Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Lottie Gibbons

Vanessa Feltz announces she has quit BBC and pays tribute to fans

Vanessa Feltz says she is "devastated" after quitting BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio London.

The star announced her departure to Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show listeners this morning. Vanessa began presenting the Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show in January 2011, from 5am to 6.30am, which was extended to 4am from January 2021.

Vanessa entertained listeners with the news of the day and features including Famous Last Words, Jolly Good Fellows, The Feltz Philological Challenge and Early Bird Earworms.

READ MORE: Striking Arriva drivers 'struggling to feed their kids'

But she has now decided to leave the station after nearly 12 years. Vanessa said: "I have loved every moment with my Radio 2 ‘Early Birds’ and will miss my Lovely Listeners, Jolly Good Fellows and beloved friends and colleagues at Radio 2 with all my heart. However, after almost 12 blissful years, I now need to step down to catch up on a much-needed decade’s deficit of beauty sleep!

“It’s been an honour and privilege to be the Breakfast voice of BBC Radio London for 20 years and although I’m leaving the show, I’ll continue to expect hugs from my lovely listeners when I see them on the streets of London!

“I will enjoy a dollop of energy-boosting shut-eye to swing from zip-lines with my three effervescent grandchildren and frolic with my fiancé Ben, who irritatingly remains 10 years younger than me!”

On Instagram, Vanessa added: "Devastated. Farewell to @bbcradio early breakfast."

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: “For almost 12 years, Vanessa has made her live weekday Early Breakfast Show her very own kingdom, and I’d like to thank her wholeheartedly for the thousands of middle-of-the-night starts she’s made to entertain the Radio 2 listeners. On behalf of them, as well as everyone in Wogan House, I’d like to send Lady V our very best wishes for the future.”

Vanessa will present her last Radio 2 Early Morning Breakfast Show on Friday, July 29. After taking a well-earned two-week break, Vanessa will cover for Jeremy Vine for two weeks in August as planned, and bid farewell to Radio 2 listeners on Friday, August 26.

Radio 2 will announce their new respective morning schedules at a later date.

Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here


READ NEXT

Toxic friendship of 'stupid' gun thugs who are paying a heavy price

Mourners at wake pepper sprayed and arrested after brawl breaks out

Man steps in after thief targets 86-year-old woman outside Asda

Merseyside town convinced by £195m Euromillions ticket rumour

Suspect named after double stabbing in Liverpool city centre

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.