Vanessa Feltz and Ben Ofoedu are no longer an item (Picture: Getty)
Vanessa Feltz and her fiancé Ben Ofoedu have parted ways.
The This Morning agony aunt, 60, has been with the Phats & Small singer, 50, for 16 years, first meeting in 2005 after Vanessa’s divorce from surgeon Michael Kurer in 2000.
However, their relationship was recently hit by infidelity claims, with Vanessa reportedly discovering social media messages between Ben and other women.
Confirming that they had split, the TV and radio star admitted she is ‘extremely sad and disappointed.’
She also insisted she’s going to ‘take [my] own advice’ after years of dishing out relationship tips to struggling callers on the ITV daytime show.
Opening up on her break-up, she told The Sun: ‘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.’
The couple were together for 16 years and got engaged in 2006, but never made it down the aisle (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
She added: ‘As an agony aunt I have said many times that once the trust in a relationship is gone, it can never be repaired or regained.
‘So I have to take my own advice on this occasion.’
Maintaining a positive mindset, the presenter went on: ‘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.
‘I hear that Kylie Minogue is single again, so I’m in good company — if she wants to hit the town, hook me up.’
Vanessa is now throwing herself into work, with her new TalkTV show her main focus amid her heartbreak (Picture: Tabatha Fireman/Getty Images)
The TV presenter and singer’s romance was hit by cheating allegations (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
A friend of Vanessa -who is a mum to Allegra, 37, and Saskia, 34, from her previous marriage – added that she’s determined to keep her spirits up after the heartbreak.
They described her ‘a strong, successful woman’, saying that although she is ‘ashamed’ and ‘heartbroken,’ she is also ‘proud.’
Vanessa is now thought to be throwing herself into work with her new TalkTV show, while the outlet claims that Ben’s return to touring with his band put strain on his relationship and led to the cheating allegations.
The star was introduced to her now ex by Boyzone singer Keith Duffy, after they became pals while in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2001.
The This Morning agony aunt is planning to take her own advice (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
They got engaged a year later in 2006 and were due to marry the following year, and again in 2011.
However, they didn’t end up walking down the aisle.
Vanessa has spoken openly about their partnership in the past, previously calling their 10-year age gap ‘annoying.’
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Admitting it ‘gets worse’ as time goes on, she added: ‘Especially as our relationship coincided with acres of menopause, which started on my very first day presenting the Radio 2 breakfast show in 2011 with a massive hot flush at 4am and is still going on.’
She also previously said that she wanted her relationship with the musician to stay ‘good’ and not become ‘stagnant, boring and dreary.’
Reps for Vanessa Feltz and Ben Ofoedu have been contacted for comment.
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