Fern Britton, the former host of ITV's This Morning, has spoken out about her "difficult and upsetting" exit from the show in 2009, when she was replaced by Holly Willoughby. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Britton reflected on her tumultuous relationship with her former co-host Phillip Schofield, and expressed hope that he will "find some happiness" after the affair scandal that destroyed his TV career.
Britton presented This Morning alongside Schofield for seven years from 2002 until 2009, when she departed the programme. The exact reasons for her departure were disputed at the time, with some reports suggesting that she was "sick of living in Phil's shadow" due to his higher salary. However, in a 2013 interview, Britton admitted that the real reason for her departure was more complex, saying "we're not in touch now". The pair's relationship had deteriorated significantly in the years leading up to her departure, with Britton describing the situation as "tricky" and admitting that she was unsure of how to explain the breakdown of their working relationship.
Schofield's departure from This Morning in 2022 was also marked by controversy, as he stepped down from the show after admitting to an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a 20-year-old crew member. Holly Willoughby, who had taken over hosting duties from Britton in 2009, released a statement at the time saying she had felt "hurt" by Schofield's "lies". The pair's relationship had already been strained in the years following Britton's departure, with Schofield making public comments that were perceived as critical of Willoughby. In 2022, Schofield even went so far as to call Willoughby "The Witch" on his Channel 5 show Cast Away.
In contrast, Britton has gone on to achieve significant success in her career, presenting a number of TV shows including BBC series Fern Britton Meets and The Big Allotment Challenge. She has also become a successful author, publishing a number of Sunday Times best-selling novels. In recent years, Britton has spoken publicly about the challenges of her personal life, including her high-profile split from her husband of 20 years, fellow TV star and celebrity chef Phil Vickery. In 2023, Britton told Good Housekeeping that she had "entered a new phase of her life" as a single woman, saying that she had never thought she would be 65 and single, but was now feeling "really relaxed" about her new circumstances.
Source: Daily Mail
