Fiona Phillips’ husband Martin Frizell has shared a deeply emotional update on the former GMTV star’s health, revealing how the 65-year-old presenter is “slipping away” three years after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Phillips, who first disclosed her early-onset diagnosis in 2023 at just 61, had initially attributed her symptoms to menopause. Since then, Frizell—long-time producer at ITV’s This Morning—has been by her side, stepping back from his own broadcasting duties to support her and their family, which includes sons Nathaniel, 26, and Mackenzie, 23.
Appearing on Lorraine on Wednesday, Frizell painted a poignant picture of the day-to-day struggles: “It’s wretched; not just for her but for the family as well. She’s still there, but day by day, we can see it slipping away. Just to sit there and see this person who was the most dynamic, bubbly, and so proud of everything she did, it’s just a loss of dignity.”
He admitted the emotional toll on him personally, explaining that returning to broadcasting with his podcast This Much Is True Crime helped him cope, but feelings of guilt lingered when away from Fiona: “People do ask, ‘Are you OK?’ and I used to say, ‘It’s not me, don’t worry about me,’ but I am conscious that I’ve never been a depressive person, though I can slip into that.”
Despite the challenges, Frizell praised Fiona’s stubborn spirit and determination: “I don’t want to give the impression she’s some sort of basket case. She’s still very much with us and still the world’s most stubborn woman.”
The couple collaborated on Fiona’s memoir Remember When, where Frizell shared insights from their journey with Alzheimer’s. He highlighted the delicate balance of communicating with someone living with dementia: “The experts say you are not supposed to challenge someone with Alzheimer’s when they’re saying things that are completely wrong, but it’s very difficult in the moment, desperately hoping you might get through to them. When she says, ‘You’re not my husband,’ I know it isn’t Fiona speaking—it’s the illness.”
Frizell also emphasized the importance of maintaining rapport while setting boundaries: “The textbooks say to never argue with a dementia patient. Although, even before the illness, you could never win an argument with Fiona, so we play along.”
Through heartbreak and challenges, Martin Frizell’s candid reflections shed light on the realities of living with Alzheimer’s, showing both love and resilience in the face of life-altering circumstances.
