Alison Hammond opens up on why she couldn’t take on Strictly Come Dancing hosting role

Television presenter Alison Hammond has revealed that taking on a hosting role for Strictly Come Dancing would not have been possible for her due to her packed schedule and desire to maintain a healthy work-life balance.Speaking to BBC Radio WM, Hammond addressed speculation surrounding the BBC dance competition after reports suggested the show was searching for new presenters following the exits of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. While she did not confirm whether she had been approached for the role, she admitted that fitting the commitment into her routine would have been difficult.“It would have been just too much for me, I need a bit of quality time at home as well,” she said.Instead, Hammond praised the reported new presenting line-up of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, expressing confidence in their abilities. “There’s the dream team right there,” she added.The This Morning and The Great British Bake Off host also opened up about her recent health journey, explaining that concerns about being pre-diabetic motivated her to make significant lifestyle changes.“Over time I just changed my ways – I was eating really badly, I was eating massive portions,” Hammond said, noting that she reduced her portion sizes, exercised more regularly and increased her water intake.Reflecting on the decision, she said: “I had to do it, I was pre-diabetic so it wasn’t a joke.”Hammond added that the changes have had a major impact on her day-to-day life. “I just wanted a few extra years on my life and I wanted to have a bit more quality of life – I can walk further. My quality of life is just so much better.”The presenter also shared a glimpse into her personal life, revealing that she is currently in a happy relationship.“He’s in love with me as well bless him,” she said. “He’s a lovely man. He’s taking care of me and I’m taking care of him.”Despite her success in television, Hammond said she remains grounded by maintaining a clear distinction between her professional and personal life. She explained that while London represents work and the entertainment industry, her life in Birmingham helps her stay connected to normal everyday routines.“I just like the fact when I go to London that’s my work, part of the fact why I’ve stayed grounded is I do have a separate life to it,” she said.Describing her life away from the spotlight, Hammond added: “That’s my showbiz life when I go to London, then I come home and have a very normal life, you’ll see me in Tesco, I do my own shop.”Summing up her outlook, she said: “I’m the same girl as I was when I was younger, I’ve just got a little bit more experience, I’ve just been in the queue a bit longer.”