ON THE COVER Fern Britton
A brush with death has made Fern appreciate that life has never been more wonderful
Fern Britton – slim, fit and looking youthful and fabulous. We can hardly believe the TV presenter and author has just celebrated her 60th birthday – and in some ways neither can she. Just a little over a year ago, Fern found herself fighting for her life following a routine operation when she developed sepsis.
“I’d gone into hospital on July 13 for a routine hysterectomy, four days before my birthday.”
The procedure went well but three days later Fern took a serious turn for the worse and, after an eventual diagnosis of sepsis, was rushed to the theatre for emergency surgery.
“On the night of the procedure, I was resigned to dying. The theatre nurse offered to put a plaster over my wedding ring. Instead, I took off my ring and gave it to my daughter, who was with me.”
Thankfully Fern pulled through and, with a new perspective on life, she now embraces getting older.
“Age has given me more confidence. Do I feel I blossomed in my 50s? Yes, in a way I did – I feel more carefree, I suppose.
“In my head, I am still 26. I’m not worried about getting older and the years slipping by. I think it will be all right.”
Fern has battled with episodes of depression in the past but feels that the older she gets, the happier and more settled she feels.
“I think age is helping, funnily enough. I can see and feel the joy in life more now than I used to.
“Ageing is making me think differently about how I spend my time. I want to make sure that I am doing things that are as pleasing as possible. I want to relish all the glorious moments such as lying in the garden with a good book and The Archers on the radio, or Phil bringing me a cup of tea in bed every morning.”
Unlike many of her fellow TV presenters, Fern thinks it’s unlikely she’ll succumb to cosmetic surgery.
“I’ve never lied about my age. This is how you’re supposed to look. You want to look the best you can.”
Eight years ago Fern decided to quit This Morning, which she presented alongside Phillip Schofield. Just recently she returned to the sofa for the first time since 2009 when she appeared on the show to chat to Ruth and Eamonn about her cookery show, Culinary Genius and cook with husband Phil Vickery. Admitting that although she was delighted to catch up with old friends and see the studio, she didn’t miss her role as queen of morning TV.
“At that stage I’d done 30 years of live television. I love it, it’s great, but you have to leave the party before they’re fed up with you.”
She says that Holly Willoughby, who now presents the show with Phil, is great.
“I’m very fond of Holly and she’s very, very good. I think she reflects a lot what’s good with the audience and that’s why the audience like her.”
After she quit her hectic TV schedule, Fern finally had time to establish herself as a novelist. Since 2011, she has released six novels and the good news for fans of her Cornwall-inspired fiction is that she’s already working on the next, due out next year. This means less pressure to be primped for the screen.
“I write in a tiny box room at home, often in my pyjamas and with unwashed hair. I put the phone in the drawer because I can’t bear distractions.
“When I get writer’s block I have a couple of biscuits and a cup of tea and the ideas eventually pop up. Phil has occasionally suggested that I should decamp to Cornwall to write but I’d miss him and the kids too much!” Fern’s new paperback is out now and has just entered the Sunday Times Bestseller list. The Postcard, £7.99, published by HarperCollins