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Fiona Phillips

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Australian politician, see Fiona Phillips (politician).

Fiona Phillips
Phillips in 2015
Born (1961-01-01) 1 January 1961 (age 64)
Canterbury, Kent, England
Alma materBirmingham City University
Occupations
  • Television broadcaster
  • journalist
  • presenter
EmployerITV (former)
Spouse
Martin Frizell
​
(m. 1997)​
Children2

Fiona Phillips (born 1 January 1961) is a British journalist, broadcaster and television presenter. She is best known for presenting the ITV Breakfast programme GMTV Today.

Early life

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Phillips was born in Kent and Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury, Kent, the daughter of Phillip (died February 2012) and Amy (died May 2006).[1][2] She has two younger brothers.[3] Her grandparents ran the Duke's Head pub on Church Street in St Paul's. Phillips attended Kingsmead Primary School.[4]

The family later moved to Maybush, Southampton, and Phillips attended Aldermoor Middle School and Millbrook Community School.[5] After leaving school, Phillips worked for a short time at Mr Kipling's Bakery in Eastleigh, near Southampton. Phillips graduated from Birmingham Polytechnic with a BA (Hons) in English; she also undertook a PGCert in journalism.

Career

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Early career

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Phillips started her career in independent radio working as a reporter for local stations County Sound in Surrey, Hereward Radio and Radio Mercury in Sussex.

Moving from radio to television several years later, she joined BBC South East's Weekend programme as co-presenter, before becoming a reporter with CNN News, later moving on to become the station's entertainment editor, producing, reporting and presenting CNN News' entertainment output.

Television

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Phillips in 2010

Phillips has presented other programmes, including the celebrity lifestyle show OK! TV, Baby House and Room to Rent, Carlton's entertainment guide Good Stuff, LWT's Friday evening entertainment show Start the Weekend, ITV's Sunday Night and the Rich and Famous series. Phillips currently writes an opinion column in the Daily Mirror on Saturdays and works as an agony aunt in New! magazine.

Phillips was a regular panellist on Loose Women in 2002, and was a guest anchor in 2004 and 2005. She returned to Loose Women as a guest anchor in March 2009 and again in March 2010.

In August 2010, she appeared as a panellist on the short-lived ITV chat show 3@Three.[6]

She took part in the third series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2005, with professional partner Brendan Cole. The pair were voted out on Week 4 following several weeks of low scores.

Phillips had also been in the documentary The Killer in Me on 8 November 2007, a show that saw four celebrities agree to take a groundbreaking test that revealed the secret killers lurking in their genes. Phillips joined former England footballer John Barnes, political commentator and presenter Andrew Neil, and Heart FM DJ Toby Anstis who all found out their risk of developing 11 major diseases, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Phillips is a regular reporter for the BBC One consumer affairs programme Watchdog. On 19 March 2015, Phillips presented The Truth About...Sugar and on 2 June 2016, she presented The Truth About...Healthy Eating. Both programmes aired on BBC One.

GMTV

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Main article: GMTV

In 1993, Phillips joined GMTV as entertainment correspondent and was promoted to GMTV/Reuters Television's LA correspondent in December 1993. For over two years Phillips provided daily and weekly reports and covered a number of big news stories including the Michael Jackson alleged child molestation case, the LA earthquake, the first O.J. Simpson trial, the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Oscars. She also interviewed some of the industry's biggest stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Brad Pitt and Mel Gibson among others.

From 1997 to 2008, she was the main anchor on GMTV, presenting GMTV Today every Monday to Wednesday. On 28 August 2008, Phillips announced that she was to leave her role as main anchor on GMTV for family reasons.[7] She presented her final show on 18 December 2008.[8]

Phillips returned to GMTV in 2010 in its last series, guest presenting on GMTV with Lorraine.

Between 2010 and 2016, she guest presented the ITV Breakfast programme Lorraine (successor of GMTV with Lorraine).

