EXCLUSIVE: ‘Heartbroken’ Fern Britton is left ‘dumbstruck’ as ex-husband Phil Vickery is seen kissing her best friend as her social media is awash with evidence of trio’s years-long close friendship
- Fern was ‘dumbstruck’ as pictures emerged of Phil kissing her close friend Lorraine Stanton on Wednesday
- The romance comes two years after they announced their split in 2020 after spending 20 years together
- Fern and Lorraine enjoyed a girls’ trip four months before Fern announced her split from Phil
- According to onlookers Phil and Lorraine were ‘behaving like teenagers’ after leaving a fancy London hotel
Fern Britton is said to be ‘heartbroken and dumbstruck’ as pictures have emerged of her ex-husband Phil Vickery kissing her best friend, MailOnline can reveal.
On Wednesday, the TV chef, 61, was seen passionately kissing Lorraine Stanton, 58, who is close pals with former This Morning presenter Fern, 65.
The trio’s tightknit friendship is evident in an awash of social media snaps that has documented their close bond over the years.
Fern and Phil announced their split January 2020, with the pair both tweeting in matching statements: ‘After more than 20 happy years together, [we] have decided to go our separate ways. We will always share a great friendship and our lovely children.
‘We would appreciate it if our privacy is respected at this time. Thank you for your continued kindness and support.’
Exclusive: ‘Heartbroken’ Fern Britton is left ‘dumbstruck’ as ex-husband Phil Vickery is seen kissing her best friend as her social media is awash with evidence of trio’s years-long close friendship (Lorraine, Phil and Fern pictured together in 2017)
Four months prior to announcing her divorce, Fern and Lorraine enjoyed a bike ride with friends in Lake Windermere in September 2019 with pictures of the pair shared on social media.
Prior to their trip there were plenty of pictures of the pair enjoying days out, but since then the duo have not appeared in a group picture.
Fern still follows Lorraine’s Instagram page, whose bio reads: ‘Cherish your yesterday’s, dream your tomorrows, but live for today oh yes!’
According to The Sun, who obtained pictures of Lorraine and Phil kissing, the new couple were on a date and were seen leaving the hotel together with overnight bags in their hands.
A friend close to Fern told the publication: ‘They look like teenagers in love and that will be just so hurtful for Fern. Behaving this way in public will feel like a betrayal.’
Phil and Lorraine, a former general manager of a restaurant, couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they reportedly stopped twice in the street to share a kiss.
Final photograph together: Four months prior to announcing her divorce, Fern and Lorraine enjoyed a bike ride with friends in Lake Windermere in September 2019 with pictures of the pair shared on social media
Live for today: Fern still follows Lorraine’s Instagram page, whose bio reads: ‘Cherish your yesterday’s, dream your tomorrows, but live for today oh yes!’
New couple? On Wednesday, the TV chef, 61, was seen passionately kissing Lorraine Stanton, 58, who has been close friends with Fern, 65, for years (pictured together in 2016)
Lorraine has been close with Fern, 65, for years and they have documented their friendship on Instagram and Facebook.
Fern and Phil split in 2020 after 20 years together and Phil’s new public love comes weeks after the TV star revealed she struggled with her marriage breakdown.
An insider said: ‘Phil and Lorraine kissing on the street like this will be heartbreaking for poor Fern. They look like teenagers in love and that will be just so hurtful for her.’
‘They are two of the most important people in her life and them behaving this way in public will feel like a betrayal.’
Phil was last seen on TV on Tuesday morning, serving a sausage tray bake during a This Morning segment with Take That’s Mark Owen.
The news outlet have reported that Phil stayed in a flat after filming and the following morning he was seen walking around the capital with Lorraine.
Separated: After the pair called time on their 20 year marriage in 2020, she has also said: ‘I don’t want to be the poster girl for separation’ (pictured together in 2007)
Just two months ago in July, Fern spoke about how she wished she could’ve ‘persevered’ at their marriage, during a new interview with Prima Magazine.
Fern said she ‘doesn’t want to be the poster girl for separate’, and explained that many couples experience their relationship coming to a natural end.
Reflecting on her tough but amicable split, she said: ‘This new chapter has come at the right time for me. I don’t want to be the poster girl for separation, though, because a lot of people go through the same thing.
‘Often, the children leave home and you look at each other and go, ‘Ah, where do we go from here?’ I only wish I was the sort of person who could have persevered through that, but I couldn’t,’ she explained.
Breaking the girl code? Lorraine has been close with Fern, 65, for years and they have documented their friendship on Instagram (pictured together in 2017)
Cosy: According to onlookers Phil and Lorraine, a former general manager of a restaurant, couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they reportedly stopped twice in the street to share a kiss (pictured in 2014)
The pair share one daughter, Winnie, 20, while Fern is mum to twins Jack and Harry, and daughter Grace – who she shares with ex-husband Clive Jones.
She and Phil called time on their long term marriage after realising it had ‘run its course’ – as they were left living solo when their brood flew the nest.
Fern has previously explained how difficult it is to ‘bounce back’ from a divorce, sharing back in March that the ‘rebound is difficult’.
And it seems she’s still steering clear of dating for the moment, explaining how important her own space is.
The TV personality told Prima: ‘I’m not considering dating right now. I haven’t been seeing anyone and nobody has approached me, which is nice, too.
‘If someone came along who was lovely and kind and we didn’t have to live together – if he had his life and I had mine – that might be perfect.
New love: The TV chef, 61, was pictured passionately kissing Lorraine Stanton (pictured), 58, who has been close friends with presenter Fern for year
Concluding: ‘But on the other hand, life is pretty bloody perfect right now and I’m happy with my company, so meeting someone would simply be icing on the cake.’
Fern announced her split from Phil in January 2020, with the pair both tweeting in matching statements: ‘After more than 20 happy years together, [we] have decided to go our separate ways. We will always share a great friendship and our lovely children.
‘We would appreciate it if our privacy is respected at this time. Thank you for your continued kindness and support. [sic]’
Struggles: Fern has previously explained how difficult it is to ‘bounce back’ from a divorce, sharing back in March that the ‘rebound is difficult’ (pictured in 2015)
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