While many celebrities are jumping on the latest wellness trends or promoting quick fixes, Fern Britton is taking a different approach.
The beloved TV presenter, now 67, has opened up about her transformative journey—not just with her weight, but her whole lifestyle.
And she’s done it all naturally, without any shortcuts or miracle drugs.
No Ozempic, No Gimmicks—Just Sugar-Free Mornings and Early Gym Sessions
Fern has been refreshingly honest about her fluctuating weight over the years, having gone from a size 22 to a size 12.
But recently, she’s dropped an impressive five stone—and she’s crediting two very simple changes: cutting back on sugar and committing to early morning workouts.
“People often wonder when you’ve lost lots of weight whether you’ve done it naturally,” she told Woman & Home magazine.
“And I can look at you and say, ‘Yes, I have.’” Her typical day now starts with a 6am gym class, and she’s also followed the popular Couch to 5K program to build up her fitness.
The Turning Point That Made Her Reclaim Control
So what sparked this major lifestyle shift? It all began with a health scare.
Fern had a shoulder replacement about 18 months ago, and the lead-up to the surgery served as a major wake-up call.
“I thought, ‘I need to get my life back on track. I need to stop smoking, stop drinking, get eating under control and stop lying in bed feeling sorry for myself,’” she shared.
From that moment, she cut about 80% of the sugar from her diet and started paying real attention to what she was putting in her body—something she admits she hadn’t done before.
Swapping TV Lights for the Cornish Coastline
Five years ago, Fern made another big move—this time, literally.
She left behind city life and settled full-time in her beloved Cornish holiday home, slowly renovating it “bit by bit.”
It’s clear that Cornwall has become a peaceful base for her next chapter, especially as she’s leaned more into writing.
A New Chapter as a Bestselling Author
Since stepping back from the TV world, Fern’s also been building up her career as a novelist.
Her latest book, A Cornish Legacy, took two years to write—double her usual time—and is her 11th novel.
She first dipped into fiction with New Beginnings in 2011, two years after leaving This Morning, and has become even more prolific since the pandemic.
Her other recent works include Daughters of Cornwall (2020) and The Good Servant (2022), proving that storytelling has become a major part of her life’s purpose.
Life After Love—and the Freedom She’s Found
On the personal front, Fern has been pretty private since splitting from celebrity chef Phil Vickery in 2020 after 20 years of marriage.
While she admits she sometimes feels lonely, she’s not in any rush to find love again.
“I’m not looking for love,” she told Woman & Home.
“I’m still a bit too wary of losing my liberty… I think back to running things past people and it never really worked out, so why don’t I just make my own decision?”
Family Life and Letting Go
Fern shares twin sons Harry and Jack (31), and daughter Grace (27) with her first husband Clive Jones, and a daughter, Winnie (23), with Phil.
While she’s always kept her children out of the limelight, she’s spoken warmly about family life—even as she adjusts to life post-divorce.
She also revealed that the passing of her parents deeply affected her, contributing to the decision she and Phil made to part ways.
“We both had to follow our own paths,” she’s said in past interviews.
The This Morning Legacy—and Unequal Pay
Fern will always be remembered for her decade-long run as co-host of This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield.
But her exit in 2009 wasn’t without controversy.
It was reported at the time that she was being paid £250,000 a year less than Schofield, and during their joint stint on Mr and Mrs, he reportedly earned three times her salary.
While she hasn’t dwelled on the inequality publicly, her career shift and new independence suggest she’s moved forward on her own terms.
From Heartache to Healing—Fern Is Doing Just Fine
Whether it’s health, heartbreak, or hard work, Fern Britton has proven that it’s never too late to start over.
She’s not chasing the spotlight—but she’s still shining in her own way, living on the Cornish coast, writing bestsellers, and taking care of herself, one sugar-free step at a time.