Alison Hammond

I never leave anything on my plate, and that's maybe one reason why I'm a big girl.

My dad, Clifford Hammond, was a big man with a big presence. He wooed my mum Maria and she fell madly in love with him, and pregnant with me, before finding out he was married.

There was a time when I couldn't pay my mortgage, and I was really famous.

I had to lose weight because I was dying. I really was dying.

I was made to feel uncomfortable on one occasion when I was so close to someone's seat and they asked to move but they ended up moving me into first class.

I was nearly 28 stone. I'll be honest with you. That is morbidly obese, and I used to buy an extra seat because I didn't want to put anyone in a situation where I was touching them.

I'm going to have a wonderful life.

A man needs to be needed, doesn't he? But I always think I can do everything for myself.

You have these opportunities come along and you've just got to grab it with both hands. Let's just go for it and then think about it after.

It may sound crazy but whenever I hear the word 'elephant,' it takes me back to being at school and the nasty comments the boys used to make about me.

In life, you've just got to grab it.

I always think, 'What would've happened if I'd won 'Big Brother?' Would my career have gone in this direction?' And I don't believe it would have, because the 'This Morning' producer who watched my best bits never watched 'Big Brother,' but had just happened to turn on.

I'll go and work at Tesco and people will still love me.

I take a little bit of extra space in the world and I don't think I'm hurting anyone.

I struggle being with someone because I'm so independent, that's the problem.

I always want to be in charge. I don't trust men because my dad wasn't ever there.

I wanted to do 'Blind Date,' because I wanted to meet Cilla Black and I wanted to meet a bloke, so I thought, 'This is a great thing to do.' But I was also in a bit of debt, and someone said you could win 70K on 'Big Brother,' so I though, 'Oh that's a good idea.'

It's got limited purpose, homework. That is just my opinion.

That was my dad! Cliff was charismatic and charming, but he was naughty.

Richard E Grant is adorable.