Fern Britton's former agent claims she is 'nothing like her bubbly TV persona' as they reveal all on brutal split with Phil Vickery

Daily Mail​

8 hours ago

Fern Britton 's former agent has claimed she is 'nothing like her bubbly TV persona' as he reveals all on her split from ex-husband Phil Vickery.
The television presenter, 67, and her TV chef former partner, 64, announced they were divorcing in 2020 after two decades together.
The split followed the deaths of Fern's parents, which reportedly caused the pair to realise that they had to 'follow their own paths'.
But now, in a new account, Fern's long-standing former power agent Jon Roseman insists the star's 'warm, bubbly, lovely TV persona is not what it seems; she is not the person everybody loves.'
In a new interview with The Sun, Jon shared Phil's account of their relationship after she accused him of brutally cutting her off following her parents' death.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
One story that was reported in particular, perfectly illustrates the delicate and strained dynamic between the couple.
Jon, who the once married couple made godfather to their daughter Winnie, told the publication: 'I never really got why Phil married Fern. It felt a very unequal relationship.'
The agent explained that one moment that stood out was in the early 2000s when then network boss Simon Shaps shared his worries over Fern's weight.
He said that it was 'made clear that she needed to do something' if she wanted to keep her job.
Jon revealed that he met with Phil in a café and asked him to be the one to break the news to his wife instead of doing it himself as he felt 'he would be best placed to do it'.
He said: 'He refused. He said he just couldn't do it. He was worried how she would take it. So, a few days later, as Fern and I were driving to collect a Chinese takeaway to have at their house, I told her — I did it as best I could. She pulled over and just sobbed.
'But when we got home and she told Phil, he pretended he had no idea — I can understand why. It was just easier for him.'
MailOnline has contacted Fern's representatives for comment.
Jon's claims come as Fern revealed the brutal way that Phil cut contact with her after their 20-year marriage ended.
In a recent interview, the star has said that Phil stopped talking to her after her mum died in 2018.
The pair were previously reported to have maintained a 'basic' level of communication after they split.
But Fern has now revealed she didn't hear another word from her him after her mum passed away.
In an interview with Yours magazine, Fern admitted: 'He hasn't spoken to me for six years now. As soon as my mum died, he stopped talking to me.'
A representative for Phil has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
The Celebrity Big Brother 2024 contestant insists she tries 'very hard' to not 'bad-mouth' Phil for the sake of their 23-year-old daughter Winnie.
Fern shares twin sons Harry and Jack, 31, and daughter Grace, 27, from her first marriage, to Clive Jones, and daughter Winnie with ex Phil.
She said: 'Winnie adores him. I'm not going to bad-mouth him in front of her; at least, I try very hard not to.
'I was the child of divorced parents and my mum never bad-mouthed my father.'
Earlier this week, Fern candidly reflected on a experiencing a 'catalogue of difficulty' in the past few years - amid her jaw-dropping five stone weight loss.
The star has faced emotional turmoil throughout her life, from her divorce from Phil 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.'
She recently admitted that while she does get 'lonely', she is still not looking for love five years on from her split.
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.'