If there’s one laugh that can make the nation’s hearts sing, it’s Alison Hammond’s. She’s undeniably electric, and the best part about her? She’s a Brummie. Hailing from Kingstanding, the TV sensation first caught our eyes in the 2002 iteration of Big Brother, the catalyst which saw her go on to join This Morning that same year, Loose Woman and her newest gig, The Great British Bake Off. And now, she’s finally set to be honoured by her fellow Brummies.
Announcing the news just this morning, Birmingham Hippodrome has revealed that they’ll be renaming the iconic theatre ‘The Hammond Theatre’, in a loving tribute to the iconic Brummie, Alison Hammond.
Operator Joe King said of the change: “Alison Hammond is proud of where she comes from, and she’s been flying the flag for Brummies on TV for decades now. She’s an inspiration for many here in Birmingham, and we hope our new name can inspire a whole new generation to channel their inner Alison Hammond and pursue the world of TV and theatre as a career. Or even just come and see one of Alison’s pantos here.”
Hammond has been the star of the Hippodrome’s panto for two years now, following huge demand from locals who loved seeing her grace her hometown’s stage. Now, she could be returning to a theatre with her own name illuminating the sidewalk. Or maybe not, because…
If you’ve made it this far into this article, I’ve got bad news for you. This is just an April Fool’s joke!