Fern Britton ‘blames Phillip Schofield over her This Morning exit and sees Celebrity Big Brother as a career relaunch’ after split from husband Phil Vickery
Fern Britton is reportedly keen to tell her side of the story about her departure from This Morning on Celebrity Big Brother.
The 66-year-old presenter is due to take part in the ITV show, which starts on March 4.
According to Insiders, Fern sees CBB as a career relaunch following her split from husband Phil Vickery and ‘isn’t afraid’ to speak out about her feud with former This Morning co-star Phil.
Fern became a household name as host of This Morning alongside Philip, 61, from 1999 until 2009, when she was replaced by Holly Willoughby, 43.
The presenter reportedly blames Phil for her departure from This Morning and is not afraid to speak out in the CBB house.
Fern Britton is reportedly keen to tell her side of the story about her departure from This Morning on Celebrity Big Brother
The author became a household name as host of This Morning alongside 61-year-old Philip from 1999 to 2009, and insiders say she isn’t afraid to speak out (pictured in 2005)
“She felt she was being given a hard time when she left This Morning and now she wants to tell her side of the story,” a source said. OK! Magazine.
‘She basically blames Philip Scofield for her losing her job and feels he had a lot to do with her being chosen for a younger model. She is now not afraid to speak out and she takes no prisoners. Viewers can definitely expect fireworks. She’s using it as an opportunity to kickstart her career.”
The insider added that it’s a good opportunity for Fern after she became ‘unexpectedly single’ following the collapse of her marriage to TV chef Phil, 62.
The couple split in 2020 and in 2022 Phil was spotted kissing her former best friend Lorraine Stanton.
“She feels like she’s had a tough time lately – she’s spoken openly about her gastric band and has also split from husband of 20 years, Phil Vickery,” the source added.
MailOnline has contacted Fern’s representatives for comment.
It was claimed that 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 that she was paid £250,000 a year less than Phil and that he earned three times her salary when they were together for Mr and Mrs from 2008 to 2010.
Fern reportedly sees Celebrity Big Brother as a career relaunch following her divorce from husband Phil Vickery in 2020 after 20 years of marriage (pictured together in 2017)
ITV bosses have reportedly secured a sensational line-up of stars for the exciting reboot of the show, which last aired on Channel 5 in August 2018
Celebrities also reportedly in talks to take part include former Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu (pictured) and many more
The show will air from March 4 and former X Factor judge Louis Walsh will reportedly also appear (pictured last year)
Phil is said to have earned £45,000 an hour, while Fern earned just £15,000.
However, Fern denied that she left ITV because of her salary and upon her departure she mentioned the entire This Morning team rather than just Phillip.
Four years after her departure, Phillip admitted that he and Fern no longer spoke.
Last year Fern confirmed that although she had a ‘great’ time working on This Morning, she has not kept in touch with Phillip.
She said: ‘We were involved with the show at the time and friends but we don’t really (talk anymore)’
ITV bosses have reportedly secured a sensational line-up of stars including Louis Walsh and former Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu for the exciting reboot of the show, which last aired on Channel 5 in August 2018.
Bigwigs have apparently spent a whopping £2million on a number of high-profile stars for the programme, after the civilian version proved to be a big hit last year.