A year after Fiona Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, her devoted husband Martin Frizell has opened up about the emotional journey they’ve faced together — from the shock of the diagnosis to the private moments that reveal just how much has changed.
The former GMTV presenter, now 62, kept her diagnosis private for some time, but recently decided to speak out in a brave interview. By her side was husband Martin, 64, who has been her constant support since the moment they learned of her condition.
Speaking candidly, Martin admitted how hard it has been to watch his vibrant, energetic wife slowly change. “My only frustration is that I want her to get better,” he shared. “I want her to remember things, to be curious and excited about life again… but she’s not there at the moment.”
Sitting beside him, Fiona responded gently, seemingly unaware of how different she’s become. “Really? I hadn’t noticed I was being like that,” she said, to which Martin quietly replied, “But you wouldn’t — because you’re in the middle of it.”
In their deeply personal conversation, Martin also described the responsibility he now carries, including administering Fiona’s trial medication by injection — a task he never imagined would become part of their daily routine. “Before, I never had to worry about Fiona. Now I ask myself, ‘What is she doing while I’m at work? Has she eaten? Is she okay?’”
What makes Fiona’s diagnosis even more difficult is her family’s history with the disease. Her mother, father, and uncle were all previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, casting a long shadow over her own future. Aware of the potential hereditary nature of the illness, Fiona and Martin made the painful but necessary decision to have their two sons tested for the gene.
Nat, 24, and Mackenzie, 21, underwent genetic screening — and finally, the results brought a rare moment of relief. Neither of the boys carries the gene linked to the disease. “When the results came back negative, it was huge,” Martin said. “Such an enormous sense of relief. There’s no Alzheimer’s on my side of the family, and thankfully, it seems the boys haven’t inherited it from Fiona’s either.”
For now, Fiona remains determined not to be defined by the disease. “I try not to rely on him too much,” she said of Martin. His gentle smile in response says more than words: this is a journey they’re walking together — with courage, love, and the hope of a little more time.
