Fern Britton’s ex-husband Phil Vickery was seen kissing her best friend in the street in new images taken leaving a fancy London hotel on Wednesday.
The TV chef, 61, was pictured passionately kissing Lorraine Stanton, 58, who has been close friends with presenter Fern for years, in pictures obtained by The Sun.
According to the publication, the new couple were on a date and were seen leaving the hotel together with overnight bags in their hands.
A friend close to Fern told the Sun: ‘They look like teenagers in love and that will be just so hurtful for Fern. Behaving this way in public will feel like a betrayal.’
Heartbreaking? Fern Britton’s ex-husband Phil Vickery was seen kissing her best friend in the street in new images taken leaving a fancy London hotel on Wednesday
Close: Lorraine pictured with Phil in a throwback social media image – the pair have known one another for years
Phil and Lorraine , a former general manager of a restaurant, couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they reportedly stopped twice in the street to share a kiss.
Lorraine has been close with Fern, 65, for years and they have documented their friendship on Instagram.
Fern and Phil split in 2020 after 20 years together and Phil’s new public love comes weeks after the TV star revealed she struggled with her marriage breakdown.
An insider said: ‘Phil and Lorraine kissing on the street like this will be heartbreaking for poor Fern. They look like teenagers in love and that will be just so hurtful for her.’
Breaking the girl code? Lorraine has been close with Fern, 65, for years and they have documented their friendship on Instagram
‘They are two of the most important people in her life and them behaving this way in public will feel like a betrayal.’
Phil was last seen on TV on Tuesday morning, serving a sausage tray bake during a This Morning segment with Take That’s Mark Owen.
The news outlet have reported that Phil stayed in a flat after filming and the following morning he was seen walking around the capital with Lorraine.
Just two months ago in July, Fern spoke about how she wished she could’ve ‘persevered’ at their marriage, during a new interview with Prima Magazine.
New love: The TV chef, 61, was pictured passionately kissing Lorraine Stanton (pictured), 58, who has been close friends with presenter Fern for years, in pictures obtained by The Sun
Fern said she ‘doesn’t want to be the poster girl for separate’, and explained that many couples experience their relationship coming to a natural end.
Reflecting on her tough but amicable split, she said: ‘This new chapter has come at the right time for me. I don’t want to be the poster girl for separation, though, because a lot of people go through the same thing.
‘Often, the children leave home and you look at each other and go, ‘Ah, where do we go from here?’ I only wish I was the sort of person who could have persevered through that, but I couldn’t,’ she explained.
The pair share one daughter, Winnie, 20, while Fern is mum to twins Jack and Harry, and daughter Grace – who she shares with ex-husband Clive Jones.
Seperated: After the pair called time on their 20 year marriage in 2020, she has also said: ‘I don’t want to be the poster girl for separation’ (pictured together in 2007)
She and Phil called time on their long term marriage after realising it had ‘run its course’ – as they were left living solo when their brood flew the nest.
Fern has previously explained how difficult it is to ‘bounce back’ from a divorce, sharing back in March that the ‘rebound is difficult’.
And it seems she’s still steering clear of dating for the moment, explaining how important her own space is.
The TV personality told Prima: ‘I’m not considering dating right now. I haven’t been seeing anyone and nobody has approached me, which is nice, too.
‘If someone came along who was lovely and kind and we didn’t have to live together – if he had his life and I had mine – that might be perfect.
Concluding: ‘But on the other hand, life is pretty bloody perfect right now and I’m happy with my company, so meeting someone would simply be icing on the cake.’
Fern announced her split from Phil in January 2020, with the pair both tweeting in matching statements: ‘After more than 20 happy years together, [we] have decided to go our separate ways. We will always share a great friendship and our lovely children.
‘We would appreciate it if our privacy is respected at this time. Thank you for your continued kindness and support. [sic]’
Struggles: Fern has previously explained how difficult it is to ‘bounce back’ from a divorce, sharing back in March that the ‘rebound is difficult’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk