Fiona Phillips has been battling early-onset Alzheimer’s disease since 2022, and went public with her diagnosis the following year. Her parents both suffered from the condition before her, and by the time Fiona turned 61 doctors had also delivered the heartbreaking news to her that she had followed in their footsteps after months of brain fog and anxiety.
Her husband Martin Frizell has been by Fiona’s side through it all, helping her to release the autobiography Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer’s. And through that journey, Martin has shared updates and photos of the former GMTV presenter as the pair struggle to navigate their new reality.
Andy Burnham message
Martin’s most recent post showed Fiona sitting at the breakfast table with a spoon in hand, grinning at the camera as he issued an update on her condition. Fiona, who used to sport cropped blonde hair, now has brunette tresses reaching past her shoulders and greying at the roots, and looked happy as she tucked into a bowl of cereal.
Martin explained: “Fiona at breakfast today, at one point she was going to work with Andy Burnham as Health Secretary when Gordon Brown asked her to become a health minister in his government. If the new Prime Minister, who knows what Alzheimer’s can do from his father’s experience, follows through on making a difference to sufferers like Fiona, his dad and millions of others then he will become the most consequential politician of his generation.
(Image: Instagram)'No-one listened'
“For decades no-one listened, dementia became the poor relation to cancer and yet it’s our biggest killer. Sadly it’s taken someone touched by dementia to take it seriously but how will we afford to treat it properly?
“Who knows, but when your family life is altered forever by a dementia diagnosis you won’t be quibbling about one or two per cent extra you’ve contributed to provide to a proper care system.
“If in doubt spend a day with an Alzheimer’s family and you’ll see why there’s so much hope riding on Andy Burnham and Louise Casey. It cheered up our morning.”
(Image: Getty)Ice cream detour
In April 2026, while Martin was busy touring Scotland with his podcast This Much is True Crime, he shared a photo of Fiona enjoying a walk in the park in a royal blue jumper and sunglasses, chowing down on a Magnum ice cream.
(Image: Instagram)Flavour change
He captioned the post: “Very touched by many nice comments from folk asking about Fiona whilst I’m on our short Tartan Noir Scottish tour so here’s a picture of what she’s up to in my absence - she’s changed Magnum flavours!
“This was Fiona out in the London sunshine this week and almond has been replaced by the white chocolate version. Simple pleasures but a highlight of the day.”
(Image: Instagram)‘Zero government action’
Martin slammed the former Labour administration under Keir Starmer in February 2026 as he shared a snap of Fiona in a brown fluffy jacket out on the street.
He said: “So it was a choice, either get a dog or a jacket that looks like a dog. Paperback version of Fiona’s book out this week with a new chapter updating where we’ve reached and still zero government action on Alzheimer’s since I last spoke in the summer.”
Fiona looked cheerful in the snap, wearing a white jumper underneath her coat and a pair of brown sunglasses, with her hair still blonde.
(Image: Instagram)Lando Norris meeting
Back in 2022, Fiona met F1 World Champion Lando Norris at Silverstone, and in July 2025 Martin confirmed she still remembered the exchange.
Posting a throwback snap of the couple in the McLaren paddock, he wrote: “Fond memories in Lando’s garage at Silverstone from ‘22, good luck to This Morning’s adopted son today. Fiona remembers meeting and speaking with Lando, what a great treat this was and quite a few of the details - put a smile on my face today.”
(Image: Instagram)Rare public appearance
Fiona has featured on Martin's social media accounts to promote her autobiography.
(Image: Instagram)ITV days
Fiona looked back at her ITV broadcasting days in the memoir.
(Image: ITV)