Phillips backs Britton's quit decision

Fiona Phillips has voiced her support for Fern Britton following the TV host's decision to quit This Morning.

Britton announced this week that she will step down from the programme after ten years when the current series ends in the summer.

Meanwhile, Phillips confirmed that she was leaving GMTV in August and fronted her final programme in December. She had been part of the show for twelve years.

Writing in her column for The Mirror, Phillips explained: "When you've been in a job for so long - in my case twelve years and in Fern's ten - you start thinking that if you don't shift your behind from that sofa soon, it'll be stuck there forever.

"Every job has its day, even if it's well-paid and is seen as being glamorous. When you have young children who are rapidly becoming older children with every week that passes, you realise that you will never, ever get that time back - and it makes everything else pale into insignificance."

Britton admitted that she was looking forward to spending more time with her four children when she announced her decision on Wednesday.

Phillips added: "I think that she'll find it's the best decision she's ever made."