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7:17am Friday 29th August 2008
Southampton TV presenter Fiona Phillips is leaving GMTV after 12 years to devote more time to her children and her elderly father, her agent confirmed.
The 47-year-old former Millbrook School pupil will leave the programme at the end of this year.
In a statement released by GMTV she said it had been "the hardest decision I have ever made".
"I love the job but I've got other responsibilities - the children, a home life and an elderly dad who needs me - and I've recognised that I can't have it all," she said.
Ms Phillips has been the breakfast show's main anchor since 1996.
She joined the show in 1993 as entertainment correspondent and spent two years in the US as the LA correspondent before landing the top job on the sofa.
Despite her departure the presenter will not be disappearing from our screens entirely. Her agent said last night: "Fiona is leaving GMTV but she is not leaving television."
The presenter is married to the programme editor Martin Frizell and the couple have two sons Nathanial, 9 and Mackenzie, 6.
She is leaving midway through a three-year £1.5 million contract.
In her time with the programme she has covered the OJ Simpson trial, the Los Angeles earthquake and interviewed everyone from Brad Pitt to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
She started her career in independent radio working for local stations County Sound, Hereward Radio and Radio Mercury before joining BBC's South and East Weekend Programme as co-presenter.
Dirty old man, says...
7:53am Fri 29 Aug 08
Ted, Southampton says...
8:13am Fri 29 Aug 08
Mike, Soton says...
8:30am Fri 29 Aug 08
smelly, socks says...
8:53am Fri 29 Aug 08
vegasaint, WORK says...
8:55am Fri 29 Aug 08
Wewullywinky, says...
9:03am Fri 29 Aug 08
Simon A, says...
9:05am Fri 29 Aug 08
ossiesaint, at the bar says...
9:17am Fri 29 Aug 08
As it is!, southampton says...
9:34am Fri 29 Aug 08
Dave, says...
9:39am Fri 29 Aug 08
JANE ERRIDGE wrote:already has been replaced, Kate is doing a grand job and will probably be better. She is a little more cheeky
GOOD LUCK FIONA IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOU ON G.M.T.V. FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS. YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT ! IT WILL BE HARD TO REPLACE YOU.
Creature Void of Form, says...
9:40am Fri 29 Aug 08
Simon A wrote:it's gotta be the guy with the hook and eye patch.
Shame - she was my favourite member of GMTV. Although, thats like saying who is my favourite member of Al Qaeda
Rock and roll, says...
10:00am Fri 29 Aug 08
toni, says...
10:02am Fri 29 Aug 08
Not quite as it is wrote:So if you work your kids are feral, if your a one parent family your kids are feral, and if you are unemployed your kids are feral, so you cant bloody win then can you.
As it is! wrote:I think the feral kids are more likey to be the produce of the single parent who doesn't work and doesn't care. Just happy her kids are out of the house so they can concentrate on shagging and smoking
She realize's a womans place is at home with the kids! (mind you she can afford to be) this great modern society has given us feral kids who's parents both work and no one knows what the kids are doing. then combine that with the PC (don't cane brigade) lot and we try and live with the result. this is all fact but i am sure plenty of guilt ridden people will argue this just to justify there situation!
Falafel man, says...
10:08am Fri 29 Aug 08
Tony, Southampton says...
10:09am Fri 29 Aug 08
As it is! wrote:Clearly you decided that your place was at home when they were covering English at school.
She realize's a womans place is at home with the kids! (mind you she can afford to be) this great modern society has given us feral kids who's parents both work and no one knows what the kids are doing. then combine that with the PC (don't cane brigade) lot and we try and live with the result. this is all fact but i am sure plenty of guilt ridden people will argue this just to justify there situation!
Not quite as it is, says...
10:10am Fri 29 Aug 08
toni wrote:Not at all, only if you don't care.
Not quite as it is wrote:So if you work your kids are feral, if your a one parent family your kids are feral, and if you are unemployed your kids are feral, so you cant bloody win then can you.As it is! wrote: She realize's a womans place is at home with the kids! (mind you she can afford to be) this great modern society has given us feral kids who's parents both work and no one knows what the kids are doing. then combine that with the PC (don't cane brigade) lot and we try and live with the result. this is all fact but i am sure plenty of guilt ridden people will argue this just to justify there situation!I think the feral kids are more likey to be the produce of the single parent who doesn't work and doesn't care. Just happy her kids are out of the house so they can concentrate on shagging and smoking
the vengeful cabbage, says...
10:39am Fri 29 Aug 08
anon, somewhere says...
11:03am Fri 29 Aug 08
VEGASAINT, WORK says...
11:11am Fri 29 Aug 08
Mike wrote:I WILL TAKE ONE FOR THE BOYS AND OFFER HER MY SERVICES
I can't stick Fiona and Kate Garraway is far better. Trouble is she was quoted this week as saying she wanted another baby and her biological clock is ticking.
