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'I didn't lie...there are some things a girl likes to keep to herself', says unrepentant Fern Britton
Last updated at 16:59pm on 02.06.08Related links
An unrepentant Fern Britton has finally come clean to the viewing public after it was revealed she had lied about how she achieved her massive weight loss.
She had claimed her new slimline figure was down to healthy eating and sheer hard work.
But today on This Morning, Fern dismissed the furore, and insisted she DIDN'T lie, and said 'there are some things a girl likes to keep to herself'.
Unrepentant: Fern Britton, seen in London filming today was defiant over the revelation that she kept her gastric band op secret - and insisted she didn't lie
Yesterday Fern, 50, was forced to admit her svelte look was in fact the result of the gastric band surgery.
She said she was credited with making sweeping statements about her weight-loss, but that what she had said was that she was eating healthily and exercising, which was not untrue.
Fern explained to the This Morning audience that she was forced to come clean after her representative - who didn't know she had had the operation - called her to say that the News of the World were going to run a story on her having had a gastric band operation.
He then told Fern: 'How preposterous is that?'
She then admitted to her agent: 'Well actually it's not preposterous because I have had it done'.
Coming clean: This Morning pesenter Fern Britton explained on today's show 'there are some things a girl likes to keep to herself' as the reason why she kept it secret that she had a gastric band fitted two years ago
After co-presenter Phillip Schofield asked how the mother-of-four was feeling, she said: 'I'm actually fine, hungry obviously.'
'But I would just like to clear something up. Yes, yes, two years ago I had a gastric band, and do you know what I did it for me, because I wanted to.
'I didn't feel that I had the need to ring around and let everyone know, in fact only five people knew, including my husband obviously.
'So then all the magazine's started printing all these articles saying all this stuff and a lot of it was not actually from my lips.
'So anything you've read that has anything I've said about image, diet, bla bla bla, I haven't said. Because I've very carefully for the last two years said yes I eat less and exercise more which is absolutely true.'
Hungry: Contrite Fern told Philip she was hungry when he asked her how she was
Then, the typically giggly presenter made light of the situation, quipping: 'Please tell me we've got cake on the show because I need fattening up'.
By now she seemed exasperated at having to make such a public announcement and joked: 'The next time I have a facelift or have haemorrhoids I will let you know.'
One viewer however remained incensed at her failure to come clean from the outset:
'She's a liar because the only reason she's admitted it, is because she was going to be exposed anyway. She said she lost the weight through diet and exercise, when she clearly didn't.'
However, the presenter who is married to celebrity chef Phil Vickery, has in the past denied having surgery to help her lose weight, saying it was 'a lot of hard work'.
And her representative told the Daily Mail at the time: 'Fern is happy to say that her weight loss is a consequence of healthy diet and exercise.'
Admission: Fern was forced to admit she had a gastric band fitted two years. The picture on the right shows how she looked in 2006
But after a newspaper exposed her secret, she admitted in a statement: 'As I know, many people are interested in my weight loss of the past two years. As interest is so high I'm making public, as a personal choice, that I had a gastric band operation two years ago.
'I did this purely for myself and I would not wish to influence others to do the same. But for me it has worked and I am very pleased with the results.'
The 50-year-old presenter, has dropped from a size 22 to a size 16 after losing around 5st due to the gastric banding operation.
The surgery involves placing a band around the top of the stomach, which limits the amount of food a person can eat.
On average, most patients will lose half their excess weight within two years
Meanwhile, the popular presenter is now facing the sack from Ryvita who reportedly paid her £200,000 a year to be the face of the health food crackers advertising campaign, which has the slogan, "Britton Loves Ryvita".
Facing the axe: Fern is now facing the axe from advertising health food Ryvita
One advertising expert said she now risks being dropped by Ryvita as the head of its Bikini Fit Challenge.
He added: "Ryvita won't be happy - they can't have their brand tainted by a lie."
Fern, who co-presents This Morning, has appeared as herself in advertisements for Ryvita Minis, with one of them showing her head superimposed on the body of a slim woman in her dressing room.
Someone then comes in to dress Fern in a fat suit, before she heads out to the studio.
