Kerry Katona and Max Clifford in July this yearKerry Katona's publicist, Max Clifford, has spoken exclusively to Sky Showbiz.

He says he doesn't believe she was "stitched up" by Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield...

And says the mum-of-four has drifted apart from him over the past few months.

Asked whether he agreed with Kerry's claims that Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield made her look bad during her slurry-worded appearance on the show, Max told us:

"No, I don't. Kerry turned up late to the interview, she didn't have time to be briefed, and then she was slurring. It's understandable (Fern and Phil questioned her) - any good journalist would do."

On the question of whether Kerry was drunk during the interview, Max said: "I just don't know. Kerry is saying that it's the effects of her medication, but the public don't think that's the case."

He said that, over the past five years, he had never known Kerry to react in such a manner to her bipolar medication.

He added that the explanation that  Kerry and her husband, Mark Croft, gave about her taking prescribed drugs later than usual was "confusing", as the times they gave "contradicted each other".Kerry on This Morning

"The situation is increasingly worrying," Max continued, who admitted that one of the girls in his office was in tears while watching the This Morning clip.

"Kerry's behaviour has upset her fans - it's very difficult for them to understand. "

Part of the problem, he explained, is that he's finding it more and more difficult to reach out to Kerry.

He told Sky Showbiz: "She's been doing her own thing over the past two or three months. We have been very close over the past five years, but that hasn't been the case recently."

Max was also scathing in his estimation of Kerry's husband, Mark, being able to help her, commenting: "He's just a drug dealer who's living off every penny he can get from her."

However, he added that he didn't think Mark was responsible for Kerry's current state.

Asked whether he would continue to represent Kerry, Max told us: "That's a different matter. I need to sit down and have a proper chat with her."

Most of all, he said, he was very concerned.

"Kerry's nature is delicate at the best of times. She's got an addictive personality and is fragile. She's had a dramatic roller coaster life over the past five years and her situation is becoming increasingly difficult."