Fern Britton has teased she would contemplate a relationship – just days after her ex-husband cryptically hinted he missed her.
The 66-year-old broadcasting legend was married to 62-year-old celebrity chef Phil Vickery in 2000 – but they announced their shock split in 2020. The couple share a 23-year-old daughter named Winifred together, while Phil is also step-dad to Fern’s three older children from her marriage to Clive Jones which lasted from 1988 until 2000.
Now Fern has teased that she is thinking about embarking on a romance – but has said she wouldn’t want to get married again having already been through the process twice. She also said she wouldn’t want to live with a man again – but is enticed by the idea of enjoying a ‘bit of romance’.
The former This Morning host – who recently came fifth in the 2024 season of Celebrity Big Brother on ITV where she was housed with fellow stars including talent show judge Louis Walsh, 71, and Coronation Street star Colson Smith, 25 – says she would like to have someone in her life that she could talk to at the end of the day. And also comes weeks after she appeared in the Celebrity Big Brother house where she shunned the idea of falling in love again.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine on Wednesday, Fern told host Christine Lampard: “People say to me: ‘Are you dating? Are you doing this, are you doing that.’ The answer is no. I’m not dating at all. I’m not looking for anything, but – although I’d never want to get married again, or live with anyone again – I’d like just a bit of romance.
“A little bit of going out to supper or maybe having a bit of a holiday. Someone to talk to at the end of the day to run things past. That would be nice. I don’t need it. But it would be nice.”
The update comes after she discussed romance with Louis in the Big Brother house. Louis said to the host: “You realise what life is, and realise why haven’t I done this before, why didn’t I go there, why didn’t I do that? … Fern, if you pick the right person you’ll have great fun, you might fall in love.”
But practically shuddered at this suggestion and quickly responded: “I don’t want to fall in love again.” Meanwhile, Fern’s ex-husband Phil took to social media this week and left a cryptic message that was subsequently deleted.
He wrote: “A lot of people mess up something good by looking for something better, to end up with something worse.” Some fans have considered if the mysterious message could have been about estranged wife Fern and could show Phil hinting he regretted their marriage coming to an end. The pair announced their shock split in 2020 with Fern writing online: “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. Thank you for your continued kindness and support.”
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