Former This Morning presenter Fern Britton has been under intense scrutiny recently, including from a man she labelled a "slimy Paparazzi" who she said on Twitter had "left me really distressed and shaking".
The increased attention comes after her former co-host Phillip Schofield resigned from the show after admitting to an extramarital affair with a much younger man who used to work on the programme.
Fan favourite Fern has had quite a challenging few years for a variety of reasons, which she reflected on in a new interview with Yours magazine.
In a heartfelt interview, the star admitted: "The last three or four years have been difficult for the whole world in general and for me on a personal level. I got a bit lost."
© Ken McKay/ITV/REX/ShutterstockThe presenter-turned-author announced her split from her husband of 20 years, Phil Vickery, in early 2020. Just a few months earlier, she lost her father, actor Tony Britton, at the age of 95 and the previous year, her mum Ruth died aged 94.
© RexThe star described herself as feeling "healthy and fit" these days, despite needing to have an operation on her arthritic shoulder. She credits therapy with giving her a more positive attitude to life and told the publication, "I'm starting to rather enjoy being alone".
Asked whether she misses being on TV, she candidly agreed: "Sometimes, yes. I remember walking into This Morning meeting Michael Bublé or Dolly Parton or Goldie Hawn, which is very exciting. But I've been blessed with a second career."
© Ken McKay/ITV/ShutterstockAsked, before news broke, whether Phillip might leave soon, she commented: "It wouldn't amaze me if he stepped down. It's an arduous job at any age".
© ShutterstockFern left the show in 2019 after a ten-year run, with Holly Willoughby taking over her role. At the time, it was rumoured that she left in a dispute over pay. An exclusive chat with HELLO!, however, Fern said: "I did ten years of it and I loved that show - I can't tell you how much I loved it. But after ten years I just felt it was right to stop."
© ShutterstockAddressing rumours that she left because of a pay disparity, she commented: "That certainly wasn't true, not least because I had no idea what Philip had been paid; I knew what I was being paid and it was more than fair.
© Getty"It's appalling that, if you are doing the same job as a man, you are paid less and I am absolutely all for equal pay but at the time, even if Phillip had been paid more than me, he was doing more programmes on television.
© Getty"It is wrong for someone else to be paid more than you are for the same job. But it’s terribly important to find out where your 'enough' is because everybody's different and I was very happy with my 'enough'." Fern also said she has grown more confident with age.
© Getty"When I was younger I was always worrying about how people would perceive me and now I have abandoned that. People like me or they don’t and I don't really give a damn anymore!"
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