Fern Britton quits This Morning

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Fern Britton has quit This Morning after 10 years on the show.

The presenter will leave the programme at the end of the current series, according to a statement on the ITV website.

The 51-year-old said: "After 10 years with This Morning, I have decided to leave the show at the end of the current series. I will present my last show on July 17, my birthday, which seems somehow appropriate. The This Morning team are simply the best and I will miss them all very much but I am looking forward to the freedom of exploring other things I want to do, and also spend more time with my wonderful family. So, many thank yous to all our viewers who have shown me so much kindness and loyalty."

Co-presenter Phillip Schofield said he wished Fern well for the future and looked forward to starting the new series in the autumn.

"I'm obviously very sad that, after 10 triumphant years on This Morning, Fern has decided to leave the sofa," he said on his website.

"I've been lucky enough to work with her for six of those years and can honestly say that they have been amongst the best of my career. We have cried together over stories and we have laughed ourselves breathless too.

"From day one we just 'clicked' and I'm really proud of what we have achieved together on the show."

Taken from The Belfast Telegraph