Phillips was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in 2022 at the age of 61. She and her husband, Martin Frizell, publicly disclosed the diagnosis in July 2023.[9] The news marked a significant shift in her professional trajectory. As Phillips gradually withdrew from public engagements,[10] Frizell announced his departure from This Morning in November 2024, citing changing family priorities, and officially stepped down on 28 February 2025.[11][12] Phillips co-authored the memoir Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer’s, alongside Frizell and journalist Alison Phillips. Due for release on 17 July 2025, the book draws from personal reflections and lived experience, documenting the progression of her symptoms — including memory loss, impaired speech, and difficulty with everyday tasks — and highlighting the challenges faced by those with early-onset dementia and their carers.[13][14][15]

Film

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She voiced the character of Katie Current in the UK release of Shark Tale (2004).[16]

Radio

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Phillips hosted a show on Smooth Radio in the 2–5 pm slot every Sunday, starting from Easter Sunday, 23 March 2008,[17] until 2009 when she left the station.

She also stood in for Simon Mayo on Radio 5 Live from 30 March to 3 April 2009.

Personal life

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Phillips married Martin Frizell in Las Vegas in May 1997 and they have two sons.[18][19][20] The couple live in Wandsworth, south London.[21] Frizell is the former editor of This Morning.[22]

Phillips is a supporter of Chelsea F.C.,[23] although she followed her home town club, Southampton F.C. when she was younger.[24]

Philips has reported to have been a vegetarian for over twenty years.[25] However in 2015, she commented, "I'm mainly vegetarian, but I have fish maybe once a month if my body feels it needs it."[26]

In July 2023, Phillips revealed that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2022.[9]

Political views

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Phillips is a supporter of the Labour Party. She said she had been offered a job in November 2007 as public health minister in the administration of Gordon Brown, as well as a peerage. Phillips said she declined due to her responsibilities to her two small children.[27] She attended the 2009 Labour Party Conference in Brighton, where she introduced an address by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson.[28][29] She was a panellist on BBC One's Question Time in June 2009.[30]

Phillips is a patron of the anti-racist organisation Hope Not Hate, which has the slogan "Celebrating Britain's diverse society".[31] In August 2014, Phillips was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.[32]

Charity

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Phillips is one of the judges of the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, and for presenting the GMTV Emergency Services award. She has also been one of the judges for the Children of Courage awards. From 15 October 2007, she reported from Geita, North Tanzania, for one week to visit Neema, a 13-year-old girl who Phillips has been sponsoring, and her family, friends and local schools.[33]

On 13 March 2008, Phillips, while Age Concern Ambassador, presented the Age Concern Grandparent of the Year 2008, which took place in the Houses of Parliament.[34] She has continued as an Ambassador for the successor charity Age UK.[35]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1993–2008 GMTV Various presenting roles
2002, 2004–2005, 2009–2010 Loose Women Panellist and guest anchor
2005 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant
2007 The Killer in Me Contributor
2009 The Wright Stuff Guest presenter
2010 GMTV with Lorraine Guest presenter
3@Three Regular panellist
2010–2012, 2015–2016 Lorraine Guest presenter 59 episodes
2015 Watchdog Reporter
The Truth About...Sugar Presenter 1 episode
2016 The Truth About...Healthy Eating Presenter 1 episode
Panorama: Pension Rip-Offs Exposed Presenter 1 episode
2017 The Truth About...Stress Presenter 1 episode
Holding Back the Years Presenter
2019 Ryanair: Britain's Most Hated Airline Presenter

Films

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Shark Tale Katie Current UK voiceover

Awards and honours

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In 1996, Phillips was nominated for the Royal Television Society Interview of the Year Award.[citation needed]

On 7 November 2007, Phillips received an Honorary Master of Arts degree from Southampton Solent University, for "being a person distinguished in eminence and by attainments".[citation needed]

On 21 July 2011, Phillips received an Honorary Fellowship from Cardiff University.[36]

