After three decades, Vanessa Feltz is bidding farewell to This Morning. The 63-year-old broadcasting veteran has been a staple contributor to the ITV morning show but has decided to step down due to her new hosting gig on Channel 5’s Vanessa, set to premiere on March 24 at 12:45 pm.
In an interview with the Daily Star newspaper, Vanessa revealed: “I’ve been on ‘This Morning’ since 1992. It’s been a long time . But I’m now doing my own show and I can’t do both.”
She also expressed her gratitude towards the presenters and crew of This Morning, describing them as “so lovely” about her decision.
Vanessa recalled: “When I told everyone I wouldn’t be able to do the show anymore, they were lovely about it. I heard from Alison Hammond and Holly Willoughby immediately and the bosses were charming. I’ll miss working with them all.”
Reflecting on her time with This Morning, Vanessa acknowledged the valuable experience she gained. She said: “I have learned lots of stuff on ‘This Morning’.”
“When I first did it, I had never been on TV before. I didn’t know what was going on. I was bamboozled but they gave me a contract.”
Vanessa is now looking forward to her new talk show, expressing her excitement as she said: “This is a fantastic opportunity and I couldn’t be more excited. It feels marvellous.”
Vanessa, who rose to fame with her popular self-titled ITV daytime show from 1994 to 1998 and a subsequent short stint at the BBC in 1999, is set to dazzle audiences once more with her latest venture on Channel 5, having announced the news earlier this month.
Speaking about the upcoming series, she added: “I cannot wait to get started on this sparkling adventure with Channel 5. This show is all about YOU – your stories, your opinions, your emotions, and your triumphs. Television’s never been so real, honest, or unpredictable.
“Life isn’t perfect, so let’s not pretend it is – let’s help each other out, have a giggle, and make every show a conversation worth having so kick off your shoes and come and join me for lunch, relax with a bit of me time and let’s have a ball!”
The new programme promises to delve into a plethora of subjects encompassing celebrities, gossip, fashion, relationships, and parenting, reports the Mirror.
Federico Ruiz, Channel 5’s commissioning editor, shared his enthusiasm, saying: “We are thrilled to have signed Vanessa, an award-winning broadcaster and bona-fide national treasure, to our daytime line-up. Our audience love her, and there is nobody better for viewers to spend their lunchtimes with every single weekday.”
Ian Rumsey, ITN’s managing director of content, hailed Vanessa as a defining figure in the talk show realm, saying: “Vanessa defined the genre with her first talk show and this new slot on Channel 5 is a brilliant and unique opportunity to work with one of the pioneers of talk shows, and take all that talent, energy and experience to create a fresh twist to daytime chat.”
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.