Fern Britton decides to keep a low profile

Fern Britton decided to lie low this week following the row over her gastric band operation.

The TV host faced allegations of deception after her secret was exposed by the press last weekend. She had previously told viewers that she had lost five stone because she had "just ate a bit healthier and took up cycling to work", neglecting to mention her weight loss surgery.

Though Britton fronted ITV1's This Morning as usual at the beginning of the week, on Tuesday she told her bosses that she wanted time off from the programme until the bad press died down, according to The Sun. Ruth Langsford appeared as a stand-in on Wednesday and Thursday.

A spokesperson for ITV said: "Fern took a couple of days off. She's back on Monday."