100%Southampton, Hampshire says...
12:03pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Jenna, Totton says...
12:31pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Denzil, Soton says...
12:37pm Fri 29 Aug 08
CAROL, Southampton says...
1:10pm Fri 29 Aug 08
George, says...
1:10pm Fri 29 Aug 08
toni wrote:Sure you can win. Simply stop caring if people on the Internet think you're feral
Not quite as it is wrote:So if you work your kids are feral, if your a one parent family your kids are feral, and if you are unemployed your kids are feral, so you cant bloody win then can you.
As it is! wrote:I think the feral kids are more likey to be the produce of the single parent who doesn't work and doesn't care. Just happy her kids are out of the house so they can concentrate on shagging and smoking
She realize's a womans place is at home with the kids! (mind you she can afford to be) this great modern society has given us feral kids who's parents both work and no one knows what the kids are doing. then combine that with the PC (don't cane brigade) lot and we try and live with the result. this is all fact but i am sure plenty of guilt ridden people will argue this just to justify there situation!
Skills, Bishopstoke says...
1:13pm Fri 29 Aug 08
George, says...
1:15pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Skills wrote:I think it's a parody of her reporting style or something.
Why is this even in the news...? Does anyone even care?
Skills, Bishopstoke says...
1:24pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Debra, Waterside says...
1:41pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Ian Hoolihan, says...
1:53pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Skills wrote:yeah but it was stuck upside down and everything!!
It is as interesting as reading about the horse stuck in the ditch....
i know best, dorset says...
1:55pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Rock and roll, says...
1:56pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Debra wrote:Now that's my kind of woman.
She,s going,she,s a waste of space, who cares? I switched over to BBC1 breakfast years ago. I am also fed up with overweight and fed up looking Eamon Holmes, why must we look at this smug overpaid, overrated, talentless lump every time I switch on he,s there. And while Im on my bandwagon "why is Jane Macdonald still gracing our screens, also another product of a reality show, she can,t sing, just another granny,s favourite. Kate Garraway has her head stuck so far up her own ar*e it,s a wonder she can even see past the sofa, ah, I feel much better now.
Mr Real Robber, says...
2:05pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Kate Garraway has her head stuck so far up her own ar*e
sausage monkey, says...
2:16pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Boober, says...
2:30pm Fri 29 Aug 08
MILF hunter, says...
2:43pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Anon, southampton says...
3:06pm Fri 29 Aug 08
ah but, says...
3:09pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Anon wrote:How do you know we've never met her? She is from Millbrook, after all. Besides, anyone who seeks a career in the public spotlight is putting themselves out on display for such criticism. Nature of the beast
Just read most of the messages and I cannot believe what miserable, negative, rude and spiteful comments some of you can make toward a person you've never met!! Good luck Fiona!
Jim Statetheobvious, says...
3:13pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Anon wrote:Rubbish! I can't see any comments here that you'd need to have met her to make. She's a well-known TV celebrity, ergo people are definately in a position to comment on what they think of her as a presenter, what she looks like and whether she's any good at her job
Just read most of the messages and I cannot believe what miserable, negative, rude and spiteful comments some of you can make toward a person you've never met!! Good luck Fiona!
MILF hunter, says...
3:15pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Anon wrote:Milf is a compliment
Just read most of the messages and I cannot believe what miserable, negative, rude and spiteful comments some of you can make toward a person you've never met!! Good luck Fiona!
Jim Statetheobvious, says...
3:21pm Fri 29 Aug 08
MILF hunter wrote:Indeed. Also, someone else mentioned she had nice tits before, but the Echo deleted the post. I think they're trying to portray poor Fiona as some unpopular bint by moderating any positive comments on her. Come on, Echo, that's hardly fair!
Anon wrote:Milf is a compliment
Just read most of the messages and I cannot believe what miserable, negative, rude and spiteful comments some of you can make toward a person you've never met!! Good luck Fiona!
posh, southampton says...
3:31pm Fri 29 Aug 08
gary glitter, warsash says...
3:50pm Fri 29 Aug 08
MILF hunter wrote:please explain the term MILF
MILF 3rd time lucky??
jamal, says...
3:52pm Fri 29 Aug 08
gary glitter wrote:Don't worry about it, Gaz, it's not a term you'd ever use
MILF hunter wrote:please explain the term MILF
MILF 3rd time lucky??
c, says...
3:58pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Rock and roll wrote:lol Overweight, smug, overrated, talentless lump, sounds more like you i think.
Debra wrote:Now that's my kind of woman.
She,s going,she,s a waste of space, who cares? I switched over to BBC1 breakfast years ago. I am also fed up with overweight and fed up looking Eamon Holmes, why must we look at this smug overpaid, overrated, talentless lump every time I switch on he,s there. And while Im on my bandwagon "why is Jane Macdonald still gracing our screens, also another product of a reality show, she can,t sing, just another granny,s favourite. Kate Garraway has her head stuck so far up her own ar*e it,s a wonder she can even see past the sofa, ah, I feel much better now.
