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.
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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.
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