduction in men and 5% in women after the ultra-processed diet. Those on the trial were also asked to complete questionnaires on food cravings before and after starting the diets. Those eating minimally processed foods had less cravings and were able to resist them better. The UPF diet also did not result in significant fat loss. Tracy Parker, nutrition lead at the British Heart Foundation, added: 'Completely cutting UPFs out of our diets isn't realistic for most of us. But including more minimally processed foods – like fresh or home cooked meals – alongside a balanced diet could offer added benefits too. Mediterranean-style diets, which include plenty of minimally or unprocessed foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts and seeds, beans, lentils and whole grains, have consistently been shown to reduce our risk of heart attacks and strokes.' The Eatwell Guide recommends the average woman should consume around 2,000 calories a day, while an average man should consume 2,500. Participants were generally consuming more than this before they started the trial. Senior author Professor Rachel Batterham said: "The best advice to people would be to stick as closely to nutritional guidelines as they can by moderating overall energy intake, limiting intake of salt, sugar and saturated fat, and prioritising high-fibre foods such as fruits, vegetables, pulses and nuts. "Choosing less processed options such as whole foods and cooking from scratch, rather than ultra-processed, packaged foods or ready meals, is likely to offer additional benefits in terms of body weight, body composition and overall health." UPFs have artificial additives to boost flavour and shelf life including emulsifiers, sweeteners, stabilising gums, flavour compounds and colouring agents. These are typically not used in home cooking but can be cheaper in mass produced food than natural ingredients. The findings are published in Nature Medicine.
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Fiona Phillips' husband says 'we're getting through' in new health update
Fiona Phillips' husband says 'we're getting through' in new health update Martin Frizell appeared on Loose Women on Monday to discuss his wife Fiona Phillips' Alzheimer's battle, and gave an update on her condition Martin Frizell on Loose Women (Image: ITV) Martin Frizell appeared on the Loose Women panel on Monday (4 August) to discuss his wife Fiona Phillips' battle with Alzheimer's, providing a fresh update on her health. The former This Morning editor joined Jane Moore, Janet Street-Porter, Kelly Brook, and Brenda Edwards on the ITV daytime programme, where he also discussed his and Fiona's sons and her book Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer's. Martin shared how he manages things at home, revealing that his sons, Mackenzie and Nathaniel, have been helping him care for Fiona, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2022. "They're great. It's almost like a tag team, we work and help out," he informed the panel. "I do mornings because they still sleep, and then I'll probably do dinner. But no, we're getting through. For the time being, we don't need much more help." Martin issued an emotional update on the ITV show (Image: ITV) He confessed that he had sought assistance from a carer in the past, but Fiona wasn't happy about the extra help, reports the Express. "We did have someone in to help in the past, and we pretended it was a housekeeper to get her through, but Fiona saw through that. But, we're getting through. Just like a lot of families. Thank you to everyone who has sent messages," he added. The Loose Women panel asked Martin what Fiona, renowned for hosting shows such as GMTV, would advise someone else suffering from Alzheimer's. He responded: "She would say, 'Don't give up'. She would say, because she hasn't got one, 'get yourself a hobby or a passion' so that when you get to this stage, there are things that you can actually involve yourself with." Martin also spoke about his wife's current condition, sharing that she is in a "much better place" than before and that he has observed some "improvement" in her condition recently. He remarked that her sleep had improved and her appetite had returned, while her confusion seemed to have lessened. Martin is married to broadcaster Fiona Phillips (Image: Getty) "That's the sort of anti-depressant she's been given, and this one works, as you have to go through a few before you get one that actually hits the spot. So, this is really helping. If anything, I think she's actually in a much better place than she was a few weeks ago," he expressed optimistically to the panel. Fiona received an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in 2022 at 61 years old but chose not to disclose it publicly until the subsequent year. Following her diagnosis, she began to step back from public appearances, and her husband, Martin, announced his departure from This Morning in November 2024, which led to his official exit in February. Article continues below Loose Women is broadcast on weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV1.
