Fern Britton’s Bitter Feud with Phillip Schofield: ‘Things Were Tricky’

Inside the Tension Between Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield – “Things Were Complicated”

By Bruno Cooke

Fern Britton, the beloved TV personality, is making a nostalgic return to Tipping Point: Lucky Stars this weekend with a rerun from season 7, which originally aired back in April 2021. However, her comeback brings to light the ongoing tension with her former This Morning co-host, Phillip Schofield. This weekend, Fern will be competing alongside Iain Stirling and Mark-Francis Vandelli.

Before the holidays, her recent appearance on The One Show sparked a flurry of comments on social media regarding her noticeable weight loss. Rumors are swirling about a possible surprise hosting return to This Morning, although the details remain under wraps. Last year, she participated as a guest, and this buzz follows her recent stint on Celebrity Big Brother, which was well received.

Fern’s history with This Morning dates back to 1993, long before Phillip Schofield joined the show. She began her full-time role as a host in September 1999, presenting the Friday episodes alongside John Leslie. In 2002, Phillip stepped in as a co-host, eventually replacing John and becoming Fern’s partner on the show. Together, they also co-hosted The British Soap Awards from 2006 to 2008 and the ITV game show Mr & Mrs from 2008 to 2010.

The turning point in their relationship occurred when Fern unexpectedly withdrew from hosting the 2009 British Soap Awards, coinciding with her abrupt departure from This Morning. Speculation arose that her exit was due to a salary discrepancy between her and Phillip. However, in a 2020 interview, Fern clarified the rumors, stating that her decision had nothing to do with pay. She mentioned an incident that compelled her to leave, saying, “I was treated pretty poorly, actually,” but she refrained from detailing the specifics.

In 2018, the underlying rift between the two became more public. Fern, appearing via video link, expressed her disappointment when BAFTA recognized This Morning but failed to mention her contributions. While congratulating the show for its Special Award, she lamented not being invited to the ceremony. Phillip responded by asserting that she had been invited but chose to decline. However, Fern countered, stating she had received no such invitation. Eventually, it was revealed that her agents had failed to relay the invite to her, creating further tension.

In his autobiography, Phillip suggested that their fallout stemmed from disagreements over This Morning’s content. He wrote about how Fern had chosen to leave and emphasized the seriousness of their dispute, saying their relationship was beyond repair. He claimed they had different approaches to the show’s material, leading to friction.

In a 2023 interview, Fern downplayed the feud, responding to speculation about her discussing Phillip during her Celebrity Big Brother appearance. She acknowledged that although things had “been tricky” towards the end of their partnership, she wanted to approach the situation with “caution and kindness.” Fern reflected on her past, denying interest in revealing any salacious details or old grudges, stating, “I loved This Morning. I absolutely loved it.”

As the public wonders where Fern and Phil stand today, the question remains: Are you Team Fern, Team Phil, or neither? Share your thoughts.