SHE’S had a string of heartache and never been married – but it looks like Alison Hammond may have finally met her match in Russian toyboy David Putman.
The This Morning presenter, 49, and the 26-year-old masseuse couldn’t keep their hands off each other during a romantic weekend at the zoo.
Presenter Alison beamed as she walked with her arm around her 6ft 10in man while they made their way around Port Lympne Zoo in Kent – where they stayed the night at the luxurious Lion Lodge.
And body language expert Judi James tells us she’s “smitten” with her new man – and there are “no red flags” when it comes to David.
She says: “It looks pretty compatible when it comes to their emotional states and personality traits as well.
“Alison looks quite confident and there was a moment when they were having a selfie and she’s got this slightly shy, soppy smile that I don’t think we’ve ever seen Alison use before, ever.
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“That probably means that she’s a little bit smitten!
“She also doesn’t look as though she’s trying desperately hard -indicated by little touches like her wearing flat shoes, I love that.
“She’s nicely, casually dressed and hasn’t felt the need to change her look and put heels on just because he’s tall and young.”
Judi also says it’s Alison who’s in control of the relationship, almost mothering her man and protecting him.
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“She seems to be in control,” says Judi. “She’s doing this slightly protective thing, despite the fact that he is so tall, and she’s not looking overly compliant.
“I think her gesticulation is what’s interesting because there are several moments, particularly at the zoo, where she’s holding on to him, but not in a clingy, possessive way. It’s more maternal.”
This motherly, protective nature was shown as Alison held on to David, cuddling up to him, as they travelled around the zoo in a golf buggy together.
But Judi also thinks there may be more to it than that.
She says: “I used to work on Big Brother when Alison was there and they use golf buggies to get around, which were very easy to fall out of, so I think she’s learned, perhaps the hard way.
“At the zoo, in the golf buggy, she’s holding David tight so he won’t tip out, and really looks as though she’s trying to protect him and look after him, while he looks almost childlike driving.
“But it might also be protecting him from this world of fame she’s releasing him into. It’s rather sweet of her.”
‘No red flags’
Last week, The Sun revealed Alison and David met after she booked £150 massage sessions with him.
She regularly booked the body therapist and model in between her busy filming schedule.
Alison and David’s friendship then turned romantic at the end of last year.
It is understood the couple have become extremely close having known each other for over a year.
But fans have started to question whether David is using single mum Alison – who’s raking in an eye-watering five-figure sum each week from her telly commitments – for fame.
However, Judi sees “no red flags” when it comes to David’s intentions.
David didn’t whip off his glasses and tousle his hair, in a hope to get the next reality show
Judi James
She says: “You can’t say 100 per cent with any celebrity that their partner’s not using them for fame but, for me, the red flags are not appearing and I think she should just go for it.
“Sometimes when you get celebrities emerging with their partner for the first time, you get this worry that they may be a fame-feeder, but in those relationships, it’s usually the guy grinning at the camera, trying to project to agents out there everywhere.
“I have to say there’s no real sign of that from David.
“He’s kept his glasses on for the selfies that Alison posted to announce their relationship. He didn’t whip them off and tousle his hair, in the hope of getting on to the next reality show.
“He’s not overplaying the poses. He’s got a pleasant smile with a little head tilt – and she’s doing the same thing.
“Plus, even though she’s smitten, she doesn’t look as though she’s silly-smitten. She looks as though she’s really thought this out and she’s probably let the relationship go on for a while before she’s let the public see him.”
‘Not trying to impress him’
Judi also notes that Alison’s choice to take him to the zoo shows that the couple are just “having fun”.
“I love that Alison took him to the zoo, because he’s so tall he could actually use eye contact on the giraffes,” jokes Judi. “But in all seriousness it shows she’s not trying to impress him, and show off her celebrity lifestyle.
“She didn’t take him off to some London club and step out being towed along by him.
“It’s just a normal couple going on a normal day out and she looks like she’s having nice, relaxed fun at the moment.
“And hopefully it will be on a slow simmer until she finds out, ‘Is this the one? Or is it not?’”
Alison – who lives with her 19-year-old son Aiden in London – has never been married.
Speaking to Gyles Brandreth on his podcast Rosebud, she said: “I think as soon as I hear the word marriage, I get cold feet. I think I’m just one of those people.
“I always think there’s something better but get a bit nervous to know ‘that is it’.
“I just feel like I’m tied down and I don’t like it, when really and truly I’m getting to that age now where I think, ‘Alison, let go – it’s OK to settle down’.”
Alison’s past love life
The nearest Alison got to walking down the aisle was with her son’s cab driver dad Noureddine Boufaied, who she got engaged to when she was 30.
She said: “A lot of people think I’ve been married… I’ve never been married.
“If you look online, it’s like, ‘Alison was married to Aiden’s dad’, but I wasn’t. We never actually got married. It was the perfect time but I don’t feel like we were ready.
“He had the most beautiful smile and that’s what I fell in love with… Aiden’s got that smile as well.”
They split up not long after Aiden was born and she’s been relatively private about her love life since.
However, in 2020 she took a leap of faith when she went on Celebs Go Dating, and briefly dated audio technician Ben Fusi.
But it can’t have been a very memorable relationship, as she couldn’t even remember his name when she was speaking about him on This Morning!
And at the beginning of last year, she exclusively revealed to The Sun she’d been in a relationship with landscape gardener Ben Hawkins for over a year and a half.
She said: “A year and a half I’ve been with him, and no one knew! He loves me to bits. He absolutely worships me and massages my feet every single day. What more do you want?!”
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But, by March last year, she told Holly Willoughby she was wearing her “single ring”.
Hopefully this relationship with David will be the one to keep that soppy smile on her face.
