Fern Britton admits she has 'mixed emotions' on former This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield as she addresses his exit from television amid their long-running feud

Fern Britton has addressed Phillip Schofield 's departure from This Morning and reflected on their time hosting the show together after their falling out.
The 67-year-old anchored the ITV programme alongside Schofield, 63, for seven years before quitting in 2009.
Ahead of her departure, the pair famously fell out and haven't spoken since, with Phil previously claiming in his autobiography their relationship was 'beyond repair'.
It was claimed at the time she felt 'undervalued by ITV' and that she was 'living in Phil's shadow'.
Now 15 years on, Fern said she had 'great fun' hosting This Morning with her former pal whilst speaking about his own controversial exit.
Speaking to Saga Magazine, she said: 'It brought up a lot of mixed emotions.
The 67-year-old anchored the ITV programme alongside Schofield, 63, for seven years before quitting in 2009
'The years we worked together were mostly great fun and we were a very good partnership, which I can remember with fondness.
'I knew how much he loved his job and cared deeply for his public perception. It must have been a terribly difficult time for him and his family.'
In 2022, Fern ended their long-running feud when she congratulated Schofe in a video message to celebrate his 40th anniversary in television.
Last year the mum-of-four returned to screens, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother alongside Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.
Phillip stepped down from This Morning and subsequently all TV projects after he admitted to an 'unwise but not illegal' affair with a 20-year-old crew member on the daytime show.
Holly Willoughby, who took over hosting duties on This Morning from Fern, released a statement at the time saying she had felt 'hurt' by his 'lies'.
Holly stepped down from presenting This Morning after 14 years on the show due to a terrifying kidnap threat and subsequently took time out from the spotlight.
Phillip is also said to have called Holly 'The Witch' following the pair's departure from their presenting roles.
Tensions between the pair reached further heights when Phil boldly declared there were 'three s**ts' at ITV on his Channel 5 show Cast Away.
The pair used to be best friends, with their families even taking annual holidays together, but the bitter feud appears to have been reignited.
Phillip is said to have told Holly that she 'brought him down' before he resigned from This Morning.
Meanwhile, last week Phillip was making the most of the warm summer weather as he took his dog for a walk in west London on Wednesday.
He cut a casual figure in the outing in a light blue shirt and a pair of cream knee-length shorts.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mail​

11 minutes ago

• Daily Mail​

Michael Palin opens up about his grief two years on from the death of his beloved wife Helen Gibbins and says he still talks out loud to her

