Celebrity chef Phil Vickery has addressed the photos of him sharing a kiss with ex-wife Fern Britton’s pal
(Picture: Getty Images)TV chef Phil Vickery has broken his silence after he was pictured kissing ex-wife Fern Britton’s close pal, insisting that she’s “just a friend”.
The 61-year-old was seen in photos obtained by The Sun sharing a kiss with Lorraine Stanton last month as the pair left a hotel together in London.
It’s since been reported by MailOnline that Stanton, 58, has moved out of her marital home shared with husband Simon and their two children due to a “separate incident”, fuelling speculation she has entered a new romance with Vickery.
The This Morning star has quashed these rumours, telling the publication: “Could not possibly comment on that because she’s just a friend.”
Vickery went on to say: “We’re just mates having lunch for goodness sake.”
When asked if his explanation of the photos satisfied Britton, Vickery added: “Yes, she put a tweet out. There you go, we’re friends.”
Vickery and Britton were married for 20 years before they announced their split in January 2020.
A source told The Sun Britton, 65, was left “heartbroken” over the released photos, before Britton stated on Twitter that the reports of a romance between her ex-husband and best friend were “not true”.
Stanton is seen in various photos shared on social media with Vickery and Britton together and separately at functions over the years, and she and Britton still follow each other on Instagram.
Britton and Stanton were last pictured together in September 2019 in Windermere, Cumbria, where Lorraine lives.
MailOnline reported that Britton’s response to the pictures was formed as a coping and minimising measure.
Their source explained: “Fern finds the situation weird and awkward and has learned that Lorraine is clearly not a great mate.
“She’s shocked and is struggling to process her mixed emotions. On the one hand she had felt like she’d moved on from Phil but she hadn’t expected this new romance and it’s been hard to see.”
Stanton has said that she and her family are currently going through “a tough period”, as she spoke out following the photos.
She told MailOnline: “It’s a difficult time for me and the family. I don’t actually live in the marital home anymore and it’s got nothing to do with the latest incident over the pictures.
“We are going through a grieving period as a family, and I’ve also just lost my step father. My children are feeling very vulnerable, and they are very upset about the whole situation.”
Stanton didn’t disclose to the publication her present living arrangements following her move, nor did speak any more on the pictures.
