Vanessa Feltz took one last dance through the decades as she bid an emotional goodbye to her early bird listeners during her finale BBC Radio 2 show this morning.
The 60-year-old presenter, whose salary of more than £400,000 makes her the eighth highest earner at the BBC, announced yesterday that she was quitting her morning breakfast show after almost 20 years on the air.
On Instagram, Ms Feltz shared details of her last early morning with her social media followers, wishing them one last good morning at 3:50 a.m. before giving one last ‘dance through the decades’ in the studio to the Baccara hit ‘Yes Sir, 1977′ enjoyed. I can do the Boogie’.
Ms Feltz, who said she would step down to ‘make up for the beauty sleep shortage’, and fellow Radio 2 broadcaster Zoe Ball said Ms Feltz will be ‘gold’ everywhere she goes.
After Ms Feltz announced her departure yesterday, the breakfast show host described her as “always glamorous and arguably the smartest person I know.”
Ms Ball, 51, added: ‘I’m not going to lie, we are all in tears at Radio 2. She has always been outrageous and the hardest working girl.
“Wherever she goes, whatever she does, she will be great at it and very lucky to have her. We’ll terrify her at some point.’
It is not yet known what Ms. Feltz plans to do, although some online fans have suggested that she could play a role with TalkTV on TalkRadio.
MailOnline has reached out to TalkTV for comment.
Vanessa Feltz performs one last ‘a dance through the decades’ for Yes Sir, I Can Boogie on her final Radio 2 early morning show
Rumors online suggest the host is being tipped to become Jeremy Kyle’s replacement on TalkRadio’s drivetime show as he heads off for a regular TV spot on the network.
Vanessa Feltz completed her final show on BBC Radio 2 for her devastated fans after announcing her shock from the company yesterday (July 28).
Ms Feltz (left) said she had to step down “to make up for a much-needed decade’s beauty sleep shortfall” and use her “energy-boosting closed eye” to “play around with her fiancé Ben Ofoedu (right) who” remains annoying 10 years younger than me
Vanessa posted to Instagram this morning, offering her early risers a good morning at 3:50 am “for the last time.”
She said, ‘It’s the last time I think I’ll see you at this time in the morning.
‘Gosh, I do have mixed feelings, but I wish you a nice Friday morning. Big kiss.’
She also emotionally said goodbye to an employee outside the BBC building.
As she approached the man, who was wearing a safety coat, she said, “This is our last morning together, you know. Did you know?’
The member of staff replies that he didn’t know, and when Mrs Feltz added that she was on BBC Radio 2 the last morning, he looked visibly shocked and said: ‘You are kidding!’
Ms. Feltz said they met each morning when she hugged him in tears. She handed him a card and a bouquet of flowers and said to him, “It brightens up my day to see you.”
Her fans were less surprised, but equally heartbroken by her departure at the end of the show.
They said that “Lady V” had “brightened their early mornings” and that this was the “end of an era.”
One wrote: ‘Farewell and thank you, Lady V. I will forever be one of your Early Birds.’
A second said they were “an emotional wreck” after the end of Vanessa’s last show, while another suggested she become a Lady.
Ms Feltz said goodbye to her early bird fans on her way to the studio in a series of social media posts
She also emotionally said goodbye to a staff member outside the BBC building, saying: ‘This is our last morning together, you know. Did you know?’
In an emotional statement, Ms Feltz said yesterday: “I have loved every moment with my Radio 2 ‘Early Birds’ and will miss my Dear Listeners, Jolly Good Fellows and dear friends and colleagues at Radio 2 with all my heart.
‘But after nearly 12 blissful years, I now have to step down to make up for a much-needed decade of beauty sleep!
‘It has been an honor and privilege to be the Breakfast voice of BBC Radio London for 20 years and although I am leaving the show I will continue to expect hugs from my dear listeners when I see them on the streets of London!
“I’ll enjoy a dollop of energy-boosting closed eyes to swing from zip-lines with my three bubbly grandchildren and frolic with my fiancé Ben, who is annoyingly 10 years younger than me!”
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said of the star’s departure: “For nearly 12 years, Vanessa has made her weekday Early Breakfast Show her own kingdom, and I want to say a big thank you to the thousands of mid-of-the-century night begins which she has created to entertain the Radio 2 listeners.
Chris Burns, Controller Local Audio Commissioning, adds: ‘Every weekday Vanessa has gone straight from her Radio 2 program to Radio London’s breakfast show, barely catching her breath.
She has effortlessly entertained her ‘dear listener’ and held the decision-makers of the city and country sternly accountable.
“The brightest spark you could ever meet — no matter how early it is and what’s happening in the news — to say Vanessa’s voice will be missed is an understatement. We wish her all the best and thank her for her incredible service.”
“On their behalf, as well as everyone else at Wogan House, I want to send Lady V our very best wishes for the future.”
The broadcaster began presenting the Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show from 05:00 to 06:30 in January 2011, which was extended to 04:00 from January 2021.
Mrs. Feltz will perform for Jeremy Vine for two weeks as planned and will say goodbye to Radio 2 listeners on Friday 26 August.
Radio 2 and BBC Radio London will announce their new respective morning programs at a later date.
TalkTV and Vanessa Feltz’s management have been approached for comment about rumors of a move to TalkTV.