How old is Vanessa Feltz, who’s her fiancé Ben Ofoedu and how many children does she have?
VANESSA Feltz, the BBC Radio host and former Celebrity Big Brother star, has provided some of the most memorable moments of UK reality show history. Here’s everything you need to know about the journalist and TV star… Who is Vanessa Feltz, how old is she and what’s her background? Vanessa Feltz was born in London […]
VANESSA Feltz, the BBC Radio host and former Celebrity Big Brother star, has provided some of the most memorable moments of UK reality show history.
Here’s everything you need to know about the journalist and TV star…
Who is Vanessa Feltz, how old is she and what’s her background?
Vanessa Feltz was born in London in 1962, and studied at the prestigious Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls and Trinity College, Cambridge.
The 56-year-old became a journalist after graduating from uni – often specialising in sex tips – before replacing Paula Yates for the “On the Bed” interviews on Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast.
She went on to have her own ITV daytime chat show, Vanessa, before moving to the BBC to present The Vanessa Show, which followed a similar format.
However, The Vanessa Show suffered controversy and was eventually cancelled when it was alleged some of the “guests” were actors.
Vanessa has had a BBC Radio London show since joining the local station in 2001, and took over the early morning BBC Radio 2 slot back in 2011 – her show is aired from 5.00am-6.30am.
In 2017 it was revealed the BBC pays her between £350,000 and £399,999, much more than the likes of Zoe Ball, Ken Bruce and Jools Holland.
How much weight has the telly star lost?
Vanessa has shed an impressive 3-stone since getting her gastric band fitted in 2010.
However, she once admitted she used to try and cheat her band by downing chocolate custard.
Speaking to Bella magazine, weight-loss guru Steve Miller spoke about Vanessa’s new figure.
He said: “I’d say she has lost around three stone and is hovering around a size 12-14, compared to the size 16-18 she seems to have been before.”
The star has previously admitted her gastric band has caused her hell and she had to decide whether or not to get it removed.
She said last year: “It’s started acting up something chronic.
“I wasn’t even sure it had anything to do with the band.
“I was fast asleep and woke up and felt like I was drowning.
“My whole mouth, nose, ears, eyes seemed to be full of liquid.
“I don’t want to have it taken out. I’m scared I’ll suddenly eat an entire camel and a heard of elephants.
“It’s been restricting me for eight years. I can walk into any shop and buy a dress that fits.
“Plus I don’t want an operation for something I don’t want.”
“But the alternative sounds extreme. A bypass feels like a big deal.
She has also been honest about her relationship with food.
She said: “After my husband left I was properly heartbroken, and couldn’t eat, and for the first time I lost a hell of a lot of weight and I began to get happier again.
“So the more I ate again and the weight went back on, and it was that yo-yo thing.”
What is Vanessa Feltz’s BBC salary?
In 2018’s BBC talent list, Vanessa’s salary with the corporation was listed at £330,000-£339,000.
The BBC’s “talent list” showcases its high-earners bringing in more than £150,000.
Salaries of the corporation’s top earners are released so license fee payers can know where their money is going.
Last year the BBC came under fire for the large gender pay gap among their employees with Chris Evans earning £2.2million a year – four times more than its highest paid woman, Claudia Winkleman.
Only a third of its top earners were women, sparking an equality row which Director-General Tony Hall vowed to address.
What reality TV shows has Vanessa Feltz appeared on?
Vanessa took part in Celebrity Fit Club and made three appearances on the Weakest Link, as well as appeared on series 11 of Strictly Come Dancing in 2013.
However, partnered with James Jordan – who appeared on CBB himself last year – she only lasted three weeks, and was the second celebrity to be voted out.
What happened when Vanessa Feltz was on Celebrity Big Brother?
Vanessa was a housemate on the very first series of Celebrity Big Brother back in 2001.
She was only on the show, which ran a much shorter format then, for four days – but still managed to deliver a moment of pure reality telly gold.
Driven to distraction by the lack of things to do on what was then a charity show, Vanessa took the chalk for the shopping list and began writing on every surface she could find.
She later got angry with show bosses, saying they made her look “like Jack Nicholson in The Shining”.
Vanessa also appeared on the final, a special series of Big Brother on Channel 4, Ultimate Big Brother, in 2010.
The series, which eventually saw Brian Dowling crowned the “Ultimate Housemate”, brought together the most memorable Big Brother contestants of all time.
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Is Vanessa Feltz married and does she have children?
Vanessa was married to surgeon Michael Kurer for 17 years, until their divorce in 2000 – they have two daughters together, Allegra and Saskia.
In 2006, she got engaged to singer-songwriter Ben Ofoedu.
Although they were due to marry in 2007, and then again in 2011, no wedding has yet taken place, with Vanessa explaining that her previous marital experience was holding her back.
They currently live together in St John’s Wood, London, in a house previously owned by art king Charles Saatchi.