Fern Britton Quits This Morning

Fern Britton is to step down from presenting ITV's flagship daytime show This Morning after 10 years in the hot seat. The Mail Online speculates that a desire to emulate the primetime success of co-presenter Phillip Schofield may have contributed to her decision to quit. 

 

Schofield, 46, has just finished his annual stint hosting the massively successful Dancing On Ice and he will be paid three times more than Fern Britton when ITV1's All Star Mr and Mrs returns for a second series later this year.

 

Sources suggest that it put a strain on their co-presenting for This Morning, although she is reported to have been on the verge of quitting in the past due to family commitments.

After the current series comes to an end in July, Fern is planning to pursue new projects and spend more time with her family. "After 10 years with This Morning, I have decided to leave the show at the end of the current series. I will present my last show on July 17th, my birthday, which seems somehow appropriate," she confirmed.

 

"The This Morning team are simply the best and I will miss them all very much but I am looking forward to the freedom of exploring other things I want to do, and also spend more time with my wonderful family. So many thank yous to all our viewers who have shown me so much kindness and loyalty."

 

Alison Sharman, ITV Director of Factual and Daytime, said:

 

"Fern has been a firm viewer favourite for the last decade on This Morning. We would like to thank her for making the show the success it is today and wish her all the very best for her future projects. We will be announcing a new presenter to take Fern's place alongside Phillip Schofield in due course."

 

Fiona Keenaghan, ITV Studios' Controller of Daytime and Lifestyle Features, said:

 

"It has been fantastic to have Fern presenting This Morning and we'd like to thank her for the amazing job she has done. She is one of a kind and the team will miss her when she steps down."