She was recently left heartbroken after her relationship with Ben Ofoedu, her fiance of 16 years, ended after he cheated on her. But This Morning agony aunt Vanessa said she was "feeling fantastic" as she holidayed in Ireland with her family.
Vanessa, 60, posted a video of herself on the beach in East Cork as she breathed in fresh air and declared: "I feel fantastic. Why wouldn't I? I'm having a wonderful time. The Irish welcome, there's nothing like it. The air is fresh and clean."
On Valentine's Day the radio and TV presenter shared a collection of joyous photos and a video message to her followers from her 'Galentines's Day' just as the doting mum and grandmother was about to tuck into an afternoon tea with her loved-ones. "Happy Valentine’s Day! @theimperialhotelcork @veniinfantino #valentines #family #love #galentinesday," she captioned her post.
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"I'm about to get stuck into this fantastic tea with the family," she told her supporters. And the well-wishes came pouring in. gardnerrodney told her: "Have a wonderful time, surrounded by love." Former Hear'Say singer Suzanne Shaw said: "Love Ireland You’re amazing V." And Lizzie Cundy told her: "Good to get away darling."
At the weekend she shared her delight at receiving two gorgous bouquets of flowers. "I was just about to get miserable but ….! Thank you for the beautiful flowers!" she penned. And in a video message she admitted to feeling out of sorts, but the flowets had helped her to cheer her up.
Speaking out on Sunday, February 5 Vanessa told her followers that she was "shocked" and "incredibly sad" as she addressed the split. In a frank video message she said the trust had been broken in their relationship.
The following day Ben, who shot to fame as one half of the dance duo Phats &Small in 1998 with the massive hit Turn Around, shared a picture of a broken heart emoji on his Instagram Stories. Returning to Instagram after a three week break, Vanessa shared her video with the words: "I’ve missed you. #brokenheart #onwardsandupwards #love #life #friends #family #thankyou."
Speaking into the camera she said: "Well, I haven’t been on Instagram for three weeks and that’s because my relationship with Ben is over after 16 years and I honestly didn’t know what to say to you on Instagram."
She continued: "But now it’s clear that it’s over, and I really do feel that once the trust in a relationship is gone you really can’t get it back, and that’s what I’d tell anyone else to do."
She added: "So I just wanted to say, obviously I feel incredibly sad, and I’m pretty disappointed and shocked and all those horrible things. But also full of resolve, because I’m not going to let this defeat me.
"I’m so glad to be living longer then my mum did. She died at 57 and I’m going to be 61 next month. So I feel very grateful to be alive and I want to carry on feeling that way and I want to celebrate and I want to find fun and laughter anywhere I can and I know it’s not going to be easy but I’m absolutely determined to do it."
Her ex Ben, 50, has since spoken out on their split for the first time and admitted he cheated on his partner in an exclusive interview with The Mirror. Ben admitted that he betrayed Vanessa's trust for a second time after she forgave him for cheating at the start of their relationship.
He shared how his fiancee forgave him after he had sex three times with an older woman but he insisted that the affair in Ibiza was "just sex – and a chore". But he then admitted that his relationship was finally over when he later 'sexted' one woman and 'flirted' with another.
He later said the abuse from the public over his split with Vanessa has made it the "worst three weeks of his life".
"Next to the passing of my brother, I’ve had the most horrific three weeks of my life," he told the Mirror. "It’s been incredibly difficult. I’m not used to being attacked. The amount of abuse I’ve had, it’s unbelievable. People just tell me what they think. I’m silly to read it but I do."
He added: "I’m going through an incredibly painful break up. There’s so much pain to Vanessa, her family, me and my family. That’s my concern."
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