Fern Britton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Britton presenting This Morning |
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| Born: | 17 July 1957 (age 49) Ealing, London |
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| Occupation: | Television presenter |
| Spouse: | Phil Vickery |
Fern Britton (born July 17, 1957 in Ealing, London) is a well-known English television presenter. She currently co-hosts the popular magazine show, This Morning.
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[edit] Career
[edit] Presenting
Britton started her broadcasting career with the BBC as a presenter with Spotlight in the South West before moving to BBC One's News After Noon, becoming the BBC's youngest ever-national news presenter. She then went on to present with TVS, hosting Coast to Coast, Coast to Coast People and Magic Moments.
She has since worked on a variety of programmes including Carlton Television's After Five, BBC's Breakfast Time, GMTV, London News Network's London Tonight, and as a guest reporter for BBC One’s Holiday. She also appeared in the first two series of The Brian Conley Show. In 1994, Britton presented the popular television cookery gameshow Ready Steady Cook which she continued to do until 2000, when chef Ainsley Harriott took over. In 2002, Britton was the host of the Pride of Britain Awards. She has also appeared twice on the satirical panel show, Have I Got News For You.
In 2006, Britton co-presented the reality television show Soapstar Superstar, and in the same year co-hosted the British Soap Awards. She has also made a guest appearance on the comedy show Extras.
Currently, Britton co-hosts the popular magazine TV show This Morning along with Phillip Schofield.[1] She has hosted This Morning since 1999. When Britton joined the show, it saw viewing figures rise considerably.[2] Since Britton and Schofield began presenting This Morning, the show has won the TV Quick Award for Best Daytime Viewing in both 2003 and 2004, and a National Television Award for Most Popular Daytime Show in 2004.
[edit] Other work
Britton has appeared as herself in advertisements for Ryvita Minis. The adverts began with Britton consuming some Ryvita Minis with her head superimposed on the body of a skinny woman in her dressing room. Someone would then come in and dress Britton in a fat suit, before she went on to present television.
March, 1998 saw the launch of Britton's first book, Fern’s Family Favourites published by Andre Deutsch, written with cook and home economist Susie Magasiner. The book is a collection of sixty of Britton's favourite recipes and tips on preparing food for the busiest of cooks. In October, 1999 Britton released her second book Winter Treats and Summer Delights (Andre Deutsch).
[edit] Personal life
Fern is the daughter of the actor Tony Britton and the half-sister of actor Jasper Britton. Her current husband is celebrity chef Phil Vickery whom she lives with at Holmer Green in Buckinghamshire with their children, ten-year-old twins Jack and Harry (from Fern's first marriage), seven year-old Grace and toddler Winnie.
Recently Fern has been criticised in celebrity magazines and newspaper columns about her weight and body image. This began after photographs of her emerged on holiday in a swimming costume. Fern hit back at the abuse she received in late 2005 saying "I would rather be big and happy than on a diet and miserable". Many people however believe that she is a good model for larger women, like Dawn French. Some magazines continue to refer to her as "sexy".[citation needed]
