Wednesday, 1 July 2009

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Fern Britton's fear: I'm finished

With no big deals on the horizon, is Fern's TV career behind her?

Fern Britton worries she will have no career after This Morning

After she films the final show of This Morning on 17 July, Fern Britton’s original plan was to take the summer off and spend it with her family. But now she’s panicking that her new TV career post-This Morning is over before it’s even begun.

Notorious workaholic Fern is said to be throwing herself into a rigorous diet and fitness regime in an attempt to keep her mind from straying to the empty months ahead.

As Now reported five weeks ago, the star’s been eating next to nothing to achieve her goal of slimming down to a size 12. But Fern, 51, is hitting a brick wall with the dieting and, unable to shift the final few pounds.

‘She’s dedicating more time to her appearance than anything else. She’s now obsessed with her bingo wings, which isn’t helped by TV stylists who keep putting her in strapless gowns,’ says a source close to Fern. ‘She’s got an exercise regime that’s supposed to tone them up, but it isn’t working fast enough for Fern’s liking.’

Fern’s continuing body obsession has many worried.

This, coupled with her career woes, has many wondering how the busy star will cope in the months ahead – especially if fulfilling work isn’t forthcoming.

‘She’s been alarmed at the lack of new contracts up for grabs,’ says our source. ‘She’s already filmed the BBC panel show As Seen On TV with Steve Jones. But she’s not the big star as previously billed – it’s very much Steve’s show and she’s just a team captain – but those are the jobs she gets offered, either as a game show panelist, host or interviewee.’

Last week, Fern was forced to sign up for another series of All Star Mr And Mrs with her This Morning co-presenter Phillip Schofield.

‘This would’ve been Fern’s last choice as she doesn’t want to be in Phillip’s shadow again after spending years with the man dubbed “The Emperor” on This Morning.'

Tired from her 4am starts for This Morning, there’s no doubt Fern needs a break, but it’s hard to see her quietly retreating to the family home in Holmer Green, Buckinghamshire, because she’s too ambitious to be out of the loop for long.

Fern’s worried that she may go the same way as ex-GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, who’s seen several TV projects fall through since she left the show in December 2008. Fern fears it could also happen to her because of the wages she’d expect after earning £750,000 a year on This Morning.

See the full story about Fern Britton - and the latest photos - in Now magazine dated 6 July 2009 - out now!