Fern Britton candidly admits 'I've had a catalogue of difficult things to face' as she reflects on turbulent past few years following stalker ordeal and divorce - amid five stone weight loss

Daily Mail​

5 days ago

Fern Britton has candidly reflected on a experiencing a 'catalogue of difficulty' in the past few years - amid her jaw-dropping five stone weight loss.
The TV presenter, 67, has faced emotional turmoil throughout her life, from her divorce from Phil Vickery and a terrifying stalker ordeal.
Sharing her favourite home comforts - being with her cats Dr Iain Mackerel and Barbar in Cornwall - Fern emotionally touched on her past difficulties.
She told The Sunday Times: 'When I'm not feeling well, one of my cats will always sit on my bed with me. They take it in turns, like a shift pattern.
'This has been particularly comforting in recent years because I've had a catalogue of difficult things to face, from getting my home together here in Cornwall to discovering that I had a stalker.'
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Fern shares twin sons Harry and Jack, 31, and daughter Grace, 27, from her first marriage, to Clive Jones, and daughter Winnie, 23, with ex Phil.
She has kept her private life out of the spotlight since calling it a off with TV chef, Phil, 63, in 2020, after 20 years.
She recently admitted that while she does get 'lonely', she is still not looking for love five years on from her split.
The couple's 20-year marriage came to an end in 2020 following the deaths of Fern's parents, which reportedly caused the pair to realise that they had to 'follow their own paths'.
She told Woman & Home: 'I'm not looking for love - I'm still a bit too wary of losing my liberty.
'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***ed up there.'
Last year, Fern's stalker was handed a ten-year restraining order and 150 hours of unpaid work after he admitted harassing the TV presenter.
James Haviland, 63, of Great Oaks Chase, Chineham, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to stalking the former This Morning presenter without causing fear, alarm or distress in a two year crusade.
The court heard Haviland began his 'prolonged campaign' in 2021 when started sending the mother-of-four, 66, cards and flowers.
On three occasions the married father made the four-hour drive from his Hampshire home to the village of Padstow more than 200 miles away where the former This Morning presenter has gone on holiday as a child.
As part of his oppressive behaviour, he even rented the holiday cottage which the star owns.
In 2020, the Celebrity Big Brother star moved 270 miles from her home in Buckinghamshire to the Southwest coast of England after she split with Phil.
The presenter said it had helped her heal after they split following 20 years of marriage, and her parents passing away.
In recent months, Fern has continued to showcase her incredible five stone weight loss.
In a recent Instagram post, the presenter looked effortlessly chic in a plaid blazer and trousers while resting her hand on her slender waist.
Fern recently revealed the turning point behind her dramatic weight loss in an interview with Woman&Home magazine.
Speaking about her transformation she said: 'I started the Couch to 5k, took about 80 per cent of the sugar out of my life and started to think about what I was eating, which I had never done'
The presenter reflected on the powerful moment she decided to take back control of her health.
She told the publication: 'People often wonder when you lose lots of weight whether you've done it naturally.
'And I can look at you and say, "Yes, I have".'
'I had my shoulder replacement 18 months ago, and two-and-a-half years ago, when I saw the surgeon, he said, "I'm going to totally replace your shoulder, I'll see you in a year."
'I thought, "I need to get my life back on track. I need to stop smoking, stop drinking, get eating under control and stop lying in bed feeling sorry for myself".
'So I started the Couch to 5k, took about 80 per cent of the sugar out of my life and started to think about what I was eating, which I had never done before.'
Fern became a household name alongside Philip Schofield from 1999 to 2009, when she was replaced by Holly.
She reportedly blames Phil for her This Morning exit and isn't afraid to speak out in the CBB house.
It was claimed at the time of Fern's This Morning exit she felt 'undervalued by ITV' and that she was 'living in Phil's shadow'.
It was also reported she was being paid £250,000 a year less than Phil and that he was earning three times her salary when they were fronting Mr and Mrs together from 2008 to 2010.
Phil is said to have banked £45,000 an hour while Fern earned just £15,000.
However, Fern denied she left ITV because of her salary and upon her departure she mentioned the whole This Morning team rather than just Phillip.
Four years after her departure, Phillip admitted he and Fern no longer spoke.