Alison Hammond reveals she was told to ditch her Birmingham accent if she was ever going to have a career in TV: 'I just thought I'm not doing that!'
Alison Hammond has revealed she was told to ditch her Birmingham accent if she was ever going to make a name for herself on television.
The TV presenter, 48, shared how a staff member at a London drama school suggested she tone down her Brummie accent - something which didn't go down to well.
Alison told the Rosebud podcast: 'I applied for ALRA, The Academy of Live & Recorded Arts. And when I went there, the woman said, "You do realise we are going to have to modify your accent?'
'I was like "Modify? What does that even mean?". They said: 'Because you've got a really Brummie accent, so we will have to modify it'. So I was like, 'Oh, you mean RP?'
RP stands for Received Pronunciation, which is regarded as the standard form of spoken British English – something Alison claims they wanted her to speak.
!['I'm not doing that!': Alison Hammond has revealed she was told to ditch her Birmingham accent if she was ever going to make a name for herself on television](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/09/00/75234131-12498065-image-a-107_1694217158433.jpg)
'I'm not doing that!': Alison Hammond has revealed she was told to ditch her Birmingham accent if she was ever going to make a name for herself on television
![Birmingham love: Alison said she was asked to modify her accent which she refused to do because she loves her Midland roots and it hasn't let her down so far (pictured on GBBO)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/09/00/75234105-12498065-image-a-115_1694217409103.jpg)
Birmingham love: Alison said she was asked to modify her accent which she refused to do because she loves her Midland roots and it hasn't let her down so far (pictured on GBBO)
She added: 'I just thought, I am not doing that, I'm not modifying my voice - I love my voice... I think my Birmingham accent is quite nice, though. It's not too in your face.'
Alison first became a household name when she appeared on Big Brother in 2002, a decision she later revealed was down to wanting to clear her 'traumatising debt'.
Since then the mother-of-one has enjoyed an incredible rise to the top.
She landed a gig presenting This Morning, with her role growing over the years.
Alongside Dermot O'Leary, the duo are hugely popular and Alison has interviewed the likes of Michael Buble, Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Lady Gaga and Hugh Jackman.
She famously went through with a fake wedding with The Rock on the show back in 2017 during a hilarious interview, with him referring to her as his wife five years on.
When she celebrated her 20 year anniversary as host of the show, she said: 'I've had the best 20 years. Every day has been the best and thank you to the viewers for watching. All I ever want to do is make you guys happy.'
![ShockerIt comes after Alison revealed she was told to ditch her Birmingham accent if she was ever going to make a name for herself on television (pictured with Dermot O'Leary on This Morning)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/09/00/75234441-12498065-image-a-112_1694217291593.jpg)
Popular pair: Alison has gone onto land a presenting job on This Morning, which she has done for 20 years and presents on Fridays alongside Dermot O'Leary
![Impressive: Earlier this year she hosted the BAFTA awards, an immersive and access-all-areas experience, as part of the BBC One broadcast of the ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/09/00/75234457-12498065-image-m-111_1694217247577.jpg)
Impressive: Earlier this year she hosted the BAFTA awards, an immersive and access-all-areas experience, as part of the BBC One broadcast of the ceremony
![Throwback: Alison first became a household name when she appeared on Big Brother in 2002, a decision she later revealed was down to wanting to clear her 'traumatising debt'.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/09/00/75234097-12498065-image-a-113_1694217296260.jpg)
Throwback: Alison first became a household name when she appeared on Big Brother in 2002, a decision she later revealed was down to wanting to clear her 'traumatising debt'.
The TV personality has appeared in a number of pantomimes and British children's television drama series, as well as securing brand deals like signing up to WeightWatchers as their ambassador and collaborated with InTheStyle on a curve clothing range.
Earlier this year she hosted the BAFTA awards, an immersive and access-all-areas experience, as part of the BBC One broadcast of the ceremony.
She is back on the television this month co-hosting The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4, after Matt Lucas left.
Matt confirmed in December he had quit the show after three series, citing his heavy workload as the reason he has stepped away from Bake Off.
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