Fern Britton, who used to host BBC Two’s Ready Steady Cook, opened up about her own culinary prowess and suggested that it could be, in part, down to her former husband
Fern was married to celebrity chef Phil Vickery for 20 years(Image: Getty Images)
Fern Britton has revealed that her ex-husband used to tell her “off” when they performed a particular task together at home. During an appearance on the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, the former Ready Steady Cook presenter opened up about her kitchen abilities. It appears her culinary development was, in part, influenced by her previous marriage.
The television personality was wed to celebrity chef Phil Vickery, who she met while filming the BBC Two programme. The former couple share daughter Winnie together, though they announced their separation in 2020.
Presenting the beloved cookery programme from 1994 to 2000 (before Ainsley Harriott took over), it stands to reason that Fern would know her way around the kitchen.
Nevertheless, she acknowledged there came a point when she felt she “ought to learn a bit about this” and sought Phil’s guidance, describing him as “really helpful.” Fern even revealed she continues to use his cookbooks.
Fern met Phil on the set of a BBC Two show(Image: PA)
When questioned whether she found his instruction challenging, Fern responded: “No. To be fair, no. I wasn’t. I’m very pliable in that sense. If I’m going to be taught something, I will listen.
“I think I’ve learnt that with age, probably. But no, I didn’t do that. He used to tell me off. ‘Oh, you’re so messy; you’re this…Well, I thought I was actually quite clean, but I do work better in the kitchen now.”
She continued: “I’m starting to invent things by myself, sometimes dangerous, but I made a very good Vietnamese Pho the other night.”
In a 2023 interview with Good Housekeeping, Fern, a mother of four, opened up about her life post-divorce, noting that her children had now grown up and a “whole other world has opened up”.
The 67-year-old, who lives in Padstow, Cornwall, explained at the time that she “never thought” it would happen and that she didn’t expect to be single and “really relaxed.”
Fern, who resides in what was once a holiday home for her and Phil, spoke to Hello! magazine about the special bond she shares with Winnie, describing her as “amazing”.
Fern said there was a time when she felt like she “ought to learn a bit about this” (Image: PA)
She said: “Winnie is amazing. She lives with me and works as a labourer on a building site. Then she sits at the sewing machine; she made me a jacket the other day out of a great big cotton shawl. They are very kind to me, and very thoughtful.”
Fern recently disclosed that Phillip Schofield’s exit from This Morning generated “a lot of mixed emotions”. Phillip quit the ITV show in 2023 after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague.
Speaking to Saga Magazine about the departure, Fern said: “The years we worked together were mostly great fun and we were a very good partnership, which I can remember with fondness.
“I knew how much he loved his job and cared deeply for his public perception. It must have been a terribly difficult time for him and his family.”
