Littler Britton Fern is back in a bikini as she hits the beach five stone lighter

She strides confidently down the beach in her bikini, displaying a trim tummy and toned thighs.

Fern Britton, pictured in Cornwall last week, must be feeling that all the fuss over her figure was worth it.

The TV presenter endured widespread criticism after it emerged that she had gastric band surgery.

Before and after: On the left is Fern at a beach back in 2005 and on the right the TV presenter, now five stone lighter and a size 16, on the beach in Cornwall last week

She had, after all, neglected to mention it when congratulated on her dramatic weight loss.

Some viewers felt they had been misled, and Miss Britton, 51, missed four editions of This Morning with 'nervous exhaustion' at the height of the affair.

But despite the fuss  -  and rumours that she had her pay frozen over the issue  -  the operation was an undeniable success.

Summer fun: Fern enjoys the beach in Cornwall

On the beach with her TV chef husband Phil Vickery, she cut a very different figure than she did when photographed in a similar bikini three years ago.

The mother of four even tried some energetic bodysurfing while wearing a wetsuit.

Miss Britton has dropped from a size 22 to a size 16, shedding five stone. She initially said: 'It's taken me two years and a lot of hard work.'

But in May she admitted having had the surgery around two years ago, saying that she was very pleased with the results.

Familiar face: Fern missed four editions of This Morning with 'nervous exhaustion' at the height of the gastric band controversy

Broadcasting chiefs were already at odds with Miss Britton over her planned clothes range.

Since then she has signed a £700,000-a-year deal to stay on at This Morning  -  the same amount as her previous contract.

It was claimed she had been pushing for a 10 per cent pay rise.