TV presenter Fern Britton has announced she has split from her husband Phil Vickery after more than 20 years together.
She said in a statement: “After more than 20 happy years together, Phil and I have decided to go our separate ways.
“We will always share a great friendship and our lovely children . We would appreciate it if our privacy is respected at this time. Thankyou for your continued kindness and support.”
Fans shared supportive messages with 62-year-old after she shared the news, the Mirror reports.
Steph McGovern told her: “Sending lots of love”.
(Image: PA)
One fan commented: “Oh Fern that’s so sad! Sending you lots of love and happiness to you and the family”.
Another replied: “U and @philvickerytv are both amazing people and I wish u both the very best for the future”
Presenter Fern and This Morning chef Phil married in 2000.
They first met on the set of BBC Two’s Ready Steady Cook and started dating.
They tied the knot after her divorce to TV executive Clive Jones was finalised.
(Image: ITV)
They went on to have a daughter, Winnie, who is now 17.
Fern is also mum to twins Jack and Harry and daughter Grace, from her previous marriage to Clive, from 1988 to 2000.
Phil shared a very similar message about the split on his own Twitter account.
He wrote: “After more than 20 years together Fern and I have decided to go our separate ways. We will always share a great friendship and our lovely children. We would appreciate it if our privacy is respected at this time. Thank you for you kindness and support P”
Fern once said that the secret to her happy marriage to Phil was “freedom”.
(Image: BBC)
She once told The Mirror: “We have let each other have our freedom. He’s a man who has always got to meet a man about a dog.
“He says, ‘I will be half an hour’. That might be a couple of days. We don’t crowd each other and we are happy with that.”
She added: “Sex is great but a cup of tea is great, too. There’s nothing nicer than getting into bed with a cuppa and having a hug and a chat – that’s love.
(Image: ITV)
“Lust is great, but when you really love someone and you trust each other, and you’re in bed together drinking tea and chatting, that is a true relationship.”
Fern also once described Phil as her “life’s great love”.
She told the Daily Telegraph: “He is my life’s great love, a really amazing, husband, partner, friend. Yes, we have humdingers, but then we’re normal. Anyway, that’s good for the children to see. This is a real relationship.
“You hear people say, ‘Thirty years and not a cross word.’ Sorry, I simply don’t believe that. But, if it is true, how boring.”
