Ruth Langsford has said her heart is breaking for her good friend Vanessa Feltz who recently called it quits on her 16-year relationship with fiancé Ben Ofoedu.
During Monday's instalment of Loose Women, Ruth, 62, praised Vanessa, 60, for being so open about her shock split from Ben after she released a video on Instagram over the weekend explaining why she and Ben called off their engagement and ended their 16-year romance.
In the tear-jerking video, Vanessa alluded to infidelity as she insisted that once the trust is gone, the relationship is over.
Ben and Vanessa have been together since 2005 and make regular appearances together both on-screen and in magazines, but Vanessa has now admitted she is devastated.
Explaining her three-week absence from social media, Vanessa said: "I had thought it might take a bit longer before this came out, because it’s a lot to deal with - a shock like this takes some adjusting to - but I am extremely sad and disappointed that my 16-year relationship with Ben is over."
Discussing Vanessa's brave decision to share her heartache so publicly, Loose Women star Ruth sang Vanessa's praises.
"I have to say, Vanessa is a friend of mine and my heart is breaking for her. It's hard enough when you go through a breakup, but when you have to do it so publicly it's so hard," Ruth said.
"I think she has taken ownership of this though and she's poured her heart out on social media, but it is true, once the trust is gone, you can never get it back."
Confirming their split to The Sun on Sunday, Vanessa said: "Who knew I’d be single at 60? However, ladies, it’s onwards and upwards and I firmly believe that the best is yet to come."
She tried to stay positive, saying: "I hear that Kylie Minogue is single again, so I’m in good company — if she wants to hit the town, hook me up."
Ben is thought to have now moved out of their £3.5million in St John’s Wood, North London.
The pair met back in 2005, with Vanessa having divorced Michael Kurer five years earlier following cheating allegations.
Ben popped the question a year after first meeting, but Vanessa had shared her worries about marrying him.
She admitted her divorce from her doctor ex-husband made her "wary of getting married again."
Speaking to OK! magazine, the TV presenter said her split from the father of her children derailed her "to the most terrific extent" and has made her "reluctant" to embark on a second marriage.
The BBC Radio 2 host married Michael Kurer in 1985 and the former couple welcomed daughters Allegra and Saskia into the world before their divorce in 2000.
The split occurred when former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Vanessa discovered the doctor was cheating on her via newspaper reports.
"I was so shocked and broken-hearted and rocked to my absolute core," the mum-of-two told the publication.
"It makes you wary of getting married again. The marriage seemed to be so disposable - it could just be chucked down the toilet in 10 seconds flat, even though I didn’t want it to be."
Loose Women continues tomorrow at 12.30pm on ITV One.
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