The bubbly This Morning presenter has spoken frankly about her age-gap romance – and explained why there are no wedding plans just yet
13:04, 05 Apr 2026Updated 13:42, 05 Apr 2026
Alison has spoken about her relationship with a man 22 years her junior(Image: Instagram)
Irrepressible Brummie TV presenter Alison Hammond has spoken out about the age difference in her relationship with Russian model and masseur David Putman: “I completely understand why people are interested when there’s a 22-year gap,” she told the Daily Mail. “But what I find interesting is that it’s not as interesting when it’s the man who is older. Why is that? I just want people to be happy for us. We are absolutely in love.”
Alison first met the 6’10” model when she booked him for a £150 massage session. The pair hit it off immediately. They’re ideal for each other, Alison says. Despite being the younger person in the relationship, David is “mature and sensible,” while she’s “so not.”
Alison adds: “He just has the most beautiful energy and everyone feels it when they’re in his presence. It’s very rare. I am so grateful that he chooses to spend his life with me.”
The pair have no plans to marry just yet, but Alison teased This Morning viewers that she might be engaged during a showbiz news segment last summer.
As she discussed the headlines with onscreen partner, Dermot O’Leary, Alison noticed a couple of stories were about her: “Oh my god! Apparently I am engaged?” she exclaimed, adding “Let me swap it over to stop these rumours” before moving her unmissable diamond ring to a different finger.
Alison met the rangy Russian model when he visited her home to give her a massage(Image: Instagram)
Alison confirmed in December that neither of them was in any hurry to get married: “We live together, and we’re happy the way it is. I don’t need a ring to show my love to somebody. What I will say is, if he asked me tomorrow to marry him, it wouldn’t be a ‘no’. That’s all I’m going to say to you.”
Mum-of-one Alison, whose net worth has been estimated in the region of £4m, has said in the past that she doesn’t like to talk too much about her personal life. She explained: “I don’t like to go into detail about him, because it’s my private life, and I want to respect his life as well.” However, she adds that anyone who knows her is quite aware that she’s fully “loved-up.”
The Bake Off and Love of Dogs host added that being in love makes her “more patient” and “kinder” and said she relishes the feeling of having someone to “care for.”
Alison says she’s ‘never been happier’(Image: Instagram/ @alisonhammond55)
The only negative aspect of their relationship is David’s mum, Olga, who is reportedly not too keen on the age-gap romance. According to a friend of the couple quoted by The Sun, Olga, 64, thinks Alison is too old for David, and she’s not keen on the way that Alison’s celebrity status has brought the spotlight onto him.
“She’s uncomfortable that her son is with someone who has so much more financial power than him,” the source added. “Olga’s traditional values don’t sit well with their relationship. She’s told him in no uncertain terms that he must end it.”
According to the source, “Olga raised her children in the Orthodox Church. This kind of relationship doesn’t fit her beliefs.” She has telephoned David more than once from her home in Sochi, on the Black Sea coast, begging him to reconsider his choices.
However, David is entirely happy with the way his relationship with Alison is going, and his mum’s reservations aren’t likely to affect him.
