Alison Hammond sparks concern for age gap romance as they spend Christmas apart

This Morning presenter Alison Hammond recently gushed over her boyfriend David Putman as she said they fitted together ‘like a jigsaw’ despite their 22-year age gap

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Presenter Alison Hammond’s romance has been put in doubt after they spent the Christmas period apart.

The This Morning host, 49, embarked on her relationship with masseuse David Putman, 27, in December 2023. They have come under some scrutiny over their age gap, yet Alison and David were able to shrug it off. She recently insisted David is “mature and sensible” was questioned about her romance last month.

However, over Christmas the pair sparked split rumours after they chose to spend some time apart. David shared snaps from a sunny beach as he jetted abroad for the festive season. He strolled along the stunning seaside location as he wore a colourful open shirt, beige hat and black sunglasses.

Alison, meanwhile, remained in the UK as she carried on her panto work. The TV star has taken on a 65-show run at Birmingham’s Hippodrome playing the Magical Mermaid in Peter Pan. In December, Alison decided to open up on her romance with David as she said they fit together “like a jigsaw”.

Opening about their romance, she admitted she pays no attention to their ages as they balance each other out perfectly. “I can see how, on paper, you’d notice the age difference,” she told Good Housekeeping magazine. “But honestly, when we see the word ‘toyboy’ written about us, it bears no relation to what we have at all. Yes, I’m 22 years older than he is, but if you saw us together, you’d understand.”

Alison Hammond and boyfriend David Putman spent the Christmas break apart
The ITV host was previously engaged to Noureddine Boufaied, the father of 19-year-old son Aidan – but they later split. Alison and David began dating a year before they went public. Due to anticipation of inevitable public scrutiny, Alison was initially hesitant about going public with their budding romance.

This Morning co-host Dermot O’Leary was the one who broke the news. In May 2023, Dermot turned to Alison and said that she was “no longer available.” Playing coy, Alison asked: “What do you mean I’m not available… you trying to say that I’m not available?” Dermot then noticed her coy tone and quickly said: “I don’t know, now I’m really confused!”

David jetted off to a sunny beach over Christmas ( 
Image:
Instagram/ @mr.putman.official)

Alison has shut down backlash over their age gap ( 
Image:
Instagram/ @alisonhammond55)
However, Alison interjected and said: “Am I not unavailable? Is there someone in my life? Well, you’ve just told the whole world, thanks!” Alison is said to have first encountered David when she hired him for a £150 massage, leading to a blossoming romance from what began as a friendship. Her partner David, who stands at an impressive 6ft 10 inches tall, hails from Russia and is a model by profession.

Chatting on the Parenting Hell podcast, Alison opened up about how her son has taken to her new romantic chapter. When quizzed by presenter Rob Beckett on the complexities of dating with a teen son, she admitted: “I think it’s more difficult. I think he’s more verbal now that he’s older, he will wanna to know who this person is and he’ll want to meet them..” However, Alison admitting her relief when her son gave his seal of approval for David, she said: “Normally Aidan HATES anybody I date. Literally just not interested. And you just know at that point, if Aidan doesn’t like them, this isn’t going to work.”