EXCLUSIVE: TV chef Phil Vickery basks in the sun at flower Show with his ex-wife Fern Britton’s pal Lorraine Spanton – almost a year after THOSE kissing snaps

When TV chef Phil Vickery was spotted kissing Lorraine Spanton, the best friend of his second ex-wife, Fern Britton, in London last September, the act was deemed forbidden.

But that humiliation appeared to be a distant memory yesterday as the This Morning star, 62, basked in the sun at the Southport Flower Show.

Sitting barely a spatula’s length away from him was Lorraine, 58, who kept her eyes concealed behind sunglasses.

‘They spent the day together,’ a visitor to the show tells me, adding that Lorraine watched admiringly as Phil cooked in front of an audience.

‘When Phil had finished, they went for a coffee,’ says my green-fingered informant, ‘and then for a beer.’

Vickery was spotted kissing Spanton, the best friend of his second ex-wife, Fern Britton, in London last September

Fern Britton and Phil Vickery are pictured together in April 2017

Vickery is seen smiling as he looks at Stanton during their outing at the Southport Flower Show

But the pair refrained from indulging in any public display of affection which might have been open to misinterpretation — as was the case last year when they were forced to deny speculation of a romance. 

On that occasion, Vickery, who parted company from Britton, 66, three and a half years ago, was adamant their meeting was innocent.

Asked about a potential new romance, he said of Lorraine, who has worked in hospitality and has two children with estranged husband Simon: ‘She’s just a friend. We’re just mates having lunch, for goodness’ sake.’

Lorraine last year admitted she has moved out of her marital home but insisted ‘it was nothing to do with the incident over the pictures’.

Meanwhile Fern, who left her daytime TV role on This Morning in 2009, was far from a woman scorned over the pictures. She dismissed any speculation of a relationship between the pair as ‘not true’. I wonder what she’ll say this time…

A representative for Vickery was unavailable for comment.

Vickery and Stanton were all smiles while they sat together at the flower show on Tuesday

Stanton is smiling as she gazes at Vickery during their outing

Stanton appears to be showing Vickery, who is carrying a box, a document as the pair walk together