Fern Britton not interested in dating again after Phil Vickery split

Fern Britton has said she's more than content with her lovely friends, busy social life and early nights to bed to want to start dating again following her split from husband Phil Vickery.

The former This Morning presenter, 64 — who currently lives in Cornwall where she has established herself as a successful novelist — separated from chef Vickery on 2020 after 20 years of marriage. They have a daughter together called Winnie. Britton also has daughter Grace and twin sons Harry and Jack from her previous marriage to Clive Jones.

"I've got lovely friends and I have a lovely social life, which is quite enough for me," Britton told PA on the topic of dating again. "I like to be in bed at nine o'clock - it's great."

She also revealed she's not ready for grandchildren yet, continuing: "My grandson is my little dog, a Chihuahua. I'd like grandchildren eventually but I don't want to force my children into having children just for me. And I'm not quite ready to take up granny duties yet. I'm enjoying my life."

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Britton also said she hasn't even had time to unpack since moving from the family home in Buckinghamshire, where she lived with Vickery.

"The move to Cornwall filled up the house with so much stuff, I can't find the bikes," she explained. "I haven't unpacked fully in the last two years. The garage is still full of boxes, but I'm so busy doing things. There's more to life than emptying the garage."

The TV presenter has spent the last two years of the pandemic researching her latest novel The Good Servant, which follows the life of Marion Crawford, who was thw devoted governess to Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret (the Queen and her late sister) for 11 years from 1936 to 1947.

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"The pandemic helped because I had all the time and nobody ringing up. It was a pleasure to sit and read and research. It made me want to go to university and do my history degree, which I never did," she added.

Meanwhile, Vickery continues to work as a chef on This Morning, but it's not known whether he is dating again.

The Good Servant is available to buy now.

Watch now: Fern Britton on presenting This Morning with a newborn baby