Page 4 | To think Fiona Phillips' dementia announcement has been timed to save her husband's arse

kerrycgeorgie · 2023-07-05T10:20:03+00:00

AIBU or cynical in thinking the timing of this announcement could have been orchestrated by her husband/pr team to divert attention away from his failings over the Schofield scandal and general bad behaviours amongst the IT exec? To be clear, this isn't to deny the sadness of the situation, it is very sad especially given her age.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 05/07/2023 13:15

I disagree It has likely taken her and her family a long time to come to terms with her devastating diagnosis
My first thought was that perhaps her symptoms are becoming noticeable now.... Not that they announced it to" save her husbands arse"
How nasty

Seaweed42 · 05/07/2023 13:19

I'm always cynical when the Daily Mail is involved in anything.

Qbish · 05/07/2023 13:21

Seaweed42 · 05/07/2023 13:19

I'm always cynical when the Daily Mail is involved in anything.

It isn't. She announced it in the Mirror.

Redglitter · 05/07/2023 13:24

What a horrible thread.

She said that she's known a while but her & her husband kept it to themselves to try & get their heads round it. They didn't even tell their sons. They've only recently told their sons & are now going public

But yeah it's all about him. She's not just his wife she's a well known TV presenter in her own right

Fairyliz · 05/07/2023 13:25

I really like Fiona and I have experience of a family member with dementia so know how devastating it can be. I wish her well.

However I learnt of the news via a very sympathetic piece on line, about how Martin had been caring for her since her diagnosis.

I’m assuming they are going with the poor old Martin took his eye off the ball re the Philip Schofield debacle because of his worries over Fiona.
Sounds like PR to me.

PollyThePixie · 05/07/2023 13:27

I’m confused that they’ve not really told their children about it but now they’ve told the press.

Redglitter · 05/07/2023 13:32

PollyThePixie · 05/07/2023 13:27

I’m confused that they’ve not really told their children about it but now they’ve told the press.

They have told their sons.

PollyThePixie · 05/07/2023 13:33

Toooldtocareanymore · 05/07/2023 12:53

To add to the comments above about the disease -Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. To call it dementia is not misleading - just like saying cancer rather than specify the type.

When Alzheimer disease occurs in someone under age 65, it is known as early-onset Alzheimer disease. My mother was diagnosed with this, and is still alive living in her home with a lot of support at 84 years of age , its not a death sentence as some comment above imply, since diagnosis she was at children's weddings, christenings, many family parties and up to 2019 I'd say her mental health was good, her life was full, not so now as dementia is very advanced but she's 84.
Early-onset Alzheimer d has no cure., but there are a lot of drugs that are successful in helping people maintain their mental function, control behavior, and slow the progress of the disease. this is all good news and may of these drugs and treatments were not available when my mother was diagnosed.
we have other family members with alzheimers and i'd say my mother has done much better probably due to the fact teh early type seems to respond better to treatments and creeps up more slowly.

I’m glad your mum is doing so well.

Thank you for posting about her and explaining how things can be for those who have such a diagnosis.

I like Fiona Phillips. She seems like a very down to earth person.

PollyThePixie · 05/07/2023 13:34

Redglitter · 05/07/2023 13:32

They have told their sons.

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Not in the article I read very early this morning but thank you for letting me know.

usernother · 05/07/2023 14:04

No. Not in the slightest.

KarmaStar · 05/07/2023 14:05

You are callous and hateful.

minou123 · 05/07/2023 16:25

Toddlerteaplease · 05/07/2023 12:59

Who is she and what's the connection with Phillip Schofield. Never heard of her.

Fiona Phillips was a tv presenter. If you watch daytime/morning shows, you will recognise her.
Fiona's husband is Martin Frizzell.
Martin Frizzell is the editor and producer of This Morning.

He was in charge of This Morning during this whole Philip Schofield debacle and there have been allegations that This Morning has a Toxic Culture and allegatons from other presenters/people Martin Frizzell is a bully/bullish, has antiquated ways etc.

As a result of the whole Philip Schofield thing and all the allegations, ITV have instructed Jane Mulcahy KC, of Blackstone Chambers, to carry out the review/investigation into This Morning.
Part of what Jane Mulcahy KC will be doing is talking to everyone looking at records and will be reporting the facts of what happened with PS, but also if there is a toxic cultute on This Morning.

