Ten Things You Never Knew About Fern Britton

Fern Britton has had a rough old month. The popular presenter has faced a barrage of criticism since admitting that she had a gastric band fitted to help her lose weight. But after a few days off to lick her wounds, she was back in the This Morning studio, dispensing daytime chat with the joie de vivre she's brought to the job since stepping into Richard and Judy's shoes in 2001. With a spanking new two-year contract under her belt, there's never been a better time to dish up some tantalising tidbits about the scandal-hit TV star.

1. Fern is the daughter of actor Tony Britton, who famously starred alongside Nigel Havers as father-and-son doctors in '80s sitcom Don't Wait Up. He and Fern's mum Ruth divorced when she was just two years old.

2. Fern briefly worked with a touring theatre company after studying stage management at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

3. Fern started her broadcasting career at Westward Television in Plymouth way back in 1979, where she became the BBC's youngest ever national news presenter. Way to go, Fern!

4. Fern's first husband Clive Jones, former chief exec of ITV News and Regions, left her in 1998 after 12 years of marriage. They have three children, 14-year-old twins Jack and Harry (named after Harrison Ford) and Grace, 11.

5. Fern's sister Cherry is married to children's TV favourite Brian Cant, best known for fronting Play School and Play Away in the 1980s. All together now, 'P-L-A-Y...'

6. Fern has a song named after her - DJ Shitmat's catchily-titled 'The Fern Britton Experience'.

7. Fern suffered such severe postnatal depression after the birth of daughter Grace that she seriously considered killing herself by driving into a brick wall.

8. This Morning co-host Philip Schofield once named Fern as his ideal pinup. His reasons? "She's honest, sexy, sensitive and filthy. What more could you ask for in a woman?" Well, quite.

9. Fern met her second hubby, TV chef Phil Vickery, while presenting Ready Steady Cook in 1994. She credits him with pulling her through the pain of her postnatal depression and divorce, saying: "I was halfway to falling apart. If I hadn’t had Phil in my life, I think I would have done myself in." The couple have seven-year-old daughter Winnie.

10. Fern is frequently sent a perfectly-folded pair of stockings from a secret admirer. Oo-err!