Phillip Schofield's lonely Morning

10-06-2008 13:00

Phillip Schofield will present 'This Morning' alone today (10.06.08).

His co-presenter Fern Britton has taken time off from the show following the backlash from the revelation she had secretly had a gastric band fitted to lose weight.

Ruth Langsford has been covering for Fern, but has other commitments today and so Phillip will take the helm on the ITV1 show alone.

Fern is said to be suffering from "nervous exhaustion" and show chiefs do not know when she will return.

She is very down and we're very worried about her. She feels she has let her fans down.

A friend of the presenter - who described her as being "at rock bottom" - said: "She is very down and we're very worried about her. She feels she has let her fans down."

Another source said that Fern will eventually be back on screen, claiming: "She has not offered to resign, she's just getting her head back together after a torrid week."

Fern had previously claimed her slimmer figure was down to diet and exercise, leading to widespread criticism when the true reason for her weight-loss was revealed.