Fern Britton has announced today that she’s quitting This Morning – and it’s rumoured to be due to rows over co-host Phillip Schofield’s success. “After ten years with This Morning, I have decided to leave the show at the end of the current series,” she says in a statement released this afternoon. “I will present my last show on July 17th, my birthday, which seems somehow appropriate. The This Morning team are simply the best and I will miss them all very much, but I am looking forward to the freedom of exploring other things I want to do, and also spending more time with my wonderful family. So, many thank yous to all our viewers who have shown me so much kindness and loyalty.” Sources on the show say Pip’s success away from the show, such as his job presenting Dancing On Ice, has angered Fern, along with the huge furore that erupted at ITV when it emerged that she’d had gastric band surgery. “I know it has been a big source of irritation to her that Phil has become the big prime time star and she hasn't, and he is on a lot more money than her,” says one insider. “Because she felt the whole world had gone against her over the gastric band thing, whether she has conflated him in that as well. Although I thought he was very supportive of her. You can never tell her mind though.” Interesting stuff. There are now rumours that she’ll get herself a job at the BBC, while Ruth Langsford, who covers for Fern when she’s away, and ex-GMTV lady Fiona Philips are both said to be in the frame for the This Morning job. We can only imagine all the bitching and speculation that’s going on behind the scenes at ITV today – while Philip Schofield has Twittered about the drama (“I have a feeling that today could be an interesting day,” he wrote this morning before the show) and written the following statement in his official blog: “I’m obviously very sad that after 10 triumphant years on This Morning Fern has decided to leave the sofa. I’ve been lucky enough to work with her for 6 of those years and can honestly say that they have been amongst the best of my career. We have cried together over stories and we have laughed ourselves breathless too. From day one we just ‘clicked’ and I’m really proud of what we have achieved together on the show. I wish Fern all the very best, lots of love, and hope she can get a few well deserved lie-ins. I will look forward to launching the new series in September, with a new partner, who I’m sure will enjoy the uniqueness of This Morning, the wonderful team in the studio and our loyal viewers who are there for us every day.” Aww, what a nice man. So, are you shocked that Fern has quit – and who do you think should get her job?