Phil Vickery: The Award-Winning Chef Behind This Morning, Roast Turkey and Gluten-Free Cooking

Elevate New Editorial Team2 days agoLast Updated: July 1, 2026

Phil Vickery is an English celebrity chef, food writer and television personality. He was born on 2 May 1961 in Folkestone, Kent, England. In 2026, he is 65 years old. He is best known for his long service on ITV’s This Morning, where his calm style, clear recipes and useful cooking tips made him a familiar face in British homes.

His career is not built only on television. Before becoming a household name, he worked in serious restaurant kitchens and gained strong respect as a chef. He became known for simple food done well, festive dishes, gluten-free cooking, and meals that ordinary families can make without stress.

Phil Vickery Age and Early Life

Phil Vickery was born in May 1961 in Folkestone, a coastal town in Kent. His full name is Philip Vickery. He grew up in England and entered the food world through kitchen training, not instant fame. At 65, he has spent decades building a career in food. His long working life has covered hotels, restaurants, television studios, cookery books, food brands and charity work. This wide journey explains why many people see him as more than a TV cook. He has real kitchen experience behind his screen work.

Early Training

His first steps in cooking began as a commis chef at the Burlington Hotel in Folkestone. This was the kind of role where young chefs learn discipline, timing, cleaning, basic prep and respect for ingredients. He later worked in respected kitchens, including Michael’s Nook in Grasmere, Gravetye Manor in East Grinstead and Restaurant 74 in Canterbury. These jobs helped him develop the skill and confidence needed for higher-level cooking.

From Kitchen Work to Recognition

His rise was steady. He learned the craft first, then became known. This is one reason his advice feels practical. He has cooked under pressure in real kitchens, not only under studio lights.

Phil Vickery Chef Career

Phil Vickery became widely respected during his time at The Castle Hotel in Taunton, Somerset. He worked there as head chef and helped the restaurant gain major praise. His achievements included a Michelin star and AA Rosettes. This stage of his career matters because it proves his skill beyond television. Many TV cooks become famous for personality. He already had a strong cooking record before he became a regular screen figure.

The Castle Hotel, Taunton

The Castle Hotel became an important part of his story. While working there, he gained recognition for modern British cooking. His food was not built on showy tricks. It focused on taste, care and skill. His time at the hotel also connects with his business history. Companies House records for Philip Vickery include a past role linked with Castle Hotel (Taunton) Limited. The same official record also shows food-related business links, including gluten-free and food companies.

Food Business Work

The Companies House record shows six appointments under Philip Vickery with a May 1961 date of birth. These include names such as Seriously Good Gluten Free Food Ltd, Seriously Good Food Ltd, The Fine Pork Company Limited, Wee Three Pigs Limited, Phil Vickery Limited and Castle Hotel (Taunton) Limited. Most of those companies are now dissolved. The details still show his interest in food products, gluten-free cooking, pork, and professional food work.

Phil Vickery on This Morning

Phil Vickery is most famous for his work on ITV’s This Morning. He has been part of the programme’s food team for many years and is known for recipes that suit real homes. His style is direct and friendly. He does not make cooking feel too grand. He often explains meals in a way that helps people cook with confidence. His dishes range from comfort food and family meals to festive recipes and healthier options.

Why Viewers Trust Him

Viewers trust him because he explains food in simple steps. He talks like someone who wants people to succeed in the kitchen. His recipes usually focus on flavour, value and ease. He is also known for being “tweezer free”, meaning he does not treat food as something too fussy or over-styled. His cooking is more about taste than decoration.

ITV Food Work

His television work has included This Morning, Ready Steady Cook, Save Money Good Diet, pudding shows and other food programmes. These roles made him a strong name in British daytime TV.

Phil Vickery Books and Gluten-Free Cooking

Phil Vickery has written many cookery books. His work includes everyday meals, puddings, budget cooking, gluten-free food, diabetes-friendly dishes, pork, game and family recipes. One of the most important parts of his career is gluten-free cooking. He became closely linked with Coeliac UK and has worked to make gluten-free food more useful and enjoyable.

Coeliac UK Work

Coeliac disease means the body cannot handle gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. For many people, gluten-free cooking can feel hard, dry or dull. He helped change that by creating recipes that still felt normal and enjoyable. His gluten-free books and recipes cover cakes, puddings, bread, main meals and festive dishes. This made him useful to families who needed safe food without losing taste.

Why Gluten-Free Recipes Matter

For people with coeliac disease, food is not only about choice. It is about health. A trusted chef giving clear gluten-free recipes can make daily life easier. This part of his work has given him a deeper role than many other TV chefs.

Phil Vickery Roast Turkey and Turkey Recipe

Phil Vickery is strongly connected with roast turkey, especially at Christmas. His turkey method is one of his best-known festive recipes. Many people look for his turkey advice because Christmas dinner can feel stressful. His method focuses on keeping the meat moist. Turkey can dry out if it is cooked too long or without enough care. His recipe uses liquid, vegetables, tight covering and proper resting to protect the meat.

