Alison Hammond recalls 'shame' of having dinner ticket as she calls for free school meals for all

Alison Hammond revealed she felt “shameful” about needing dinner tickets as a child, as she called for every pupil to get free breakfasts.

The TV star spoke out on This Morning as she and her co-host Dermot O’Leary talked about how a little girl had written to Rishi Sunak to request free school meals for all children.

“I just think everyone should have a meal, do you know what I mean?” said the 48-year-old.

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“You go to school, full belly, it’s going to make you concentrate, let them have a free meal.”

“I used to hate having a dinner ticket because everyone knew that I was getting free meals,” she went on.

“I used to have a free dinner ticket because my mum obviously couldn’t afford it.

“It was just so shameful, I just think let them all have food, it’s just food.”

“It was just embarrassing,” she added. “Because everyone knew you couldn’t afford it. It should be more discreet definitely.”

Hammond also suggested a system where those who could afford to, could make a voluntary contribution to other pupils’ meals if they wished to.

Fans watching the ITV show praised the TV star for speaking up.

“Well said @AlisonHammond,” said one viewer on Twitter.

“Yes let every child have free school meals … stop the stigma for those that cannot afford them.”

“Alison for prime minister,” quipped someone else.

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Another viewer chimed in: “Every primary school child in Wales get free school meals. That’s one thing the Welsh government have got right. Not reason why they can’t do it in England as well.”

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