Martin Frizell has already been heavily criticised in the press and here on MN about the comments he made during the PS thing.
Sky news asked him about the allegations that This Morning has a Toxic Cultute.
He responded
“I’ll tell you what’s toxic [what] I’ve always found it toxic. Aubergine. Do you like aubergine?”
"But do you like aubergine? Because I don't like aubergine. It's just a personal thing."

I think Ops, cynical, point is, that when Jane Mulcahy KC releases her review of This Morning, potentially it may have unfavourable or negative criticism of Martin Frizzell, seeing as he was the "man in charge" of This Morning.
And if all the negative press stuff happens again, he is pre-emptively trying to manage his image and gain public sympathy now, by announcing Fionas dementia

Anyway, that's what I think the Op is trying to say.
It maybe a very cynical and callous to think he would use his wife's dementia to get good PR.

feellikeanalien · 05/07/2023 16:33

I really hope Fiona Phillips is not a mumsnetter.

WomblingTree86 · 05/07/2023 16:36

He's not a presenter himself and doesn't really rely on a good public image for a career. I'm sure it wouldn’t be nice to be mentioned negatively in report but it won’t stop him getting another job and even if it did do you really think it is in any way comparable with being diagnosed with Alzheimer's and they would time the announcement around it ffs.

galletti · 05/07/2023 16:53

Wow. How nasty and cynical to even think that.

Fluffy40 · 05/07/2023 17:03

Poor Fiona, I nursed a woman with dementia for 4 years, she died at 49.

FinallyLeavingDenver · 05/07/2023 17:10

I have no doubt you’re right OP. People may say you’re awful for thinking it, but this sort of thing happens a lot. People are ruthless and will use anything.

Original poster

kerrycgeorgie · 05/07/2023 19:49

I am really sorry for anyone I have offended. I really hope my suspicion is wrong. It was more a concern that PR management might be doing some damage control on her husband as a lot of the press this morning focused on their love story.
I did try to remove the post.

OP posts:

MabelMoo23 · 05/07/2023 19:56

Sadly the same thought crossed my mind

Thally · 05/07/2023 20:01

Toooldtocareanymore · 05/07/2023 12:53

To add to the comments above about the disease -Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. To call it dementia is not misleading - just like saying cancer rather than specify the type.

When Alzheimer disease occurs in someone under age 65, it is known as early-onset Alzheimer disease. My mother was diagnosed with this, and is still alive living in her home with a lot of support at 84 years of age , its not a death sentence as some comment above imply, since diagnosis she was at children's weddings, christenings, many family parties and up to 2019 I'd say her mental health was good, her life was full, not so now as dementia is very advanced but she's 84.
Early-onset Alzheimer d has no cure., but there are a lot of drugs that are successful in helping people maintain their mental function, control behavior, and slow the progress of the disease. this is all good news and may of these drugs and treatments were not available when my mother was diagnosed.
we have other family members with alzheimers and i'd say my mother has done much better probably due to the fact teh early type seems to respond better to treatments and creeps up more slowly.

Thanks for posting this. It is a terrible disease and I'm am sorry for anyone affected but your post is a reminder that there are different disease progressions and there are some treatments for some people. Best wishes to your mother x

NeverDropYourMooncup · 05/07/2023 20:02

Bananarepublic · 05/07/2023 12:52

So do I. Poor woman. Imagine having your motives called into question at a time like this.

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It's not her motives being called into question. It's her husband's.

Missingmyusername · 05/07/2023 20:05

I think you’re right OP.

BananaSpanner · 05/07/2023 20:09

I’ve been personally affected by Alzheimer’s this year as my mum died a horrible death from it after several traumatic years.

I still thought the same as OP when I read the article. My mind isn’t in the gutter, I’m just cynical when it comes to celebrities and PR.

Darhon · 05/07/2023 20:13

I’m in the camp who think it’s because she is becoming noticeably unwell with it now and possibly will stop her Mirror column soon. She isn’t allowed to drive now, has been depressed and anxious for some time and has noticeable memory lapses. So I think they had to announce it. Which is very sad.

FinallyLeavingDenver · 05/07/2023 20:16

I’m just cynical when it comes to celebrities and PR.

Same. It’s just realistic. The stuff that goes on in that world is awful. I’m not going to feel bad for thinking it when I know similar things have been used in the past.