Fiona Phillips' husband says 'she was in such a state' after heartbreaking question
The husband of former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips has provided a heart-breaking update on the star's continuing fight against Alzheimer's disease.
It emerged in 2022 that the broadcaster had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Since the revelation, her husband Martin Frizell has been vocal in his support and campaigns to raise awareness of his wife's condition.
Speaking to Bella magazine, Martin recounted a devastating incident when Fiona mistook their son for a stranger upon his return from military service.
He said: "She became terribly distressed. 'Who's that man in the kitchen?' she asked. 'That's Nat,' I said gently. 'Our son. He's home for the weekend.'"
Martin continued: "She was in such a state that she didn't even seem upset that she had asked the question."
The pair first crossed paths during the 1990s while both were employed at GMTV, with the couple becoming engaged just four weeks after they met.
Following their whirlwind start, they married in 1997 and subsequently welcomed two sons, Mackenzie and Nathaniel.
Despite their careers taking similar trajectories, Martin chose to leave his position at This Morning in February to dedicate more time to caring for his wife at home.
The NHS states that Alzheimer's disease is currently the leading cause of dementia in the UK and is "associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning," impacting "memory, thinking skills, and other mental abilities."
While it remains unclear exactly why certain individuals develop the condition, experts believe that "increasing age, a family history of the condition, untreated depression, lifestyle factors, and conditions associated with cardiovascular disease" can all heighten someone's risk of developing Alzheimer's.
In the period leading up to her diagnosis three years ago, Fiona had been a devoted advocate for raising awareness of the illness, following her parents' and uncle's dementia diagnoses in earlier years.
She has served as an Alzheimer's Society Ambassador since 2007 and has backed campaigns while also contributing to two television programmes: Mum, Dad, Alzheimer's and Me and My Family and Alzheimer's.
Earlier this month, the former broadcaster published a new autobiography, Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer's, which sheds light on her challenging struggle with the disease.
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