Fern Britton ‘dumbstruck’ by pics of ex Phil Vickery kissing her best friend as shot of three of them together emerges
TV's Phil Vickery and Fern Britton posed together with her best friend at a party years ago - before pictures of him kissing his ex wife's pal emerged.
Hospitality worker Lorraine Stanton, 58, had been bossom buddies with Fern, 65, for decades and also posed for smiling photos with her on a bike ride in Lake Windermere, four months prior to Fern and Phil's divorce.
This Morning couple Phil and Fern split up after 20 years in 2020.
The Sun exclusively revealed his romance with Lorraine Stanton, 58, after photos showed her locking lips with TV chef Phil, 61, in London.
The pair snogged moments after emerging together from his flat on to the street with their overnight bags.
Insiders say the romance has now come as a complete shock to the This Morning favourite.
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They said: "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."
A pal 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."
It comes as a new photos of Phil and Lorraine over the years emerged and also a snap of Fern, Phil and Lorraine together taken in 2017.
The women stand arm-in-arm with Phil who beams with Lorraine as Fern fails to raise a smile.
Fern, who starred in Strictly Come Dancing in 2012, moved to the coast following the break-up while Phil stayed closer to London in the former family pad in Buckinghamshire.
In March Fern told how she missed his friendship.
She said: “We had a wonderful time. We were the best of friends. And I miss that friendship.
“But there comes a point when the children are substantially off your hands and you look at each other and wonder where you are going to go from here.”
Before Fern and Phil split, Lorraine was regularly sending flirty messages on Twitter, including her messaging him, “Merry Christmas chef.”
In 2019 Lorraine penned an online article in which she said she lived in the Lake District.
She bragged of keeping youthful by playing tennis and applying olive oil to her face and knees.
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Fern and Phil announced their separation by posting the same statement on social media, which read: “After more than 20 happy years together, Phil and I 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.”