After decades of dieting highs and lows, Fern Britton has finally found a formula that works — and she insists it’s all natural.
The TV legend, now 68, has spoken candidly about fluctuating between a size 22 and a size 12 over the years. But since stepping away from This Morning and embracing a quieter, more grounded life in Cornwall, Fern says she has “taken back control” — shedding an astonishing five stone in the process.
Addressing persistent whispers about weight-loss injections, Fern was unequivocal when she spoke to Woman&Home. People often ask if dramatic weight loss is natural, she said — and she can look them in the eye and say yes, it is.
A turning point after surgery
A shoulder operation a couple of years ago forced Fern into a moment of reckoning. Lying in bed feeling sorry for herself was no longer an option. She decided to stop smoking, stop drinking, rein in her eating and, crucially, move again.
That decision led her to Couch to 5K, the beginner-friendly running programme designed to build fitness from scratch. By September, Fern stunned even herself, sharing that she had completed 40 minutes of continuous running — covering 6.5km in one session. She admitted she “couldn’t believe it” and joked that it was “a bit good”.
Strength over skinny
Running was only part of the story. Fern also embraced strength training at home, regularly lifting dumbbells and barbells, proudly posting sweaty selfies with a grin. Her goal wasn’t thinness — it was power.
That mindset shift carries deep emotional weight. In a previous interview, Fern reflected on surviving sepsis in 2016 following a hysterectomy. She said she was close to dying — yet years later, her legs, arms and core are stronger than ever. Her message was simple and defiant: the body can come back.
Cutting sugar, not joy
Diet-wise, Fern didn’t starve herself. Instead, she cut around 80% of her sugar intake and began thinking about food properly for the first time in her life. Three sensible meals a day became non-negotiable — especially during active trips like her cycling holiday in Italy, where fuel mattered more than restriction.
Fans have flooded her posts with praise, marvelling at her energy, confidence and age-defying glow. Fern, meanwhile, seems focused less on numbers and more on freedom — moving, writing, cycling, and living well on her own terms.