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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jessica Gibb

Vanessa Feltz tears up as she breaks silence on 'incredibly sad' Ben Ofoedu split

Vanessa Feltz choked back tears as she opened up about her split from fiancé Ben Ofoedu.

The 60-year-old Celebrity Big Brother star said that she is "disappointed" and "incredibly sad" after the 16-year-long relationship ended.

But the TV star also defiantly said that she's not going to let the heartbreak "defeat" her and that she's looking for the good in life as she approaches her 61st birthday.

"Well I haven't been on Instagram for three weeks and that's because my relationship with Ben is over after sixteen years and I honestly didn't know what to say to you on Instagram," she tells fans in a new video.

"But now it's clear that it's over and I really do feel that once the trust in a relationship is gone then you can't really get it back and that's what I would tell anyone else to do."

Vanessa Feltz say she's 'broken hearted' but 'won't let love split defeat her' (vanessafeltz/Instagram)
Vanessa Feltz and Ben Ofoedu were together for 16 years (Getty Images)

Vanessa tried to hold back tears as she bravely continued: "And so I just wanted to say that obviously I feel incredibly sad and I am pretty disappointed and shocked and all those horrible things but also full of resolve. I am not going to let this defeat me.

"I am so glad to be living longer than my mum did, she died at 57 and for the Lord's prayers, I am going to be 61 next month.

"I am very very grateful to be alive and I want to carry on feeling that way and I want to celebrate and find fun and laughter anywhere I can.

"I know it is not going to be easy but I am absolutely determined to do it."

Vanessa ended the video message by thanking fans for the supportive messages which she is "very very grateful" for.

Vanessa with long term partner Ben (Brett D. Cove/SplashNews.com)
Vanessa said the 'trust' is gone (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Ben and Vanessa have been together since 2005 and confirming the split this weekend she 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."

Vanessa added to The Sun: "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.

Vanessa is now looking for the good in life as she approaches her 61st birthday (Ken McKay/ITV/REX)

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."

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter and Facebook .

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