Fiona Phillips quits GMTV

GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips is to leave the breakfast show after nearly 16 years, her agent has confirmed.

The 47-year-old, who has been the show's main anchor since 1996, will leave the programme, shown across ITV in the mornings, at the end of this year to devote more time to her children and care of her elderly father.

In a statement released by GMTV, Phillips 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.

Phillips joined the show in 1993 as entertainment correspondent, then spent two years in the US as the LA correspondent where she covered the OJ Simpson trial and the Los Angeles earthquake before landing the top job on the sofa.

In her time with the programme Phillips interviewed a string of household names including Brad Pitt, Gordon Brown, the Beckhams and Michael Barrymore, whom she interviewed in September 2002 about the death of Stuart Lubbock in his swimming pool.

She is leaving midway through a three-year £1.5m contract, the Daily Mirror reported this morning.

Despite her departure, her agent confirmed last night that the presenter still intended to work in television.

The GMTV director of programming, Peter McHugh, was among the first to praise Phillips, saying she would be sorely missed.

"But after all those years of getting up at 4am we can understand why she wants a change," he said.

"Her honesty and openness have helped make GMTV the success it is. She is a tough act to follow.

"But she's not going until Christmas which gives us plenty of opportunity to organise lots of leaving dos."

Phillips 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.

She later took a job as a reporter with Sky News, before becoming the entertainment editor on GMTV.

Phillips is married to GMTV programme editor Martin Frizell and the couple have two sons - Nathaniel, nine, and Mackenzie, six.

Via guardian.co.uk