O'Grady, known for his iconic drag queen persona Lily Savage, gained fame and affection as the host of various television programs, including the beloved For The Love of Dogs, which premiered in 2012. He passed away unexpectedly on March 28, 2023, at the age of 67.
Many contenders in the running
With the daunting challenge of finding a suitable replacement, speculation has centred on Alison Hammond, a familiar face as a presenter on This Morning and a well-known Big Brother star. The charismatic presenter has emerged as the frontrunner, overshadowing other contenders such as Stephen Mulhern from In For A Penny and comedian Ricky Gervais, who ruled himself out due to prior commitments.
ITV sources revealed that while Hammond can never truly replace O'Grady, she brings a unique blend of his trademark self-deprecating humour to the show. ITV insiders also believe she will be able to make the show her own.
Alison Hammond to present For The Love of Dogs
Despite Hammond's busy schedule, juggling commitments to This Morning and The Great British Bake Off, insiders at ITV express confidence in her ability to seamlessly integrate into the For The Love Of Dogs family. The source highlighted, "Alison would be a great signing… and as her ever-expanding portfolio of shows demonstrates, capable of putting her hand to anything."
Alison Hammond first captured public attention over 20 years ago during her appearance on the third series of Big Brother. Since then, she has solidified her presence as an integral part of This Morning, working alongside Dermot O'Leary, and is now recognised as one of the core presenters on the popular morning show.
