No further action in Bake Off and This Morning star Alison Hammond blackmail case after man was arrested
by Charlotte McLaughlin PA Senior Entertainment Reporter · ChronicleLiveProsecutors have decided not to proceed with the case after a man was arrested on suspicion of blackmailing television star Alison Hammond.
Last March, it came to light that Hammond, who co-hosts ITV's This Morning and Channel 4's The Great British Bake Off, had been subjected to demands for substantial amounts of money under threat of fabricated stories being circulated about her.
A 36-year-old man from Warwickshire was taken into custody by West Midlands Police on suspicion of blackmail last year and was subsequently released.
West Midlands Police issued a statement on Saturday confirming: "We carried out a thorough investigation and submitted files to the Crown Prosecution Service for assessment."
"CPS has concluded that there will be no further action. We have passed on this information to all parties involved."
Hammond, originally from Birmingham, gained popularity from her appearance on Big Brother in 2002. She currently presents This Morning alongside Dermot O’Leary and joined Noel Fielding as co-host of Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off in 2023, taking over from Matt Lucas.
The well-known TV figure has also participated in reality shows such as I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Coach Trip, Strictly Come Dancing, and Celebrity MasterChef.
She also co-hosted the 2023 Baftas with actor Richard E Grant.
Looking ahead, Hammond is set to present a new BBC interview show titled Alison Hammond’s Big Weekend next year, where she will spend 48 hours with various celebrities. Representatives for Hammond and the CPS have been approached for their comments on the matter.
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