The former host of ITV’s This Morning moved from Buckinghamshire to Cornwall in 2020 after the death of her parents and a public divorce.  

However, Fern Britton was targeted by stalker James Haviland after moving to the fishing port of Padstow, with the 63-year-old driving 200 miles to “be close to her”, according to The Sun newspaper.

Haviland admitted last week that he had stalked Britton for two years including sending her cards and flowers and spending a week renting her Cornwall holiday cottage before he was reported to the police.

The 63-year-old offender appeared at Bodmin magistrates’ court via video link last week and admitted to the offence of stalking without fear, alarm or distress between November 2021 and September 2023.

Britton was called “Haviland’s victim” by prosecutor Samantha Rogers, who The Sun reports said: “Over a prolonged period he sent flowers, stayed in a particular village moving closer to she lives and stayed in a cottage that she owns.”

Haviland has been bailed and will be sentenced at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on June 18.

The TV presenter moved out of the home she shared with ex-husband Phil Vickery in Chalfont St Peter after their marriage dissolved.

Britton and Vickery both appeared on This Morning, which Britton fronted for a decade from 1999 and which Vickery joined as a chef in 2006.

After the couple announced their shock separation in January 2020, Britton spoke about starting a new chapter in her life.

She said: “I’m not afraid of change. The last three years have been very hard. I lost my parents, I lost my marriage.

“I lost my other home in Buckinghamshire, too, because Phil lives there now and I’m in Cornwall.

“But the magic I’ve found here is incredible. I’ve made some wonderful girlfriends - that’s been a lovely surprise.”