Michael Palin has opened up about his grief two years on from the death of his beloved wife Helen. The Monty Python star, 82, was married to Helen for 57 years after meeting as teenagers on holiday in Suffolk. The mother of their three children — Thomas, 56, William, 53, and Rachel, 49 — had been suffering chronic pain for several years and then developed kidney failure. She passed away at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead, north London, on May 2, 2023. Speaking to Saga magazine, Michael said he feels grief now and is able to focus on keeping the spirit of Helen around. 'I can see why people say it takes two years or so before your response gradually changes,' he said. 'It becomes less about loss and more about the spirit of that person being around, so that's very nice. 'I feel less grief now, and more that I've got to keep on doing things, looking after the children we made together. He continued: 'I talk to myself as if she's there. I'll show some spectacular bit of incompetence that I know she would have found funny, then I'll hear myself saying something in the way she would have said it and I'll laugh, even though I'm the only one there. 'Imagining her being there makes me laugh.' Asked if he thought finding love again was on the cards, Michael said: 'We were a unit for so long. You can never begin to replace a relationship which lasted 60 years. 'I'm OK living on my own, then I go off to Venezuela or somewhere. I'm not moping.' On living alone, he added: 'I didn't want to be dependent on the family to come around every day. I don't cook, unfortunately. There were various areas like that where I thought I might be a bit vulnerable. 'But it turns out I'm quite good at being on my own. The other person who guides me through that is actually Helen.' Sir Michael and Helen met at the seaside town of Southwold when they were 16. They reconnected by chance in the actor's first year at Oxford University, before marrying at the age of 22. While the BBC TV director was suffering from kidney failure, Sir Michael was travelling to make documentaries about North Korea and Iraq for Channel 5 after he left the BBC in 2012. But in September, Sir Michael expressed regret over this, saying: 'I don't have regrets really. Perhaps towards the end, when I was doing the later travel journeys like North Korea. 'I don't think she particularly wanted me to go away then, but she knew that my interest in travel and other people was very deep-seated, it wasn't because I wanted to get away from home — it wasn't that at all.' The Pole To Pole author recently released a book, There And Back, of his diaries which he said helped him cope with his wife's health issues. He said: 'Helen was ill for a couple of years, so it wasn't a sudden death, and I was helping her and caring for her through a lot of pain. 'Writing this down helped me to deal with it. I needed to remember all that.' Last year the actor heartbreakingly admitted that his late wife's clothes were still hanging 'in the cupboard' as they make it feel as if she was 'still here'. Almost two years since his agonising loss, Michael told how he likes to see her belongings around their home as it reminds him of the time they spend together, with the star adding that it's the reason he will never move. Speaking in an interview with The Times, Michael said on the possibility of moving: 'I don't feel that way - at the moment, anyway. Everything around me has a story or something that reminds me of time we spent together, not in a maudlin way'. 'Just they are the props of your life. Get rid of all those props and I'd be in a different play, playing a different character. And I don't want to do that. 'I know it seems odd, but I carry on as though Helen is still here. Her clothes are still in the cupboards. I don't want to change my life, because I feel she wouldn't want that either. It's still a nice house to come back to. I feel her presence here.' After almost six decades of marriage to the love of his life, Michael went on to say that he couldn't imaging starting a relationship with anyone new as he was still 'bereft' over losing Helen. He shared: 'I shared my life with someone for so long that I find it impossible to think of sharing it in the same way with anyone else again. So in a way, I'm sort of freer.' The TV personality said he found it 'odd' with her not around, especially when coming home from the theatre or dinner and wanting to tell her about his experience. He added that he misses 'the little things' about their relationship, adding that he still finds it 'very difficult' without her - especially when it comes to cooking.

The Sun

32 minutes ago

• The Sun

I found a ‘very comfortable' £12 M&S bodysuit to hide back rolls – it's lightweight & smooths out all lumps & bumps

SHOPPERS are going wild for a 'very comfortable' bodysuit from M&S that 'holds you in all the right places.' So if you're looking for shapewear that is not only flattering but lightweight, then you've come to the right place and will need to check this out. 3 3 3 But that's not all, as this Light Control Seamless Shaping Body is also incredibly affordable - so if your purse is feeling the pinch, you'll be pleased to know that this high-street find is only £12. According to M&S bosses, this seamless bodysuit ensures a 'truly flattering silhouette.' This sleeveless piece features 'light control shaping for gentle smoothing with plenty of comfort.' Not only this, but it is non-padded and non-wired for a natural look. But that's not all, as it also features a no-VPL finish for a smooth effect under clothing. It is made with Special Cool Comfort technology and a 'moisture-wicking finish' which helps to keep you cool and dry. The Light Control Seamless Shaping Body is available in two colours - black and rose quartz. Sizes range from small to extra large and customers say it fits 'true to size.' The versatile bodysuit can be worn under clothes for a smooth finish, or even as a staple bodysuit with shorts on a warm summer 's day. It has quickly proved a hit with many shoppers, as it has quickly amassed an average rating of 4.3 out of five. Spring Into Style with M&S: Your Must-Have Wardrobe Update Not only did many claim that it 'hides back rolls', but others described it as 'easy to wear.' One person said: 'Comfy bodysuit which hides my back rolls like magic.' Another added: 'This is a great bodysuit. Very comfortable and easy to wear.' A third commented: 'Fits great, looks good, holds you in all the right places. My daughter said it looks so good she wants one.' Why Everyone Is Loving M&S Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale revealed to Fabulous why M&S is the shop of the moment. She explained: 'M&S has really pulled it out of the bag this season, there is so much good product to be excited about. 'A brand once known for its 'frumpy fashion' that notion is long gone with it now being one of the leading high street stores for womenswear. 'Its handbag range in particular is super strong with them selling 170% vs plan, with lots more designer dupes for just a fraction of the price. 'The brand is now also the #1 for style perceptions, compared to the #3 spot it had last year, this comes from a really strong design team focused on modernising the brand, not only taking into consideration how the pieces look, but how easy they are to wear also. 'Price is also a big factor with you being able to get many good quality pieces all for under £30. 'After having a sneak peak of the upcoming collection there are so many more amazing pieces that are dropping over the next few months to keep your eyes on. 'Think leopard print dresses, colourful co-ords, embroidered boho jackets, plus lots of swimwear and amazing accessories, as well as great wardrobe staples that will last year on year.' Meanwhile, someone else beamed: 'A lovely smoothing effect and looks great under anything.' Not only this, but another happy shopper praised: 'Lightweight but smooths out lumps and bumps, love it.' But that's not all, as another M&S fan explained: "I like that it's fairly lightweight as I wanted a comfortable everyday smoothing vest. I also prefer that it's not shiny/silky as it feels more breathable."

