Fiona Phillips, the former GMTV presenter, was all smiles in a rare photograph shared by her husband, Martin Frizell, who provided an update on her ongoing journey with Alzheimer's disease. The 65-year-old, who revealed her diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's in July 2023, was pictured at the breakfast table, beaming as Frizell discussed Prime Minister Andy Burnham's commitment to improving care for those with the condition.
Phillips' Diagnosis and Public Life
Phillips first disclosed her Alzheimer's diagnosis in July 2023, having been diagnosed a year earlier at age 61 after experiencing months of brain fog and anxiety. Both of her parents also had the disease. Since then, she has largely stepped back from public life, with Frizell leaving his role as editor of ITV's This Morning in 2024 to prioritize family care. The couple shares occasional updates on social media.
Frizell's Instagram Post and Burnham's Promise
In his latest Instagram post, Frizell wrote about Burnham's promise to Alzheimer's patients and their carers. Burnham, who witnessed his father's care for Alzheimer's, stated: 'To me, they should be the best paid people in society, not the worst.' Frizell noted that Phillips had almost worked with Burnham when Gordon Brown asked her to serve as a health minister. He added: 'If the new Prime Minister, who knows what Alzheimer's can do from his father's experience, follows through on making a difference to sufferers like Fiona, his dad and millions of others, then he will become the most consequential politician of his generation.'
Challenges of Alzheimer's Care
Frizell criticized the historical neglect of dementia care, calling it 'the poor relation to cancer' despite being 'our biggest killer.' He emphasized the financial burden, stating: 'When your family life is altered forever by a dementia diagnosis, you won't be quibbling about one or two per cent extra you've contributed to provide to a proper care system.' He concluded: 'If in doubt, spend a day with an Alzheimer's family and you'll see why there's so much hope riding on Andy Burnham and Louise Casey.'
Phillips' Advanced Stage and Emotional Moments
Phillips is now in the advanced stages of early-onset Alzheimer's. In recent months, Frizell revealed that she received a letter from Kate McCann, mother of missing child Madeleine McCann, which deeply moved her. He shared: 'I didn't realise until I read the letter that Kate McCann, herself a doctor, had spent almost ten years in [NHS] Memory Services, largely drawn to it because of her dad, who also had dementia.' When reading the letter, Phillips began to tear up, remembering McCann's missing daughter, and it seemed as though she were back on GMTV.
Frustration and Struggles
Frizell has been open about Phillips' struggles, particularly her frustration at being unable to work. Appearing on Loose Women, he explained: '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. 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 woman. She spent decades doing this. Seeing her now in that anxious phase is horrible. The whole of Alzheimer's is horrible, as such.'
What is Early-Onset Alzheimer's?
Early-onset Alzheimer's, also known as young-onset dementia, is diagnosed in individuals under 65. According to Alzheimer's Research UK, an estimated 70,800 people with dementia in the UK have young onset, with Alzheimer's disease accounting for around one in three cases. At least five in every 100 people with Alzheimer's are under 65. Symptoms include minor memory problems that can progress to confusion, disorientation, difficulty planning, speech problems, personality changes, and hallucinations.
