22 March 2024 , 19:00
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Fern Britton was 'knocked for six' at the end of her 20-year marriage to Phil Vickery.
The Celebrity Big Brother star, 66, has had a rocky love life over the years, navigating everything from affairs to bitter divorce. Fern was with her first husband, TV executive Clive Jones, for a decade and shares three children with him, twins Jack and Harry and daughter Grace.
In 2000, the same year she officially divorced Clive, she walked down the aisle to television chef Phil. The couple, who have a daughter called Winnie, met on the set of BBC Two's Ready Steady Cook and were together for 20 years before they announced their shock split in 2020.
Fern and Phil were married for 20 years before they split in 2020Their divorce came as a huge shock to the showbiz world, but Fern later revealed that it was a long time coming. She confessed they 'grew apart' during the final years of their relationship. She told Good Morning Britain in 2020: "My mum died and my father died and unfortunately Phil and I fell apart."
Fern heartbreakingly lost her parents just months apart, with her dad Tony passing away in December 2019 and her mum in April 2018. 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."
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Fern said her marriage 'fell apart' after her mum and dad died just months apart (ITV)In an interview with the Daily Mail earlier this year, Fern gave a rare glimpse into her devastating loss and split. 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. I'm rebuilt and I'm doing okay. I was not suicidal, but life had knocked me for six."
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. 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, Fern revealed that she's not ready to settle down yet 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.
- Celebrity Big Brother live final airs tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.