VANESSA Feltz revealed today that she is quitting BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio London after nearly 20 years of broadcasting.
The broadcaster and TV personality said she enjoyed “every moment” of her morning shows, but joked that she was stopping to make up for a “decade short of beauty sleep”.
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Vanessa, one of the BBC’s biggest earners, gave listeners the great news this morning, telling them her roles were “an honor and a privilege”.
She will host her final Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show on Friday before covering Jeremy Vine for another two weeks.
The permanent presenter will then say goodbye to Radio 2 listeners on Friday 26 August.
In a statement, Vanessa said: “I have loved every moment with my Radio 2 ‘Early Birds’ and will miss my Lovely Listeners, Jolly Good Fellows and dear friends and colleagues at Radio 2 with all my heart.
“However, 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.”
She added: “I will enjoy a dollop of energy-boosting closed eyes to swing from ziplines with my three bubbly grandchildren and frolic with my fiancé Ben, who is annoyingly 10 years younger than me.”
In recently released BBC figures, Feltz was one of only three women in the top 10 highest paid on-air talent, with her salary of £400,000-£404,999 putting her in eighth place.
Zoe Ball and Fiona Bruce were the other two female hosts to make the top 10 list.
Feltz began presenting the Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show from 5 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. in January 2011, which was extended to 4 a.m. from January 2021.
In addition to bringing daily news, her shows include Famous Last Words, Jolly Good Fellows, The Feltz Philological Challenge, and Early Bird Earworms.
During her time on the show she has won many awards including a Sony Gold in 2009 for BBC Radio London, two Gold Gillard Awards and in 2017 and 2022 the show won Silver in the Best Speech Breakfast Show category at the Arias (The Radio Academy’s Audio and Radio Industry Awards).
Before taking over the breakfast show, Feltz hosted a mid-morning telephone program on the station for 10 years, and a mid-afternoon telephone program from 2001.
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “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 her for the thousands of midnight starts she’s made to bring the Radio 2 listeners to entertain.
“On their behalf, as well as everyone else at Wogan House, I want to send Lady V our very best wishes for the future.”
Chris Burns, controller of local audio commissioning, said: “Every weekday Vanessa has gone straight from her Radio 2 program to Radio London’s breakfast show, barely pausing to catch 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 the best and thank her for her incredible service.”
Radio 2 and BBC Radio London will announce their new respective morning programs at a later date, the BBC said.
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