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Tuesday, 5 August 2008

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Fern Britton falls apart

Distraught over her diet lie mistake, work worries mean a grim summer for the TV presenter

Fern Britton won't return to This Morning until 29 August

Taking a summer break from This Morning, Fern Britton should be relaxing away from the cameras.

The 50-year-old won’t return to the show until 29 August, but she’s taking a huge amount of stress home with her.

Having publicly admitted to a battle with depression in the past, life’s been tough for Fern since she was exposed as a diet cheat.

‘If Fern could turn back the clock, she would,’ a source tells Now. ‘She never expected the backlash to be this bad.’

Fern had to take a small pay cut from ITV when she signed a new £1.2 million, two-year contract three weeks ago, for 4 rather than 3 days a week, which she’s always wanted.

Losing her status as TV gold dust has taken Fern down a peg. ‘It’s made her look at things differently,’ another source says. ‘Now she’ll work every hour God sends.’

Although This Morning has ultimately backed Fern, ITV hasn’t been 100 per cent supportive and we can confirm that she’s definitely been banned by the channel from launching her own range of clothing for larger women.

The summer break off screen isn’t likely to give Fern the relief she needs. She suffers from terrible mood swings, so much so that her husband – TV chef Phil Vickery – is said to have had to coordinate his work schedule to help her cope with bouts of depression. This has put a strain on their relationship as he has his own business to run.

See the full story and shocking photos in Now magazine dated 11 August 2008 - out now!

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