Main Turkey Method

His well-known turkey recipe often uses a bronze turkey of about 5 kg. It includes carrots, onions, celery, leek, bay leaves, chicken stock, dry white wine, water, butter, seasoning and cornflour for gravy. The bird is placed on vegetables in a roasting tray. Liquid is added, then the tray is covered tightly with baking paper and foil. The tray is brought to the boil before going into the oven. This helps create steam and keeps the turkey tender.

Resting the Turkey

Resting is a key step. Once cooked, the turkey should sit before carving. This lets the juices settle and helps the meat stay soft. The gravy can then be made from the cooking liquid and tray juices.

Phil Vickery Wife and Ex-Wife

Phil Vickery does not have a publicly confirmed current wife. His best-known marriage was to television presenter Fern Britton. They married in 2000 and separated in January 2020 after about 20 years together. Their marriage was well known because both worked in television. Fern Britton became one of Britain’s most loved daytime presenters, while he was a respected chef on the same TV landscape.

Fern Britton

Fern Britton is a British television presenter and author. She is known for This Morning, Ready Steady Cook and her writing career. Her marriage to the chef drew attention because they were both familiar faces to UK viewers. The couple share one daughter, Winnie Vickery, born in 2001. Winnie has kept a much quieter life than her parents.

Sarah Ann Lock

Before marrying Fern Britton, he was married to Sarah Ann Lock. That marriage ended before his second marriage. Sarah Ann Lock is not a major media figure, so fewer details are widely shared about that part of his life.

Family Life

His family story includes two marriages and one daughter. His link with Fern Britton remains an important part of his public story because of their long marriage and shared child.

Is Phil Vickery in a Relationship?

Phil Vickery has not confirmed a current long-term partner. In 2022, he was photographed kissing Lorraine Stanton, who was described in media coverage as a close friend of Fern Britton. After that moment, he said they were “just mates”. There is no confirmed new marriage. There is also no clear statement from him naming a current partner. The fairest way to describe his present relationship status is private.

Lorraine Stanton Connection

The Lorraine Stanton moment gained attention because of her connection to Fern Britton. It became a talking point in the press, but it did not lead to a confirmed marriage or formal public partnership.

Current Personal Life

He now seems to keep his personal life more controlled. His food work, television history and recipes remain the main focus of his public image.

Phil Vickery Parents and Family

Phil Vickery’s parents are Robert Vickery and Teresa Vickery. He was raised in the Folkestone area and later built his name through cooking. His family background is not as widely discussed as his career, but his Kent roots remain part of his story. His daughter Winnie links him to the next generation of the family. She has had rare media moments, including time connected with her father’s television work, but she is not known as a full-time public figure.

Phil Vickery Social Media

Phil Vickery uses Instagram under @chefphilvickery. His account presents him as a chef and highlights his long connection with This Morning, food, recipes and real cooking. He also uses X under @philvickerytv. The account connects with his TV work, website and chef identity. His social media style fits his brand: practical food, simple cooking and a direct voice.

Final Thoughts on Phil Vickery

Phil Vickery has built a long and respected career through hard work, skill and steady public trust. He began in professional kitchens, earned major restaurant honours, became a familiar TV chef, wrote cookery books and helped many people with gluten-free food. He is 65 years old in 2026, has one daughter, Winnie Vickery, and is best known for his work on This Morning. His personal life has drawn attention through his marriages and past link with Lorraine Stanton, but his strongest legacy remains food.

His career stands out because it connects serious cooking with everyday homes. He made recipes feel possible, festive food less frightening, and gluten-free cooking more hopeful. That is why his name remains important in British food television.

FAQs About Phil Vickery

1. Who is Phil Vickery?

Phil Vickery is an English celebrity chef, food writer and television personality. He is best known for his long-running work on ITV’s This Morning, where he shares simple recipes, festive dishes, cooking tips and family-friendly meals.

2. How old is Phil Vickery?

Phil Vickery was born on 2 May 1961 in Folkestone, Kent, England. He is 65 years old in 2026.

3. Who is Phil Vickery’s wife?

Phil Vickery does not have a publicly confirmed current wife. He was previously married to Fern Britton from 2000 until their separation in 2020. Before that, he was married to Sarah Ann Lock.

4. Does Phil Vickery have children?

Yes, Phil Vickery has one daughter, Winnie Vickery, with his former wife Fern Britton. Winnie was born in 2001 and keeps a mostly private life.

5. What is Phil Vickery’s roast turkey recipe known for?

Phil Vickery’s roast turkey recipe is known for keeping the meat moist and tender. His method uses vegetables, stock, wine, tight covering and proper resting time to help make the turkey juicy and full of flavour.