DEEPLY FELTZ How old is Vanessa Feltz, who is her partner Ben Ofoedu, who are her daughters and when was she on Celebrity Big Brother?
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 55-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 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.
What reality TV shows has Vanessa appeared on?
Vanessa took part in Celebrity Fit Club and made three appearances on the Weakest Link, as well as appearing 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, 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.
Is Vanessa 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.
