Fern Britton has finally broken her silence on Phillip Schofield's decision to come out as gay. In a candid interview with The Mail On Sunday's Weekend magazine, the 62-year-old - who presented This Morning alongside Phillip for almost a decade back in the early noughties - confessed she immediately thought of the presenter's wife Stephanie Lowe when he made his announcement back in February. "My immediate thoughts were for his lovely family," she explained. "I send them all my love. It must be tough."
WATCH: Phillip Schofield cooks up a storm with his daughter Ruby
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Phillip and Steph, who married back in 1993, are parents to two daughters: Molly, 27, and 24-year-old Ruby. Admitting that she has lost touched with her former co-host over the years, Fern added: "I haven't seen any of them for a long time so I don't want to pass comment on how they must feel. Let's just say my heart goes out to all of them.
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Fern Britton used to present This Morning with Phillip
"I'm very glad Phillip's found out who he is in the same way I'm glad I've found out who I am, but the timing of his decision did surprise me." Phillip, 58, came out as gay via a statement on his Instagram account before he gave an interview with Holly Willoughby. On his decision to share his news then, he said: "This is something that has caused many heartbreaking conversations at home. I have been married to Steph for nearly 27 years, and we have two beautiful grown-up daughters, Molly and Ruby."
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Discussing the support of his loved ones, he added: "My family have held me so close: they have tried to cheer me up, to smother me with kindness and love, despite their own confusion. Yet still I can't sleep and there have been some very dark moments."