Fern Britton claims she 'foolishly' let exes and work colleagues 'manipulate' her as she reveals whether or not she'd be open to finding love again

Daily Mail​

6 hours ago

Fern Britton has admitted she 'foolishly' let past romantic partners and work colleagues 'manipulate' her.
The former This Morning presenter, 67, divorced TV executive Clive Jones, 76, which was finalised in 2000 following their split in 1998 after 10 years of marriage, and split from TV chef Phil Vickery, 64, in 2020.
Fern has now said she kicks herself for 'foolishly' giving 'power' to her former lovers, as well as those Fern has worked with throughout her illustrious career in show business.
Asked how the author has changed as she has got older in an interview with Saga magazine, Fern said: 'I always thought everything would be all right.
'Although that's not changed, I think I understand myself a bit better now and can look back and see that 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".'
However, the Celebrity Big Brother 2024 housemate expressed that she is open to dating again.
Asked if she would look for Mr. Right again, Fern revealed: 'I'm not averse to it but they'd have to be spectacular. They have to make me laugh, they must be kind, and they must be honest.'
Fern - who has 31-year-old twin sons named Jack and Harry, and a 27-year-old daughter called Grace with Clive, as well as a 23-year-old daughter named Winnie with Phil - said she thinks it is tricky for people to find relationships now.
She explained: 'I've got very interested in how complicated it is for young people dating. Grace has a lovely partner, but Winnie is single, and while she's a very attractive girl, it all seems so difficult now.
'In the '70s a man would just come and say, "Oh, do you want to go out?" and you'd reply, "Yes, thank you". Now it seems they're all giving each other therapy about someone they've been seeing for ten days.
'I was intrigued about how these relationships work and wanted to explore that a bit.'
And Fern has found happiness by going to church and helping to make drinks and food during the services. 'I've started regularly going to church, and honestly just helping make the coffees and the sandwiches in the church hall gives me the nicest feeling I've had for a long time,' she said.
'I would urge people not to be scared to do something, however small – find a charity to volunteer for, go and read in a school. People talk about this all the time, but it actually is amazing what it gives you back.'
It comes after she addressed Phillip Schofield 's departure from This Morning and reflected on their time hosting the show together after their falling out.
The 67-year-old anchored the ITV programme alongside Schofield, 63, for seven years before quitting in 2009.
Ahead of her departure, the pair famously fell out and haven't spoken since, with Phil previously claiming in his autobiography their relationship was 'beyond repair'.
It was claimed at the time she felt 'undervalued by ITV' and that she was 'living in Phil's shadow'.
Now 15 years on, Fern said she had 'great fun' hosting This Morning with her former pal whilst speaking about his own controversial exit.
Speaking to Saga Magazine, she said: 'It brought up a lot of mixed emotions.
'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.'
In 2022, Fern ended their long-running feud when she congratulated Schofe in a video message to celebrate his 40th anniversary in television.
Last year the mum-of-four returned to screens, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother alongside Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.
Tensions between Holly and Phil reached further heights when he boldly declared there were 'three s**ts' at ITV on his Channel 5 show Cast Away
Phillip stepped down from This Morning and subsequently all TV projects after he admitted to an 'unwise but not illegal' affair with a 20-year-old crew member on the daytime show.
Holly Willoughby, who took over hosting duties on This Morning from Fern, released a statement at the time saying she had felt 'hurt' by his 'lies'.
Holly stepped down from presenting This Morning after 14 years on the show due to a terrifying kidnap threat and subsequently took time out from the spotlight.
Phillip is also said to have called Holly 'The Witch' following the pair's departure from their presenting roles.
Tensions between the pair reached further heights when Phil boldly declared there were 'three s**ts' at ITV on his Channel 5 show Cast Away.
The pair used to be best friends, with their families even taking annual holidays together, but the bitter feud appears to have been reignited.
Phillip is said to have told Holly that she 'brought him down' before he resigned from This Morning.
Meanwhile, last week Phillip was making the most of the warm summer weather as he took his dog for a walk in west London on Wednesday.