Advertisement

Fern Britton: I've learned not to rely on others for happiness since marriage split

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14:  Fern Britton attends the Women of the Year lunch at Intercontinental Hotel on October 14, 2013 in London, England  (Photo by Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage)
Fern Britton is adjusting to single life and learning to make herself happy. (Getty Images)

Fern Britton has said she is learning to make her own happiness since ending her marriage to Phil Vickery.

The 64-year-old TV presenter and author – who announced last year that the couple were splitting after more than 20 years – has embarked on a journey of self love.

Britton told Good Housekeeping magazine she had learned not to "rely on anyone else for your happiness. Reassurance and reaffirmation doesn’t work, it comes from you thinking, ‘Yes, I’ve made mistakes. Yes, there are things I’m sorry about doing. But actually, I’m all right. I’m not too bad.’”

Read more: Fern Britton reveals she still misses ex-husband Phil Vickery

And the former This Morning presenter admitted she was in a transition period as she adapts to single life and realises "the world is my oyster".

Fern Britton and Phil Vickery are set to
Fern Britton and Phil Vickery were married for 20 years and worked together on TV. (Getty Images)

She said: “Being wholly in charge of a situation and not having someone to discuss it with is a double-edged sword. But it’s also a big decision – and I have to arrange everything myself!

"I’m not lonely but I’m in this transition period where I’m working out what’s next for me. My approach has always been, head down, keep going, and for the first time in my life, I’m thinking, ‘Hang on, where shall I go now?’ – and that’s quite nice. Suddenly, the world is my oyster.”

And Britton is embracing the changes in her life.

She said: "I’m not afraid of change… The last three years have been very hard; I lost my parents, I lost my marriage. I lost my other home in Buckinghamshire, too, because Phil lives there now and I’m in Cornwall. But the magic I’ve found here is incredible. I’ve made some wonderful girlfriends and that’s been a lovely surprise.”

<p>After last year’s show, Fern Britton claimed that her partner Artem Chigvintsev would kick and shove her during rehearsals.
Fern Britton with her Strictly dance partner Artem Chigvintsev during the live tour in 2013. (PA)

Britton met TV chef Vickery when they both worked together on BBC daytime show Ready, Steady, Cook.

They began dating shortly after the breakdown of her marriage to TV executive Clive Jones and married in 2000. They share a daughter, Winnie, who turns 20 in August.

Read more: Fern Britton says she was 'treated pretty poorly' on This Morning before exit

Britton – who also competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2012 – announced on Twitter that they were separating in January 2020.

Britton is also mother to twins Jack and Harry and daughter Grace from her 10-year marriage to Jones.

Watch: Fern Britton recalls her sauciest innuendo on This Morning