TV star has revealed the brutal way in which her ex husband Phil Vickery cut contact with her after their split, but sadly tragedy struck long before their estrangment.

Fern and Phil, who met on the set of Ready Steady Cook and married in 2000, were known as one of television's most enduring partnerships before announcing their break-up to the surprise of many in 2020.

Speaking to that year, heartbroken Fern revealed the personal struggles that led to their separation, as she explained: "My mum died and my father died and unfortunately Phil and I fell apart."

Her mother, Ruth, sadly passed away in April 2018, with her father, Tony, following in December 2019, leaving her at rock bottom.

And this week, five years on from their split, after her mum died. In a new interview with Yours magazine. She said: "He hasn't spoken to me for six years now. As soon as my mum died, he stopped talking to me."

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The TV presenter, 67, insists she tries "very hard" not to say anything negative about Phil for the sake of their 23-year-old daughter Winnie. She said: "Winnie adores him. I'm not going to bad-mouth him in front of her; at least, I try very hard not to. I was the child of divorced parents and my mum never bad-mouthed my father."

After her split from the chef, Fern opened up in an interview with the and reflected on her struggles. She shared: "Life had knocked me for six".

She recounted times despair, explaining: "I remember endless days of indolence, not being able to go anywhere, not doing anything, not wanting to get out of bed."

Opening up further about life post-divorce, she said: "I'm rebuilt and I'm doing okay. I was lost, then I found a bit of purpose again and it's been lovely."

While appearing on the Book Club podcast in 2021, Fern also reflected on the huge personal losses she's suffered. She said: "Too much happened in the past couple of years - I've lost my marriage and I moved out of what was our family home."

And later speaking to Woman and Home magazine, Fern explained that the former couple's lives will always be intertwined, revealing: "We simply needed to follow our own paths. Over time we realised we weren't necessarily having the kind of life we once did. It seemed right to say 'thank you' and move on. But we do have a good friendship."

"Phil and I had the greatest fun together and we have the most beautiful daughter together, Winnie... so we will always be connected."

The star added: "Life has changed for me in the last 10 years, especially with my career. So it's lovely to think I can just concentrate on writing, the kids and getting on with life. This feels quite comfortable, and Phil and I knew it was the right thing to do."

Fern has also previously revealed the surprising catalyst for her divorce from her first husband, TV executive Clive Jones. Appearing on the Walking The Dog with Emily Dean podcast, she said: "He had this degree and I don't. I secretly went off and did the Mensa. I lied, I said I was going somewhere else, and it took a day to do this test. I passed - and quite well too.

"Then he was furious so he did it because he's got a huge brain. But he's not a problem solver and he didn't get it. So an immense rift opened."

Fern split from Clive after more than a decade together and the birth of their three kids, twins Jack and Harry and daughter Grace. They called it quits officially in 2000, and later that year, she tied the knot with Phil.

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