How Fern Britton seduced Phil Vickery as they split after 20 years of marriage

Fern Britton and Phil Vickery have announced they've broken up after 20 years of marriage.

But before it all came to an end, Ferne was very open about how they got together — and even bragged about how she seduced him.

The 62-year-old was a newly single mother-of-three when they met on the set of Ready Steady Cook.

An assistant producer on the show told Fern that Phil, 58, had a crush on her, but she refused to believe it.

The pair shared their first kiss at a party at London Zoo that was held to celebrate the 500th edition of the programme in 1998.

But the kiss was quickly forgotten about when they returned to work and Phil continued to date a researcher on the show.

The following summer Ferne was taking her three children on holiday to Cornwall and Phil persuaded her to stop off at his brasserie in Taunton for dinner.

They met up for their night out but were quickly disturbed by the researcher girlfriend, who had heard about Fern's visit and decided to come along.

Fern stormed out and told him to sort out his problems before they started seeing each other.

Then in September the children were at their dad's house for the weekend and she decided she couldn't wait any longer.

After the Ready Steady Cook cast and crew went out for drinks she demanded he come home with her.

Ferne told the Daily Mail: "He opened the car door and got in, and so did I. He hadn't a clue where I was taking him or what was happening.

"But on the way home something happened. We started laughing and chatting together, and by the time we arrived at the house we had become firm friends - so much so that he ended up staying the night."

The pair were together for two decades after that, but Fern was worried about how he felt about becoming a stepfather to her children.

She told The Telegraph: "The boys were four; Grace hadn't even started toddling. I remember thinking at the time that nobody was going to take on a 40-something woman with three kids.

"Then, one day at work, someone said 'Phil Vickery fancies you.' And I went 'Remind me – which one is he?'

"Eventually, I kidnapped him, put him and his dirty washing – he was single at the time – in my car and drove him home. The next day, he baked me his irresistible gooseberry crumble."