Fern Britton opens up about ‘last chance saloon’ having baby at 43

UK television presenter and bestselling author Fern Britten has opened up about the pressure she felt having a child in her 40s

Fern, 64, recently appeared on Kate Thornton’s podcast, White Wine Question Time, where she discussed how she and her former husband, Phil Vickery felt they were in the ‘last chance saloon’ to have a child when she was 43.

Her journey to become a mother when married to her first husband, Clive had come to fruition with the help of IVF. She conceived twins, Jack and Harry, now 28, and went on to have their daughter, Grace, before getting divorced in 1998.

She married television chef Phil in 2000 and the pair felt they were running out of time to have a child

She told Kate: “Anyone who has been through IVF knows about those drugs and the enormity of building your hopes and dashing them. It is extreme.”

She said Grace was a ‘miracle baby’ arriving when the twins were three years old but said it was a bittersweet time as Clive and Fern split just five months after she was born.

A year later she met Phil and married him in 2000, with Grace being just two years old.

Fern and Phil conceived their daughter Winnie a year later, in 2001.

To hear the full podcast, click here.

Did you have a child in your 40s, using IVF or natural conception? We’d love to hear your story, email mystroy@ivfbabble.com.