Are you reading this "C" ?
Debra has pretty much written your life.
jamal, says...
4:02pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c wrote:You can tell all that from some words on a website? Wow, you're talented, love! Any good at cooking?
Rock and roll wrote:lol Overweight, smug, overrated, talentless lump, sounds more like you i think.
Debra wrote:Now that's my kind of woman.
She,s going,she,s a waste of space, who cares? I switched over to BBC1 breakfast years ago. I am also fed up with overweight and fed up looking Eamon Holmes, why must we look at this smug overpaid, overrated, talentless lump every time I switch on he,s there. And while Im on my bandwagon "why is Jane Macdonald still gracing our screens, also another product of a reality show, she can,t sing, just another granny,s favourite. Kate Garraway has her head stuck so far up her own ar*e it,s a wonder she can even see past the sofa, ah, I feel much better now.
Are you reading this "C" ?
Debra has pretty much written your life.
MILF hunter, says...
4:02pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Jim Statetheobvious wrote:lol...must be an ugly fat bird receiving the reported posts today
MILF hunter wrote:Indeed. Also, someone else mentioned she had nice tits before, but the Echo deleted the post. I think they're trying to portray poor Fiona as some unpopular bint by moderating any positive comments on her. Come on, Echo, that's hardly fair!Anon wrote: Just read most of the messages and I cannot believe what miserable, negative, rude and spiteful comments some of you can make toward a person you've never met!! Good luck Fiona!Milf is a compliment
Lowe and behold, St Marys hotseat says...
4:03pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c wrote:More like your gf
Rock and roll wrote:lol Overweight, smug, overrated, talentless lump, sounds more like you i think.Debra wrote: She,s going,she,s a waste of space, who cares? I switched over to BBC1 breakfast years ago. I am also fed up with overweight and fed up looking Eamon Holmes, why must we look at this smug overpaid, overrated, talentless lump every time I switch on he,s there. And while Im on my bandwagon "why is Jane Macdonald still gracing our screens, also another product of a reality show, she can,t sing, just another granny,s favourite. Kate Garraway has her head stuck so far up her own ar*e it,s a wonder she can even see past the sofa, ah, I feel much better now.Now that's my kind of woman. Are you reading this "C" ? Debra has pretty much written your life.
School boy now grown up, says...
4:42pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Anon wrote:According to my sauce there are 126 boys (now men) who claim to know her well.
Just read most of the messages and I cannot believe what miserable, negative, rude and spiteful comments some of you can make toward a person you've never met!! Good luck Fiona!
Rock and roll, says...
4:50pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c, says...
5:04pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Duh!, says...
5:08pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c wrote:No point calling him a troll, 'c'! His name is rhyming slang after all, and he doesn't exactly deny it! Trolls can be poignant, and right, y'know. They're not all Denzil or kebab man idiots
And what do they call you, Rock and Roll the Troll perhaps
Rock and roll, says...
5:14pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Duh! wrote:Hey "C", so you don't respond to the other posts about the teenage child abandoner, as everyone slapped you down, but you jump in on the FIONA THE BONER number.
c wrote: And what do they call you, Rock and Roll the Troll perhapsNo point calling him a troll, 'c'! His name is rhyming slang after all, and he doesn't exactly deny it! Trolls can be poignant, and right, y'know. They're not all Denzil or kebab man idiots
Duh!, says...
5:23pm Fri 29 Aug 08
you're a size 18
your husband...has a bad back.
c, says...
5:54pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Duh! wrote:i was an 18 idiot and my husbands back is fine now. He also did carry me over the threshold. r&r is an ar#e. So are you.
you're a size 18your husband...has a bad back.Silly sod should've broken tradition and not carried her over the threshold then. No sympathy
c, says...
6:07pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c, says...
6:19pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c, says...
6:21pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c, says...
6:24pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c, says...
6:28pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c wrote:Stop using my name. I'm trying to come out, and you're not making it easy
This also was not posted by me, please if you want to comment use your own name.
c, says...
6:30pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c, says...
6:32pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c wrote:This is my name, you're using it to pretend to be me and spoil everything as usual
Well if you want to come out use you own name not mine.
c, says...
6:35pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c, says...
6:49pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c, says...
6:56pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c, says...
6:57pm Fri 29 Aug 08
c wrote:You have no idea how to handle trolls, do you?
funny how r&r has gone though, been here all day, the mind boggles.
c, says...
7:01pm Fri 29 Aug 08
bambam, woolston says...
7:10pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Rock and roll, says...
7:26pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Fiona Phillips, says...
10:31am Sat 30 Aug 08
King Mush, Woolston says...
1:06am Sun 31 Aug 08
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JANE ERRIDGE, SOUTHAMPTON says...
7:47am Fri 29 Aug 08