Fern Britton has shared why she has no desire to date again after splitting from her husband Phil Vickey.
The former This Morning presenter has lived in Cornwall since splitting from chef Phil in 2020 after 20 years of marriage. Fern says she hasn't even had time to unpack all her stuff since moving from the family home in Buckinghamshire.
Speaking to PA, Fern said: "The move to Cornwall filled up the house with so much stuff, I can't find the bikes. I haven't unpacked fully in the last two years. The garage is still full of boxes, but I'm so busy doing things. There's more to life than emptying the garage."
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During the pandemic, Fern lived with her daughters, Grace (from her first marriage) and Winnie (from her marriage to Phil), while her older twin sons Harry and Jack have flown the nest.
But despite the tough two years, Fern says she has no particular desire to start dating again. She said: "I've got lovely friends and I have a lovely social life, which is quite enough for me. I like to be in bed at nine o'clock - it's great."
She's also not quite ready for grandchildren. Fern added: "My grandson is my little dog, a Chihuahua. I'd like grandchildren eventually but I don't want to force my children into having children just for me. And I'm not quite ready to take up granny duties yet. I'm enjoying my life."
With age, Fern says her outlook has changed a bit. She said: "I don't think you carry the burden of youth anymore - the 'Am I pretty enough? Do I look all right in this? Do they like me?' That all just melts away and you think, 'Thank God I'm alive! It's lovely."
Fern has spent much of the last two years researching her latest novel, The Good Servant, a royal tale of fiction with a factual backdrop.
"The pandemic helped because I had all the time and nobody ringing up. It was a pleasure to sit and read and research. It made me want to go to university and do my history degree, which I never did."
The 538-page story centres on Marion Crawford, devoted governess to Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret (the current Queen and her late sister) for 11 years from 1936 to 1947.
The story sees Crawfie, as she was nicknamed, become a companion to the future Queen and an important employee until she meets and falls in love with shady ex-army divorcee George Buthlay, 16 years her senior. An alcoholic and womaniser, he is not painted in a good light in this fictional tale.
Fern also has another three books on the cards - she's currently working on the next one, which will return to Cornwall, a regular setting of her previous novels. And in September she'll be doing another series of My Cornwall for Channel 5.
The Good Servant by Fern Britton is published by HarperCollins, priced £14.99. Available now.
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