After weeks of speculation about her dating life, it seems This Morning presenter Alison Hammond is finally ready to show off her new boyfriend David Putman – and fans want to know more.
Recent snaps of Alison, 49, and David, 26, walking arm-in-arm in Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent suggest this new relationship may have legs, as the pair were also seen cosying up on a golf buggy on their date. Now, an insider close to the presenter has confirmed that, despite keeping the romance under wraps, things are getting serious.
“Alison kept the relationship with David secret and told everyone he was just a friend because she was paranoid of it getting out,” we’re told. “She didn’t want them getting pestered and him to be scared off.”
Rumour has it Alison met her new man – who is an impressive 6ft 10in and works as a body therapist in London – more than a year ago, when she booked a massage with him. However, their friendship didn’t turn romantic until the end of last year.
And pals have told us that as someone in the public eye, she’s wanted to keep things low-key as it’s still “early days” and she knows everyone will have an opinion. Our source adds, “She didn’t even tell her closest friends, because she didn’t want to ruin the chances of it working out.”
This is something heat can vouch for, as her close friend and Big Brother series three co-star Kate Lawler was stumped when we asked if she’d met Alison’s new man. She said, “I didn’t know she had one! I’ll have to message her.”
Alison has been single since she split from her gardener boyfriend of two years, Ben Hawkins, last March. During that relationship, she was only pictured with Ben once. And, while Alison clearly prefers to keep her cards close to her chest in the love department, her new romance with David has still come as a surprise.
“After seeing the pictures of them out together, her friends have started asking about him,” says the source. “She’s remaining tight lipped, but her smiles tell them everything they need to know – she’s smitten.”
But despite the couple’s apparent happiness, it hasn’t stopped people expressing their concerns – with fans fearing Alison may be heading for a broken heart, especially given that she and David come from entirely different worlds. He is a Russian masseur who reportedly moved to the UK in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while Alison is a much-loved UK TV personality with a 19-year-old son.
There’s also the 23-year age gap, which some fans have called “creepy” and is causing others to ask if David is only with her “because she’s famous”. One cynical follower even wrote, “David, tell me again what attracted you to the lovely, 23-years-your-senior, multi-millionaire Alison Hammond again?”
Despite her success, Alison’s personal life hasn’t always been easy, which we’re told is making people more protective of her. Last year, the star suffered a horrific alleged blackmail ordeal, after an unnamed man whom she considered a friend is said to have threatened to “ruin” her if she didn’t give him thousands of pounds.
But, our insider says, while Alison – who is mum to son Aiden, 19, with ex Noureddine Boufaied – appreciates the concern, she’s happy and doesn’t want any criticism to jeopardise things with David. We’re told, “She doesn’t want the fact she’s a big star to get in the way. Her fame means that people will have things to say about it – and not always positive. But she says David isn’t bothered about fame or the age gap and her friends are praying it works out for her.”
