Alison Hammond ‘could be axed’ from hosting For Love Of Dogs ‘as bosses at ITV are left disappointed’ after she replaced the late Paul O’Grady

Alison Hammond’s new job as host of For The Love of Dogs is reportedly under threat as ITV bosses are disappointed with the series.

The This Morning alum, 49, has taken over hosting duties for the ITV show from the late Paul O’Grady, who died in March 2023 at the age of 67.

However, the overall reception was not too positive, with some viewers critical of Alison and suggesting that the star lacks ’empathy’ for the puppies featured.

And now ITV bosses are reportedly questioning the show’s future The mirror have revealed that Alison’s role is uncertain.

A source told the publication that despite the team’s excitement to have Alison on board, she hasn’t lived up to expectations.

They explained: ‘Unfortunately, the casting hasn’t gone as the team behind the show had hoped – and it’s turned out to be a bit of an outlier.

‘ITV is very disappointed as it is such a much-loved programme, and of course Alison is also an ITV favourite. But unfortunately, sometimes despite everyone’s best efforts, it just doesn’t work out.

‘Discussions are now underway about her future on the show within ITV and this has been communicated to Battersea. They are obviously very passionate about the show and want it to go on for as long as possible.”

Commenting on Alison’s future on the show, an ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Any suggestion that discussions at decision-making level about the future of Alison’s role in For the Love of Dogs have taken place within ITV or between the production team and Battersea are entirely without foundation.

‘This new series is in the middle of its implementation and standard practice means that no meaningful assessment of future plans will be made at this stage.

‘Everyone has been really pleased with the way Alison has brought her warmth and enthusiasm to the show and we hope viewers will continue to enjoy it over the next month on ITV1 and ITVX.’

The heartwarming show started in 2012 when avid dog lover Paul visited Battersea and met the puppies who were desperate for a new home.

The show became a huge ratings hit and won the National Television Award for Most Popular Factual Entertainment Program in 2019 and 2023.

However, Alison has since been slammed by viewers because he wasn’t a “good fit for the show.”

During the episode sSome eagle-eyed fans also said it looked like she was “scared” to pet the dogs.

Receiving a barrage of abuse online, longtime viewers of the show inevitably compared her to Paul, noting that she doesn’t have any pets of her own and therefore can’t fully put her “heart” into the stories of the dogs featured.

However, Alison shared her own side of the story, explaining that it would be unfair for her to have a dog due to her hectic schedule on television.

Speaking on Rob Beckett and Josh Widdecombe’s Parenting Hell podcast, Alison explained: ‘It’s so weird because everyone says, ‘She doesn’t have a dog’, but I can’t have a dog.

‘I wouldn’t be there, that would be unfair. I like dogs and that’s why I don’t have a dog.’

Discussing what it felt like to take Paul’s place, she added: “At first I was nervous about doing it because how are you ever going to get it back?”

‘Paul O’Grady was so great with dogs and he did so much with dogs and obviously no one can replace Paul, but I was thinking more about the dogs and the charity.

‘And I thought: just do it for the dogs. Let’s give these dogs a home.’

Meanwhile, fans on Twitter snapped: ‘I like Alison, but there’s no way she should sign up for the love of dogs, reading a script, afraid to even pet the dogs!’; Our Alison doesn’t like dogs. Why is she organizing this show LOL #ForTheLoveOfDogs’; ‘Alison is so uneducated when it comes to animals, absolutely terrible presenter #ForTheLoveOfDogs’;

‘The program is simply no longer good, something is missing. Why can’t the staff play in it or have different presenters every week? #ForTheLoveOfDogs’; ‘There’s no heart in it. Other presenters would have been a better choice.”

Still, other people enjoyed Alison’s new role and rushed to her defense, with some saying:

‘I feel like the people tweeting are watching a different show than me – I think Alison Hammond is doing a great job! No, she’ll never be Paul O’Grady, but she’s not trying to be! he would like the show to go on with #fortheloveofdogs’;

‘Alison has done a great job and if she was scared of dogs before, then good for her for facing her fears and overcoming them! #fortheloveofdogs’.