Inside Fern Britton's Life: Her TV Career, Split from Phil Vickery, and Fresh Start at 68 – Photos

She had one of the warmest faces on British morning television, a long and happy marriage, and a circle of friends she trusted completely. Over the years, each of those things would shift in ways she did not see coming.

Three turning points, years apart, quietly reshaped Fern Britton's life — from a warm kitchen decision that masked deeper tensions, to a marriage that ended with an unexpected twist, and a later-life reckoning that reframed everything she thought she knew.

The Real Reason She Walked Away From 'This Morning'

Britton's route to the nation's sofas was a long one. She began as a newsreader on local radio, worked her way up to become the BBC's youngest ever national news presenter on "Breakfast Time," and joined GMTV in 1993.

That same year, she began guest presenting "This Morning," and by the early 2000s, she was firmly embedded in ITV's daytime landscape, initially co-presenting the Friday slot alongside John Leslie.

Britton echoed this sentiment, confirming to Good Housekeeping that she and her former co-host "don't really [speak anymore]."

And before we knew it, Britton had become one of the defining faces of daytime television, her easy rapport with eventual co-host Phillip Schofield anchored the programme as the two presented together for the next seven years.

Thus, for many viewers, her 2009 departure from "This Morning" felt abrupt. Rumours of a fallout between the pair have long circulated, later acknowledged in part by Schofield himself, who admitted their relationship had "turned sour" over time.

The two eventually drifted apart, with Britton later confirming they no longer kept in touch. Yet when Britton revisited her exit years later, her reasoning was strikingly grounded — and deeply human.

Speaking on the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast in June 2025, Britton gave her account plainly. "Well, it's 17 years ago, it's a long time. And I haven't really thought about that for a long time. I had a fantastic ten years, and I loved it," she began, adding:

"But then after a bit, I needed to be back home again, as lots of things were going on. [...] I was needed at home, and they [her family] needed to come home and know there was chicken in the oven."

In 2013, Schofield admitted that the former co-hosts were not really in touch. Britton echoed this sentiment, confirming to Good Housekeeping that she and her former co-host "don't really [speak anymore]."

Despite this, in 2022, she recorded a video message to mark Schofield's 40th year in television, bringing their 13-year estrangement quietly to a close.

Then, in a shocking turn of events, in 2023, Schofield resigned from ITV after admitting to an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger male colleague at "This Morning." In his statement, he said, "I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on 'This Morning.'"

As Britton's professional life unfolded under public scrutiny, her personal life carried its own complexities.

"But recently, 'This Morning' itself has become the story," the TV veteran added. Schofield went on to confirm the affair was consensual and acknowledged he had lied to his employers, his colleagues, the media, and his wife of 30 years.

When Britton addressed her former co-host's departure in an interview with Saga Magazine, she was measured. "It brought up a lot of mixed emotions," the presenter 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," she continued.

The Marriage of 20 Years and What Came After

As Britton's professional life unfolded under public scrutiny, her personal life carried its own complexities. Her first marriage, to television executive Clive Jones, began under complicated circumstances as they met while he was still married.

They eventually broke off their affair after a year, but two days later, he arrived on her doorstep after having left his wife for her. They married in 1988, had twin sons Jack and Harry in 1994 and a daughter, Grace, in 1997, but separated in 1998.

A year later, a new relationship began — one that seemed, at least initially, to offer stability and joy. Britton met celebrity chef Phil Vickery while working on "Ready Steady Cook."

Their connection developed quickly, and after his split from Sarah Ann Lock was finalised in 1999, they married in the spring of 2000, blending their lives and later welcoming a daughter, Winifred, together in 2001.

For two decades, their relationship appeared to be a cornerstone of Britton's life. The TV presenter had once described Vickery as "My life's great love...a really amazing husband, partner, friend." So when the couple announced their separation in 2020, it initially came with a tone of unity rather than conflict.

Both Britton and Vickery released identical statements — a detail that felt almost uncanny — emphasising their continued friendship and shared commitment to family. The statement read:

"After more than 20 happy years together, Phil and I have decided to go our separate ways. We will always share a great friendship and our lovely children. We would appreciate it if our privacy is respected at this time."

The reason for their split was never publicly disclosed, and in the years that followed, Britton spoke candidly about the realities of long-term relationships and the quiet shifts that can occur once children grow up and leave home.

Speaking to Prima magazine in July 2022, the presenter shared, "Often, the children leave home and you look at each other and go, 'Ah, where do we go from here?' I only wish I was the sort of person who could have persevered through that, but I couldn't."

Britton also revealed that she was not considering seeing anyone new at the time. "Life is pretty bloody perfect right now and I'm happy with my company," she told the magazine. "So, meeting someone would simply be icing on the cake."

Yet perhaps the most revealing aspect of this chapter is not what Britton is doing, but how she now understands her past.

Then, a new layer was added to the story, as two months later, images published by The Sun showed Vickery publicly kissing Lorraine Stanton, a hospitality worker who had been a close friend of Britton's for many years, during a date in London.

The pair made no effort to conceal their public display of affection, and it was claimed Britton felt "betrayed" by the development. However, this was a report she denied promptly and firmly on Twitter, writing, "Just to clear up any concerns re @TheSun front page. It is not true."

Starting Again at 68, on Her Own Terms

In the years since her separation, Britton's life has taken on a different rhythm — one shaped less by television schedules and more by personal reflection. Now based in Cornwall, she has built a quieter, more introspective existence.

This new life includes writing novels and engaging with her local community. Her work as an author has allowed her to explore themes that mirror aspects of her own life — including divorce, legacy, and emotional inheritance.

At the same time, she has found unexpected comfort in routine and service, describing how simple acts — such as helping at her local church — have brought a renewed sense of purpose.

Yet perhaps the most revealing aspect of this chapter is not what Britton is doing, but how she now understands her past. Reflecting on her relationships — both personal and professional — she acknowledged:

"I foolishly handed power to partners, bosses, and colleagues because I'm very easy-going and I never used to see around the corner and think, 'Oh, hang on; they're actually manipulating me.'"

In that single admission, the threads of her story seem to converge — the reported tensions at "This Morning," the complexities of her marriages, and the emotional undercurrents that accompanied both.

It is not a statement of regret so much as recognition. And perhaps that is what defines this stage of Britton's life most clearly — not reinvention, but understanding.