Fern Britton on Phillip Schofield coming out as gay: 'I feel for his wife'
FERN BRITTON has paid an emotional tribute to former This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield saying it's "terrible" people have to hide who they are.
Phillip Schofield’s wife cuts his hair whilst in lockdown
Phillip Schofield came out as gay via a statement on Instagram on February 7. And Britton, who worked with the presenter on This Morning for the best part of a decade, has spoken candidly about it in a new interview.
The 62-year-old said she feels for Phillip's family after he came out as gay and thinks it's good that he now feels confident enough to speak about his sexuality.
When asked about the This Morning host coming out, Fern expressed her thoughts about his wife Stephanie Lowe.
The couple, who wed back in 1993, have two daughters: Molly, 27, and 24-year-old Ruby.
"We haven't seen each other for a very long time or spoken for a while," Fern told Dan Wottoon on his talkRADIO Drivetime show.
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"I'm glad for him. It's none of my business. He's getting on really, so, good. It's terrible that people have to hide who they are."
Fern explained it must be "difficult" as she went on to discuss Phillip's wife Steph.
She said: "I feel for his wife. Steph's a lovely girl and, you know, that's difficult - as I've been talking about difficult transitions and processing stuff for me, it will be the same for her."
Fern fronted This Morning with Phillip until 2009, after joining 10 years earlier.
She initially worked alongside John Leslie, after they took over from Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.
Phillip appears still as close as ever to his spouse and children, and regularly shares snaps of them on social media.
The Dancing On Ice host previously released the following words: "With the strength and support of my wife and my daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay."
He went on to give an interview on the famous sofa, to his current co-star Holly Willoughby.
Phillip said he had "never had any secrets" from his wife of 27 years.
"This is not something that has happened quickly. I've had to deal with this in my head for quite some time.
"We have gone through this together. We have been very open and very honest," he went on.
Fern also made a big announcement this year, revealing in January that she and her husband Phil Vickery had split.
Speaking about the couple's separation, Fern admitted that it has been a "sad" time but things have been going "smoothly" for them both.
The presenter said: "We separated at the beginning of the year and fortunately it's all smooth. We just came to the end of the road, you know, which is sad.
"So, I've been adjusting to life as just me to think about, and my two daughters happen to be here because they got stuck in lockdown, happily for me."
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am.