Fern Britton's six-word admission about tragedy that ended Phil Vickery marriage

13 March 2024 , 19:55

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Fern Britton and Phil Vickery were together for 20 years (Image: ITV)

Fern Britton was hit with a double tragedy that sparked the end of her marriage to Phil Vickery.

The Celebrity Big Brother star, 66, met the television chef on the set of BBC Two's Ready Steady Cook in the late '90s and walked down the aisle in 2000. The couple, who share a daughter called Winnie, were together for 20 years before they announced their split in 2020, which came as a huge shock to the showbiz world.

Fern later revealed that it was a long time coming and confessed they grew apart during the final years of their relationship after her family's heartbreak. She told Good Morning Britain in 2020: "My mum died and my father died and unfortunately Phil and I fell apart." Her mum Ruth passed away in April 2018, followed by her dad Tony in December 2019.

Fern tied the knot with TV chef Phil in 2000 (Getty Images)

The couple announced their shock split in 2020 (Phil Harris)

In an interview with the Daily Mail earlier this year, Fern gave a rare glimpse into her devastating loss and split and said, "Life had knocked me for six". She told the publication: "I remember endless days of indolence, not being able to go anywhere, not doing anything, not wanting to get out of bed."

Sharing a candid admission about the aftermath of her marriage breakdown, Fern said: "I'm rebuilt and I'm doing okay. I was not suicidal, but life had knocked me for six." She continued: "I was lost, then I found a bit of purpose again and it's been lovely."

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On the Book Club podcast in 2021, Fern tearfully had a candid conversation about losing her loved ones. She said: "Too much happened in the past couple of years - I've lost my marriage and I moved out of what was our family home." In 2022, Phil was seen kissing his ex-wife's best pal, Lorraine Stanton, in the street - but Fern has since insisted they remain friends.

In an interview with Woman & Home magazine, Fern said they will "always be connected". She said: "We simply needed to follow our own paths. Over time we realised we weren't necessarily having the kind of life we once did. It seemed right to say 'thank you' and move on. But we do have a good friendship.

Opening up about her darkest times, Fern said she didn't feel suicidal but 'life had knocked me for six'

"Phil and I had the greatest fun together and we have the most beautiful daughter together, Winnie... so we will always be connected." She added: "Life has changed for me in the last 10 years, especially with my career. So it's lovely to think I can just concentrate on writing, the kids and getting on with life. This feels quite comfortable, and Phil and I knew it was the right thing to do."

Last year, she confessed that she's not ready to settle down and will not get married again, but the door to a new relationship is 'half open'. Fern told OK! Magazine: "I don't want anything much at all - just somebody who's there. That would be lovely." The star listed kindness, intelligence, humour and the ability to hold a good conversation as the traits she's looking for.

Before meeting Phil, Fern was with her first husband, TV executive Clive Jones, for over 10 years and they share three children, twins Jack and Harry and daughter Grace. When Grace was five months old, their marriage broke down and they separated in 1998. Over two decades later, Fern revealed that their divorce was prompted by her secret IQ test. She claimed Clive was 'furious' after she went off and did a Mensa test, and passed, with the situation opening an 'immense rift'.

She told the Walking The Dog with Emily Dean podcast: "He had this degree and I don't. I secretly went off and did the Mensa. I lied, I said I was going somewhere else, and it took a day to do this test. I passed - and quite well too. Then he was furious so he did it because he's got a huge brain. But he's not a problem solver and he didn't get it. So an immense rift opened." Fern and Clive divorced in 2000, and that same year, she married Phil.

Nia Dalton