This Morning’s Alison Hammond has been looking blissfully loved-up with her new man – but that hasn’t stopped a lot of people from weighing in with their opinions. And heat has heard there’s one opinion that hurt more than the others – her 26-year-old boyfriend David Putman’s mum, Olga.
She reportedly strongly disapproves of the relationship, with one source saying, “Olga thinks Alison is way too old for David and doesn’t like all the attention her TV fame has brought to her son.” Alison’s friends have also expressed their concerns since the news broke she was dating the Russian masseur, who’s 23 years her junior.
But heat can reveal that, despite feeling hurt by the comments, Alison, 49, is determined to prove everyone wrong. “Alison was absolutely devastated when she heard what Olga said – she thought it was totally unnecessary and didn’t expect it at all,” we’re told.
And, while they’re supporting Alison, her friends also have reservations. “She has really fallen for this guy, and everyone is worried,” says the source.
“It’s not just the age difference – no one knows him, and people are concerned, especially now his mum has weighed in. This was why Alison was trying to keep it so quiet. She knew what the reaction would be.”
The presenter finally broke her silence on her new relationship last week. Speaking on Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe’s podcast Parenting Hell, she said, “I’m not single, I’m dating.” Just days later, however, her happiness imploded when a newspaper claimed that David’s mum was urging her son to end the relationship because she was unhappy with the age gap and Alison’s fame.
“Olga’s traditional values don’t sit well with their relationship. She’s uncomfortable that her son is with someone who has so much more financial power than him,” our source says.
“She’s told him that he must end it. She calls David almost every day and tells him how unhappy she is. But David is happy with his relationship, so anything his mum says isn’t going to affect him.”
Alison – who shared photos of her and her 6ft 10in boyfriend cosying up together on a country walk last month – has also had a lot of her friends offering their opinions, and we’re told that she feels like it’s her and David against the world. But luckily for her, her 19-year-old son Aiden is fully supportive of her new relationship, which started at the end of 2023, after Alison hired David – who moved to the UK in 2022 – as a masseur.
“The person I am seeing at the moment, [Aiden is] on his Instagram and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I like him. He’s not too in your face.’ Aiden’s on it,” she revealed to Rob and Josh.
“When they met, he really liked him and thought he was lovely. And thank goodness for that! Normally, Aiden hates anyone I date.”
Alison has said that Aiden – whose father is her ex, Noureddine Boufaied – has been picky of her partners in the past. Her previous relationships have included security guard Jamie Savage, sound engineer Ben Kusi – who she met on Celebs Go Dating in 2020 – and landscape gardener Ben Hawkins. “He is more verbal now that he is older,” she said of her son.
“It’s a lot harder [to date]. He’ll want to know who this person is and he’ll want to meet them. He’ll want to know that this guy is treating me well.”
But, with her career riding high, we’re told Alison is desperate for her love life to be just as perfect. “Things have gone from strength to strength over the past year – TV audiences love her,” we’re told.
“But her friends are worried that David could have skeletons in the closet. And that’s the last thing she needs. This could be the downfall of all her wonderful hard work and that could change everything for her. But Alison isn’t listening,”
The source adds, “David’s upset with his mum, as well – so they’re in this together. Alison just wants to prove everyone wrong.”