References

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  1. ^ Pickard, Michael (13 February 2012). "Fiona Phillips' father dies". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  2. ^ "BBC - Kent Lifestyle Feature: Fiona Phillips". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. ^ "My mum's sick and my two babies need me.. something's got to give; EXCLUSIVE: FIONA PHILLIPS MAKES A LIFE-CHANGING DECISION. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Kent Lifestyle Feature: Fiona Phillips". BBC. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  5. ^ "TV's Fiona goes back to school". Daily Echo. 12 July 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  6. ^ "3@three". Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  7. ^ Fiona Phillips quits GMTV The Guardian, 29 August 2008
  8. ^ "GMTV's Phillips hosts last show". BBC News. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  9. ^ a b Russell, Rachel (5 July 2023). "Fiona Phillips reveals Alzheimer's diagnosis". BBC News. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  10. ^ Lauder, Edward (24 May 2025). "Fiona Phillips makes first public appearance in over a year following Alzheimer's diagnosis". Hello!. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  11. ^ Yossman, K.J. (27 November 2024). "'This Morning' Boss Martin Frizell Exits ITV Morning Show". Variety. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  12. ^ Mackley, Elizabeth; Berry, Joanna (28 February 2025). "This Morning's Alison Hammond in tears as legend Martin Frizell leaves ITV show". Leeds Live. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  13. ^ "'She doesn't know I'm her husband' – Martin Frizell on life with Fiona Phillips and her Alzheimer's diagnosis". ITV. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Remember When: My life with Alzheimer's". Waterstones. Pan Macmillan. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Pan Macmillan acquires Remember When: My life with Alzheimer's by much-loved broadcaster Fiona Phillips". Pan Macmillan. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025. Originally scheduled for release on 3 July 2025; later listings confirmed the publication date as 17 July 2025.
  16. ^ "'Shark Tale' adds Britain's Fiona Phillips". UPI.com. 9 August 2004. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  17. ^ "GMTV host goes Smooth". Radio Today. 11 March 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  18. ^ "'Hope this isn't the end of my career!' Fiona Phillips details menopause 'brain fog' fears". Express.co.uk.
  19. ^ "Baby for GMTV presenter". The Herald. 6 January 1999. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Fiona Phillips' husband is 'angry' about lack of support for his wife's Alzheimer's". The Independent. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  21. ^ Tominey, Camilla (12 July 2025). "Fiona Phillips's husband on her life with Alzheimer's: 'Bit by bit, she's not there'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  22. ^ O'Hare, Mia (20 May 2023). "Inside This Morning's 'brutal summer bloodbath' as Phillip Schofield quits show". Daily Mirror.
  23. ^ "Celebrity supporters kick off 1GOAL campaign". Plan-uk.org. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Saints must go on, says TV star Fiona (From Daily Echo)". Dailyecho.co.uk. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  25. ^ "GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips opens her fridge". Closer Online. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  26. ^ "‘I NEVER go to the gym’ – Fiona Phillips’ diet and exercise secrets revealed". GoodtoKnow. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  27. ^ James Kirkup "Fiona Phillips: I rejected Brown's job offer" Telegraph, 25 November 2007
  28. ^ "Alan Johnson 'I love him', says Fiona Phillips". Wales Online. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  29. ^ "Video: I love you Alan! Fiona Phillips introduces Alan Johnson". Telegraph. London. 29 September 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  30. ^ "BBC One - Question Time, 04/06/2009". BBC. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  31. ^ "2017 State of Hate" (PDF). Hope Not Hate. No. 30. January–February 2017. ISSN 2049-7806. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories". The Guardian. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  33. ^ "Sponsorship Stories – What Our Sponsors Say". Plan UK. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  34. ^ "Grandparent of the Year 2008". Age Concern. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
  35. ^ "Fiona Phillips". Billy Marsh Associates. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  36. ^ "News Centre – Honorary Fellowships". Cardiff.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
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