Fern Britton, who lives in Padstow, issued an update about her love life status, five years on from her and Phil Vickery’s shocking split after 20 years of marriage
Fern Britton opened up about her traumatic few years (Image: ITV)
Former ITV’s This Morning presenter Fern Britton has opened up about her love life, following a traumatic few years. In 2020, the host and her now ex husband Phil Vickery, 64, shocked fans by announcing the end of their 20-year marriage.
At the time, a statement read: “Phil and I have decided to go our separate ways. We will always share a great friendship and our lovely children.”
This news came at an already sad time for Fern, who lost her mum in 2018, and her dad the following year. Last year, her name hit the headlines once again after a 63-year-old man pleaded guilty to stalking her
He was later given a 10-year restraining order and told to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Giving an update on her life, Fern, who lives in Padstow, revealed that she has become content in her own company, and has no plans to find another partner.
“These past six to seven years it’s been one thing after another,” she shared. “My parents died; my marriage ended; I had a stalker.
“I managed very well, but the repercussions were like a sonic boom. Everyone keeps asking me if I’m dating. Nobody’s dating me.
“I’m enjoying my own company. I’m not fearful about going to a restaurant on my own, travelling on my own.
“I’m actually very good at it now, and it’s OK,” she added to The Times.
Earlier this year, the author said she was “a bit too wary” about dating again.
Explaining her reasons, she told Woman and Home Magazine: “There’s nobody to run something past but, on the other hand, I think back to running things past people and it never really worked out, so why don’t I just make my own decision?
“Then I’m the only person who can go, ‘I f***** up there.’ I’m feeling pretty good but it would be foolish to say I feel spot on 100% of the time.”
Fern has the tied the knot on two occasions and has four children in total.
With her first husband of 12 years, Clive Jones, she has three children; Grace, Harry and Jack.
The presenter shares her fourth child, Winnie, with Phil, a chef who is often seen on This Morning.
While previously claiming that they will remain friends after their split, Fern recently claimed that they haven’t spoken in many years.
In the same interview with Yours Magazine, she said she didn’t want to “bad-mouth him” out of respect for their daughter.
“I was the child of divorced parents and my mum never bad-mouthed my father,” she added.
Shortly after their split, Fern moved from London to Padstow in Cornwall to begin a new chapter.
She has since released a book titled A Cornish Legacy, which focuses on a number of topics such as divorce, inheritance, and the emotional resonance of old houses.