Former daytime TV presenter Anne Diamond, who was forced to leave the reality show Celebrity Fit Club after complaints that her undeclared gastric band gave her an unfair advantage, today came out in Britton's defence.
She said: "Only ignorant, unfeeling snobs would call Fern a cheat.'
Reader views (11)
I think that Fern is getting off lightly here. If it was another celebrity - say a spice girl or model - lying about having plastic surgery and then making money through advertising deals, tv/mag interviews on account of their "natural turnaround" they would be torn to pieces by the media and public alike. Just because she has a "cosy, lovely, mummy" persona doesn't mean she didn't utilise the lie she'd told and cash in on the fact people looked up to her for losing weight "naturally". I think she should be dropped by Ryvita. Those of you giving supportive comments think about how you'd react to finding out Victoria Beckham had done such a thing!
- Rose, SW London
Couldn't agree more with Lori - we all know and appreciate how hard it is to lose weight and I think Fern looks fantastic, it's not the revelation that she had the band that disappoints me, but the fact that she felt compelled to mislead the public who hold her in genuine affection. Would have had much more respect for her if she had been honest. Whilst I appreciate that there are "some things a girl likes to keep to herself", if you put yourself up in the public arena you know that your life will be scrutinised in the greatest detail. Surely better to be honest from the start than found out in this way.
- Mandy, London, UK
The woman probably has an eating disorder - gastric band surgery is often a last resort for compulsive eaters who cannot be helped by behavioural therapy. I think that this should remain a private matter in this context - she isn't well.
It might improve her image if she were to return her interview fees to the magazines via which she misled readers, but that's a matter for her conscience.
- Rachel, Glarmorgan
Seems like she even lied to her representative! Ryvita should drop her. I'm sure the rest of the public are sick to death of these lies and cheats. Can we just have some honest role models?
They should use some of the British women's cycling team. Victoria Pendleton, Rebecca Romero or Nicole Cooke would give their company a much better image. Pick them up cheap before they win a gold medal!
- James, London, United Kingdom
Why do all you people think that since she is on the telly you have a right to know all about her private life? She lost weight and I m sure it was for her own health reason rather than to give you vultures a good story.
Well done Fern either way you have lost the weight and probably have inspired a lot over fuller women to do the same!
No she didn't lie she does not have to tell anyone anything she does not have to... Go Fern!
- Nicole, Scotland
I totally agree she looks fantastic and its her right to lose weight in whatever way she feels fit, but she was dishonest and made losing weight look a lot easier than it is for those who don't have the wherewithal to have surgery - that's unforgivable. To claim that she had no idea that it would become a big issue is also a falsehood. She's in the public eye and, like it or not, body image is a major issue. All those who think that she was losing weight purely though diet and exercise will be sorely disappointed and will also have lost a lot of respect for her. What a shame.
- Lori, London
She look great big or small, leave her alone you bullies.
- Brian, Swindon
Oh come on everyone! She told porkies about her weight loss. If she wants to spend £7K on a glorified belt which forces her to starve herself well that's as maybe - but she could have at least been honest about it from the start. She may be exercising now, but her gastric band is stopping her excess eating, so the 'i did it with diet and exercise alone' is a lie- she had a medical procedure which would ensure success.
Personally I am disappointed - my mother lost 5st with weightwatchers and that was with healthy eating and exercise (and it took her two years -the same length of time). People like Fern are just plain lazy - they take the easy option and then lie about it. You can lose weight with healthy eating and exercise, its just a shame these celebs are just plain lazy.....
- Kh, London UK
I could not agree more with Bets!
- Mathias, London, UK
I agree somethings are private. Fern said that she is eating healthily and exercising and so she is. She has only spoken the truth.
- Mary, Essex
She looks fantastic! Good for her for trying to lose weight!
If she decides not to disclose the fact she had an operation well frankly it's a private matter.
As for Ryvita droping her - I think that would be a bit hasty. She's a wonderful spokes person, warm and a great role model who is human after all. Tell me anyone who at 50 wouldn't find it hard to loose that much weight? Fern isn't the first nor the last person to do this but I don't see why she has to disclose this information. For all we know she had to lose weight quickly for health issues. No one can judge her and it's ridiculous making this a news worthy story.
- Bets, London
