Vanessa Feltz, who was sometimes seen on This Morning on ITV, engaged to musician Ben Ofoedu in 2006 but, despite planning to tie the knot in the years since, never got married
Vanessa Feltz has admitted she feels “demoralised and unattractive” when potential relationships don’t work out.
The broadcaster has been introduced to men following her split with musician Ben Ofoedu, 53, earlier this year, but despite the rendezvous, nothing significant has stuck, it is thought. Vanessa, 63, became tearful when she confirmed she and Ben ended things in 2023, having been together for nearly 20 years.
Speaking this week, the unlucky-in-love presenter said she doesn’t use dating websites and prefers friends to introduce her to potential partners. However, she added: “It’s hard. I’m too famous to be on websites. I would like to be introduced by a friend, but when it doesn’t work it is hard not to feel demoralised and unattractive.”
Vanessa, originally from north London, was married to Michael Kurer, a surgeon, for 15 years until their divorce in 2000. She shares two children and four grandchildren with Michael. Recalling her split with Michael, Vanessa said in a previous interview she “was too open” with her daughters “about information and how I was feeling”.
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But Vanessa began dating Ben as her children grew older, and enjoyed a long relationship with the singer. They became engaged in 2006 but, despite planning to tie the knot in the years since, never got married and parted ways in 2023. Speaking about the split, Vanessa previously said: “It’s clear that it’s over and I really do feel that once the trust in a relationship is gone then you can’t really get it back and that’s what I would tell anyone else to do.
“And so I just wanted to say that obviously I feel incredibly sad and I am pretty disappointed and shocked and all those horrible things but also full of resolve. I am not going to let this defeat me.”
Her followers on Instagram showed huge support for the star, who was on Celebrity Big Brother in 2001, around one year after her divorce.
The latest heartbreaking admission, said to a Daily Mail reporter at an event this week, comes as Vanessa continues to present her self-titled TV show on Channel 5. Devised as a chat show to rival Loose Women in the lunchtime slot, the programme sees Vanessa discuss topical issues and debates with a panel of guests, often including model Nicola McLean, presenter Sarah Cawood and journalist Afua Hagan.
The programme has been renewed for a second series, and TV sources say Vanessa is tipped to take some of the Loose Women audience when the ITV show goes down from 52 weeks to 30 next year.