Daily Mail​

39 minutes ago

• Daily Mail​

JK Rowling hits back at Stephen Fry and says she and the Harry Potter narrator were NEVER even friends

JK Rowling has hit back at Sir Stephen Fry after the Harry Potter narrator accused her of being 'radicalised by TERFs' - claiming the two were never even friends. Fry, 67, previously branded the author a 'friend of mine', adding he did not plan to 'abandon' friendships despite his trans pals being 'deeply upset' by Rowling. But this month Fry turned on the Harry Potter creator as he branded her a 'lost cause' and accused her of being 'radicalised by TERFs' while recording podcast The Show People. Following the remarks, British barrister Jo Maugham echoed Fry's claim that he and Rowling were friends as he wrote on X: 'Really creditable this, from Stephen Fry. I've spoken to so many of JKR's once friends who now despair at her privately but won't do so publicly, which is very much the British way and why nothing ever changes for the better. So well done Stephen.' But in response to the post, Rowling savagely shut down any suggestion that she and Fry were ever close, even if he thought they were. 'It is a great mistake to assume that everyone who claims to have been a friend of mine was ever considered a friend by me,' she replied on X. Comedian and TV presenter Fry previously told how he used to have dinner regularly with the author and described her views towards the trans community as 'strange'. During The Show People this month Fry, who is himself gay, said: 'She has been radicalised I fear and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her. 'It is unhelpful and only hardens her and will only continue to harden her I am afraid. I am not saying that she not be called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking. She seems to be a lost cause for us.' Fry recorded audio books for all seven of the Harry Potter series, but has now turned his back on the author, accusing her of 'mocking' LGBT+ people and insisting he supports the trans community. He said: 'She started to make these peculiar statements and had very strong difficult views. She seemed to wake up or kick a hornet's nest of transphobia which has been entirely destructive. 'I disagree profoundly with her on this subject. I am angry she does not disavow some of the more revolting and truly horrible, destructive violently destructive things that people say. She does not attack those at all. Fry said he was sad to speak out against her, adding: 'I am sorry because I always liked her company. I found her charming, funny and interesting' 'She says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people. 'She has crowed at the success of legislation in Scotland and elsewhere declaring things about gender. 'So I am very happy to go on the record to say that I am really angry about that. My view about all things of sharp and difficult nature is that is is much more important to be effective than to be right.' Fry, who has until recently not spoken openly about the row, explained that he had previously got on well with the author. 'I am sorry because I always liked her company. I found her charming, funny and interesting and then this thing happened and it completely altered the way she talks and engages with the world now,' he said.