Vanessa Feltz's friends rally round her as ex Ben Ofoedu claims he 'wasted 17 years' in their relationship following wedding to 'Vanessa 2.0'
The TV personality, 63, previously dated the singer, 53, for 16 years, and they were set to get married, until reports of his infidelity were leaked to the press in 2023.
Ben moved on with aesthetics expert, Vanessa Brown - who he affectionately calls her 'Vanessa 2.0' and they married in a lavish £100,000 ceremony in Cumbria earlier this week.
Joining the presenter on her show, Vanessa on 5, Francine Lewis said Vanessa was feeling 'pretty blue' in the wake of his wedding and vowed to find her a man.
The singer, who starred on Britain's Got Talent in 2013, said: 'Vanessa deserves a man that will treat her like a queen not a door mat.'
A close friend later told MailOnline: 'Vanessa's been really strong - he might be an ex but she still has a heart that got broken - he didn't hang about!'
The TV personality, 63, previously dated the singer, 53, for 16 years, and they were set to get married, until reports of his infidelity were leaked to the press in 2023 (pictured in 2022)
They added: 'Vanessa's got her girls rallying around her in support.'
Vanessa met Ben in 2005, when she was at the height of her broadcasting fame and he was a little-known pop singer – best remembered for his stint in Phats & Small.
The couple quickly became a fixture on the celebrity circuit and within months were engaged, with Vanessa proudly introducing him to the public as her fiancé.
She frequently featured him in her media appearances, from red-carpet events to reality TV shows, reviving his public profile and transforming him into a household name.
But behind the scenes, cracks were beginning to show. Their relationship came to a dramatic end in 2023 after he admitted to cheating — a betrayal that left Vanessa heartbroken and publicly humiliated.
Reflecting on his relationship with the former This Morning agony aunt, he said: 'Never again will I do that. I wasted 17 years of my life.'
Ben added: 'I don't believe in long engagements any more. You don't want to get married if there's a question mark over your engagement.
'If you don't want to commit to someone, that's fine. But don't pretend you do and hold on to someone for a long period of time. Let them free, let them fly.'
After undergoing therapy in the wake of their split, the DJ – who refuses to mention Feltz by name 'ever again' – said the torrid experience gave him clarity.
'I knew what I was getting into going out with someone that talks about their sex life on TV. What did I expect? It was great media attention for her. I went into it with my eyes wide open thinking it wouldn't affect me, but it did.'
Meanwhile, Vanessa confessed that she still has hope of finding love again, despite admitting that it's a 'dating desert out there'.
While she had a secret short-lived romance last year, Vanessa has been single ever since, now insisting it is 'impossible and agonising' to find someone new.
Reflecting on Jennifer Aniston 's new relationship with hunky hypnotist Jim Curtis, the broadcaster admitted it had been a 'beacon of hope' to her that she would also find love again.
DailyMail.com exclusively revealed last week that Jennifer, 56, spent the Fourth of July weekend with life coach Jim, 49, with snaps showing the couple packing on the PDA onboard a yacht.
Vanessa discussed the twice divorced actress' newfound happiness in her latest column for the Daily Express, where she lamented how tricky it was for women over the age of 45 to find a partner.
She wrote: 'It's so tough, impossible and agonising to find a decent bloke these days. The apps are hopeless. It's a dating desert out there.
'I loathe this lament but also can't deny that these days, finding a man to love and be loved by is a huge task once maturity has kicked in.
'If Jen has indeed landed her own Mr Darcy then she'll send a beacon of hope to the rest of us. Go girl!
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