Alison Hammond’s marriage proposal rule is refreshingly simple: do not bring a ring. The This Morning presenter says she would reject the traditional jewellery-based routine, although she has not ruled out marrying boyfriend David Putman.
Hammond, 51, has been dating the 29-year-old massage therapist and model for about three years. They met after she booked him for a massage, which is not the standard romantic comedy opening but appears to have worked perfectly well.
Their 22-year age difference has attracted public attention, while Hammond has generally kept the relationship private. She has now confirmed that they live together and remain extremely happy.
Why Alison Hammond does not want an engagement ring
Speaking to The Mirror, Hammond said the problem with a conventional proposal would be the ring rather than the marriage itself.
“I don’t need a ring to show my love to somebody,” she said.
That does not mean Putman would receive an outright rejection if he asked her to marry him. Hammond left the possibility very much alive, albeit without offering a timetable.
“What I will say is, if he asked me tomorrow to marry him, it wouldn’t be a ‘no’. That’s all I’m going to say to you,” she added.
So marriage remains possible. The small velvet box can apparently stay in the shop.
Hammond, who shares 21-year-old son Aidan with former partner Noureddine Boufaied, said she and Putman are already content with their life together. She also suggested their unusual first meeting felt less accidental in hindsight.
“It was so random how we met, but it was meant to be,” she said. “We are obsessed with each other.”
What has Hammond said about David Putman?
The former Big Brother contestant described Putman as “grounding”, saying his calm nature balances her more energetic personality.
She has previously praised his “beautiful energy” and said she feels grateful that he chose to share his life with her. Those comments have offered rare glimpses into a relationship the couple largely keeps outside the spotlight.
The age gap has generated predictable scrutiny, because apparently two adults being happy together still requires a public inquiry. Hammond, however, has focused on how the relationship works rather than what strangers make of the numbers.
For now, the pair are living together and appear satisfied without a wedding date, public spectacle or diamond serving as formal evidence.
Hammond recently suffered a panic attack on air
Her comments come shortly after a frightening incident on This Morning. During a Friday broadcast, Hammond was seen holding her chest before leaving the studio and later seeking medical attention.
She subsequently said she had experienced a “massive panic attack”. The symptoms were severe enough that she initially believed she might be having a heart attack.
Katie Hopkins later posted a video mocking Hammond’s reaction and telling her to “get a grip”. Hammond responded beneath the clip, explaining how serious the episode had felt.
“I thought it was a heart attack it was very scary,” she wrote.
She added that she “wouldn’t wish it on anyone”, then directed a notably restrained closing remark at Hopkins: “even you cos you are beautiful on inside and out.”
Hammond’s response managed to explain the medical scare without matching the tone aimed at her. She has since returned to discussing happier matters, including a relationship that may eventually lead to marriage, provided nobody insists on visiting a jeweller first.
