**
Scandals of Fern Britton: From Fallout with Co-stars to Betrayal by Best Pal
**
Phillip Schofield Fallout
LEGENDARY This Morning host Fern Britton, 66, marked a sensational return to the television screens this week, appearing in the star-studded Celebrity Big Brother House.
The bestselling author has had a distinguished career, having hosted ITV’s This Morning from 1999 to 2009 and participating in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2012.
**
Iconic Fallout with Phillip Schofield
**
The daughter of iconic British actor Tony Britton, Fern had a rumored fallout with This Morning co-star Phillip. Their work relationship reportedly soured towards the end of Fern’s tenure on the show, with many suggesting that Phillip was involved in the fallout.
On Fern Britton
After Fern’s departure, it was widely speculated that she felt slighted by Phillip being chosen to stay on as the presenter while she was replaced by Holly Willoughby. The tension between the two was evident when Fern omitted Phillip’s name in her departure speech, leaving viewers to speculate about the reasons behind her exit from the show.
Shortly after leaving, Fern highlighted the differences between her professional relationship with Phillip and Holly’s close friendship with him. This contrast led many to believe that the fallout between Fern and Phillip contributed to her departure from This Morning.
While the details of their feud are yet to be fully disclosed, the Celebrity Big Brother viewers are anticipating potential conversations on the fallout between Fern and Phillip.
**
Gastric Band-gate
**
Fern faced backlash for initially attributing her weight loss to rigorous exercise in 2006. Despite shedding several dress sizes, many questioned whether her fitness regimen was solely responsible for the dramatic transformation. This led to widespread speculation and critiques surrounding Fern’s weight loss journey, earning the moniker “Gastric band-gate.”
In 2008, Fern finally confirmed that her weight loss was the result of gastric band surgery in 2006. Reflecting on that period during a TalkRADIO interview in 2020, Fern suggested that her weight loss controversy may have contributed to her eventual exit from This Morning.
Fern’s shocking revelation about the true cause of her weight loss rattled some feathers at ITV, potentially making her a liability to the network. The aftermath of this revelation may have been a factor in Fern’s decision to leave the show.
**
TV Show Axe and Career Setbacks
**
In 2011, Fern’s talk show “Fern” was abruptly canceled by Channel 4 after just four weeks on air. The show, which was intended to fill the void left by The Paul O’Grady Show, failed to resonate with viewers, resulting in its premature demise.
Despite Fern’s remarkable flexibility displayed on the show, including acrobatic feats like performing the splits, it failed to attract the desired audience, falling behind competing programs like The Weakest Link and Britain’s Best Dish.
**
Marital Turmoil and Betrayal
**
Fern’s personal life made headlines in 2022 when images of her ex-husband Phil Vickery kissing her close friend, Lorraine Stanton, emerged. The shocking betrayal unfolded just two years after Fern and Phil’s divorce following two decades of marriage.
The public display of affection between Phil and Lorraine, including romantic gestures and shared intimate moments in public, left Fern devastated. Prior to this public betrayal, Fern had openly expressed her struggles to move on from her failed marriage to Phil.
The heart-wrenching episode involving her former husband and trusted friend stirred emotions among their social circle, with friends describing the situation as a deep betrayal of Fern’s trust by two individuals closest to her.