Fern Britton's Whisky Bond

21 July 2009

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Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield used to drink whisky in her 'This Morning' dressing room.

The TV hosts - who began working with each other full-time after John Leslie left the ITV daytime show in 2002 - resorted to the unusual measure to help their on-screen chemistry.

Fern said: "Every afternoon for about a week after John's departure, Phil and I sat on the floor in my dressing room drinking whisky I'd smuggled in.

I was permanently exhausted. So tired I didn't know where to put myself and it nearly drove me insane. I was barely keeping my head above water. I was permanently drained.

"We told each other everything we could think of about ourselves - things you wouldn't dream of telling someone you'd just met - and it worked. We liked each other hugely and forged a quick friendship."

Fern - who left 'This Morning' last week - also revealed she struggled to deal with the harsh working hours of the job shortly after the birth of her fourth daughter, Winnie, in 2001.

The role saw her leaving the house at 5.30am and taking Winnie with her to work, leaving her permanently tired.

She explained to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I was permanently exhausted. So tired I didn't know where to put myself and it nearly drove me insane. I was barely keeping my head above water. I was permanently drained."

Fern, 52, vowed to quit the show in 2004, but was eventually persuaded to stay after bosses suggested she went part time.

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