Vanessa Feltz threatens co-star Cristo Foufas with a 'thump' during heated debate about menopause on her new show

Daily Mail​

29-04-2025

Vanessa Feltz clashed with her co-star Cristo Foufas as the pair engaged in a heated discussion about menopause on Tuesday's episode of her new show Vanessa.
The presenter, 63, was speaking with Cristo about the change for women as they discussed that there should be more support in work places for those impacted such as medical leave.
Radio and TV presenter Cristo said: 'It is a medical condition so there absolutely should be accommodations made for you at work... but what I will say is if that's the case for women we should also have something similar for the 'manopause'.
Also on the show was Jenny Powell who then sarcastically asked him: 'Right well how are you suffering at the moment with your manopause?'
He replied saying: 'I am at the age now where I have a drop in testosterone. You get more lethargic and tired and I know it's not as extreme as the menopause but...'
A shocked Vanessa then interrupted him saying: 'As extreme!! Any minute now you are going to find yourself booted off my pink sofa. Jenny is being incredibly reserved by not giving you a right thump on the TV!'
The presenter, 63, was speaking with Cristo about the change for women as they discussed that there should be more support in work places for those impacted such as medical leave
Undeterred from Vanessa's point, Cristo then continued saying: 'I am not underplaying what women go through but if a man is genuinely lethargic and tired as a result of testosterone levels having dropped I think that is a valid reason to have some time off work - the same way I would never undermine a woman needing time off.'
Vanessa then said: 'You need one appointment with you doctor to rectify that what time do you need off!?'
He hit back saying: 'You have to wait months to have your testosterone tested...'
Vanessa then cut in saying: 'For heaven's sake! I think how very dare you really!'
She then quickly cut to another segment before the discussion got out of hand.
Vanessa has previously described the times when she 'couldn't stand the thought of sex' as she negotiated hot flushes and hormonal changes that made her want to 'melt sob or screen' due to her menopause.
Vanessa said she got her first hot flush when she was presenting her first ever Radio 2 Breakfast show in 2011 and is still going through menopause.
The heated debate comes just a few days after Vanessa revealed the secret behind her weight loss after admitting she has battled with her body image for decades.
Vanessa then cut in saying: 'For heaven's sake! I think how very dare you really!' She then quickly cut to another segment before the discussion got out of hand
The former This Morning presenter has been candid about her challenges with her weight in the past, having fluctuated dramatically between sizes 10 and 22.
Vanessa has described the 'turmoil' of dieting as soul-destroying, with her weight previously yo-yoing for 18 month periods as she came on and off eating plans.
But in recent times, Vanessa has managed to sustain a slim figure.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the presenter was pictured flaunting her impressive physique in a black dress for the press night of Queen of Candlelight at the London Palladium.
And speaking in OK! magazine today, Vanessa has revealed the secret behind her sustained good looks.
After being complimented on her figure, the 63-year-old replied: 'Oh that's very nice of you to say, thank you.
'What have I been doing? I don't know! I think it's because I'm working so much, to be honest.
'I'm just working seven days a week. I've got the new Vanessa show on Channel 5 every day at 12.30pm. Then I do LBC Saturdays and Sundays.
'Being busy and on my feet must be contributing to how I look.'
It was only a couple of years ago that Vanessa's cheating ex-boyfriend, Ben Ofoedu, branded her a 'chubby blonde' in a cheap shot after their breakup.
But just months later, the presenter was showing off a new-look and impressive figure, having lost 2st thanks to what she called a 'broken heart diet'.
Vanessa admitted that following the split, which arose after allegations of Ben cheating were leaked to the press, she 'hadn't eaten for months'.
'That's the silver lining from a broken heart,' she said.
Vanessa first slimmed from a size 22 to a size 10 between 1999 and 2000 but later put the weight back on.
She lost 2st in 2004 but gained it again, and in 2007 she dropped 3st but it all returned and she ended up back at a size 22.
Vanessa has been candid about her struggles with her weight in the past, having fluctuated between sizes 22 and 10. Pictured in 2009
Eventually in 2010, Vanessa had a gastric band bypass, which she said helped to keep her at a more steady weight.
Vanessa did, however, reveal in late-2024 that she 'would not have had the surgery' if she had known about Ozempic.
Ozempic is a drug used to manage Type 2 diabetes, which slows down how quick food is digested.
A number of celebrities have admitted using the drug to bring about weight loss, including Selena Gomez, Oprah Winfrey and Sharon Osbourne.
WHAT IS THE MENOPAUSE?
Menopause is when a woman stops having periods, and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally.
It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.
It is a normal part of ageing and caused by levels of the sex hormone oestrogen dropping.
Some women go through this time with few, if any, symptoms.
Others suffer from hot flushes, sleeping difficulties, mood swings and brain fog, which can last for months or years and might change over time.
HRT replaces the hormones and is the main treatment used to treat symptoms — which can be severe and disrupt day-to-day life.
Menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen and no longer release an egg each month.