Hello and welcome to the Midpoint. My guest today is someone who's been part of British television for decades.

Fern Britton is one of the most recognisable and beloved faces on our screens. From Ready, Steady Cook to this morning,

she's entertained and connected with millions of people over the years with her warmth, humour and her extraordinary ability to make everyone feel at ease.

But as many of you will know,

Fern's life hasn't always been straightforward

and she talked with real honesty

about the journey that has brought her to where she is today.

And the next chapter of her life

is one she has very much written herself

as a novelist who's producing work

that readers absolutely love. Her latest book, A Cornish Legacy, is published by Harper Collins. It's out

now and it is a brilliant read. She is a perfect midpoint guest because her story is one of

resilience, reinvention and finding out who you truly are. So I hope you enjoy our warm, funny and deeply honest conversation. Let's go meet her. Fern, it is so lovely to see you. Lovely to see you again. It's so amazing to have you. In the years that we were neighbours, we never saw each other. No. And when we were colleagues, we very rarely bumped into each other. Very rarely. I went to by TV for many years but I always remember the first time I met you properly you gave me a hug and I always described that as

one of the greatest hugs I've ever had oh my word you're just a I mean you are obviously a very warm

and an unbelievably kind of enigmatic person.

You are, you are, and that's what's made you a national treasure. But to get the physical, tangible hug, confirmed it. It was when we were talking about twins, I think maybe you were pregnant or you just had them. I think I just had them. Yes, it. And I just had to give you a twin mum hug. I do remember that. We were standing outside, weren't we? Yeah, it was the orangery, I think, in Kensington Gardens.

Was it somewhere like that?

ITB used to have those Yeah, it was the orangery, I think, in Kensington Gardens.

Was it somewhere like that?

My TV used to have those big, back in the old days when they spent money on things like that. Summer party. Yeah. That's when it was, yes. I wonder if I was expecting Winnie. Anyway. You were probably flooding hormones. There's all babies everywhere, yeah. Anyway, we are now at a very different stage of both of our lives and our children. Child free?

Yeah.

You're... flooding hormones There's always babies everywhere Yeah Anyway we are now at a very different stage of both

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