Fern Britton has denied long-held rumours that she left This Morning due to a pay row involving her co-host Phillip Schofield.

The pair forged a successful presenting partnership on the ITV show from 2002 and also went on to host All Star Mr & Mrs and The British Soap Awards together until 2009, when she quit all three.

Ever since it has been speculated that Britton and Schofield suffered a behind-the-scenes fallout, possibly due to his alleged superior pay packet, but she has now revealed that her This Morning exit came after she had a gastric band fitted.

"It was all gastric-band gate. It ruffled a few feathers," she told talkRADIO. "I think perhaps I became a bit of a liability to ITV. I really don't know.

"But I know that the day I decided to leave - and I'm not going to get into this now - something happened that morning and I thought, 'I'm done' and ITV went, 'Thanks very much, goodbye'."

Britton went on to deny that Schofield's pay was an issue, but did not address rumours that they had fallen out, adding: "That got into a story and it was not to do with that. I didn't know what Phillip was earning.

"But I knew that I was earning plenty for me and you have to know what is enough for yourself. I'm old-fashioned enough not to question what other people are earning. I was very well looked after."

After her departure, Britton was replaced as Schofield's co-host by Holly Willoughby.