This Morning viewers were left cringing when they tuned into the latest episode which started with Vanessa Feltz talking about her recent split. The broadcaster suddenly announced her relationship with Ben Ofoedu had ended in a video posted to Instagram over the weekend.
Vanessa told her followers that she was "shocked" and "incredibly sad" as she addressed her and Ben's split after 16 years together. In a frank video message, the This Morning regular said the trust had been broken in their relationship with Ben, who shot to fame as one half of the dance duo Phats &Small in 1998 with the massive hit Turn Around.
Speaking into the camera in the clip posted on Sunday (February 5), 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."
Since then, Vanessa has returned to her TalkTV show. On Monday (February 6) she welcomed everyone tuning into the show before referencing the news that broke this weekend. "I hope you're happy and jolly. I hope your weekend was better than mine," she said.
But on Wednesday (February 8), Vanessa made her return to This Morning for the first time since her sad announcement. Joining Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on the ITV daytime show's famous sofa, she told the hosts she 'couldn't sleep' as she thanked her fans and celebrity pals for their outpouring of support.
"I think I'm feeling just like anyone else would after the end of a 16 year relationship, which I had my heart and soul in," she said when Phillip, 60, kicked off by asking her how she is doing. "I believed wholeheartedly in it and so when you have to end a relationship, it is very hard. I'm feeling it just like anybody else."
As Holly, 41, said people just wanted to pick her up and give her hug, the TV and radio star admitted: "People have been amazing, absolutely amazing, and of course it helps a lot as I can't sleep at all so reading thousands and thousands of messages from lovely people on Instagram is something to do in the middle of the night. I'm really finding my real friends, my real family, people I don't know."
But Vanessa added: "I'm not alone and also, I've been through it before it's not like I'm a stranger to this stuff. I've already had a horrible divorce! It's quite familiar this awful feeling!" However, while those tuning in to This Morning shared their sympathy for Vanessa, they couldn't help but spot an awkward move by the ITV show.
@Edwardv22249346 said: "Straight from Vanessa to valentine! #ThisMorning," alongside a face planting emoji. @Maria30457324 wrote: "From broken-hearted Vannesa to what to get your valentine ...#ThisMorning." @harryjohnrutter added: "Ughhh playing the Valentines Day bit right after Vanessa, including “Love is in the Air” music… #ThisMorning."
During their chat, Vanessa said to Holly and Phillip: "I am telling myself there is a future, I really want there to be. I think the best thing to do is to gather all the things you love, the people you love, and keep them close." The due then turned to Vanessa's role on This Morning as an agony aunt and Holly asked her about her phone-in topic today.
Vanessa became emotional as she told viewers: "It's about broken hearts really." She added: "I would love it if people called in and told me how they got over heartbreak. I’ll take any advice I can get, from anyone, if anyone wants help I'll be there for them but also if anyone has anything they can tell me. I’d be really grateful to recieve it, because I feel like I’m in the eye of the storm, I really do."
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