TV Host and Book Author Fern Britton talks depression and the secret to her happy married life with husband Phillip Schofield

English television presenter and reality star Fern Britton, best known for her television work with Phillip Schofield on ITV, talked about the secret behind her successful married life.

The famous TV presenter, who rose to fame via her work in BBC One show ‘Ready Steady Cook’, spoke to Mirror about the secret to her marriage with her beloved better half Phil Vickery.

Britton, who suffered from depression and had suicidal tendencies, opened up about how she battled all her shortcomings with the help of her loving husband. The TV personality fell from the height of her much successful career as she began feeling isolated, lonely, exhausted and even thought of resorting to suicide.

But, the worse has passed and Britton successfully came out of the beehive of problems and celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary with her TV chef husband Phil Vickery a few months ago. And all thanks to her husband, Britton, aged 58, has begun a new phase in her life.

The TV show host said: “What’s the secret to a happy marriage? Not hassling each other.

 “We let the other do their own thing, and Phil has a huge life outside cooking because he’s a farmer now.

“So he’s got pigs, his tractor and this, that and the other going on, so if he’s happy, I’m happy, and vice versa.”

She added: “People get so wound up in their image – ‘I am a superstar, you must treat me like this’ – but if you have a real life at home, you don’t need to be like this.

 “If you have someone who loves you and doesn’t mind if you’re hanging over the loo being sick, then that’s all that really matters.”

“I’m so grateful for everything I have now, which is Phil and the kids, and such a happy home life. It sounds so cheesy but as you get older you do appreciate what you have got, not what you haven’t. I’m not greedy in other, superficial ways now.”

The lovely pair has been together since 1999. They first met during her show ‘Ready Steady Cook’, where her dear husband was a resident chef.

It was then that her life changed. The couple has been inseparable ever since and she herself admitted that they were helpless without each other.

Britton was previously married to her first husband, TV executive Clive Jones. Jones was still married when they first started dating. Though Britton broke up with Jones, he did his best her pursue her and even left his wife for her. They tied the knot in 1988 and had three children; twin sons Jack and Harry and daughter Grace. Unfortunately, this lovely woman’s marriage with Jones broke off after a decade. After her divorce, she started seeing Phil. They married in 2000 and welcomed their first daughter, Winnie

The depression that she suffered was the outcome of her divorce with her former husband. She was so heartbroken that she almost took her own life. But, it was Phil who was able to bring her back to the shore.

The Channel 4 host is currently enjoying the status of best-selling author as her first book “Fern: My Story” became Sunday Times Best seller in 2008 and her next novel is on the way.