Vanessa Feltz has announced she is joining TalkTV after leaving the BBC after almost 20 years at its radio stations.
The 60-year-old will replace Jeremy Kyle as host of the fledgling network’s three-hour drivetime show starting September 5.
Kyle, meanwhile, will be hosting a new primetime show on TalkTV, starting in the fall.
Moving on: Vanessa Feltz, 60, will replace Jeremy Kyle as presenter of Talk TV’s three-hour drivetime show from September 5 (pictured on BBC Radio 2)
New Appearance: Kyle, meanwhile, will be hosting a new primetime show on TalkTV, starting in the fall
Feltz said: “The allure of retreating to a chaise longue while fragrant Ben (her partner Ofoedu) peeled a grape for me was fleeting.
“While there are politicians to attack, fat cats to die for, scams to be uncovered, and listeners to be defended my mission is to breathe fire into the microphone.
“After an elegant stint with the BBC, I’m brimming with excitement at the invitation to unleash my previously hidden side on Talk TV.
“I look forward to a lively debate and the opportunity to finally make a personal, passionate point of view. Better yet, I’ll take the reins of travel time. God what a luxury.
“After years of starting at 3:30 a.m., I’ll have a show with no alarm clock.
“If I scared Mayor Sadiq Khan so much he never dared set foot in my studio with almost no sleep, tune in to see what I can accomplish with a full eight hours of sleep .”
Vanessa was the latest start to leave the BBC three weeks ago, when she last presented her Radio 2 show in July.
The presenter, whose salary of more than £400,000 made her the BBC’s eighth highest earner, ended her morning breakfast show after almost 20 years on the air.
Ms Feltz said she needed to step down “to make up for a decade’s much-needed beauty sleep deficit” and use her “energizing closed eye” to “frolic with her fiance Ben Ofoedu,” who, irritatingly, remains 10 years younger than me.’
Breaking down her show this morning as she broke the news to her listeners, the star said she was “trying not to cry.”
She said: “I have something to tell you and I know you already know I love you – oh I knew I would cry but I’ll try not to…”
“It was an honor to share the early hours with you.”
The star follows DJ Steve Wright, who ended his live broadcast on Radio 2 in early July after more than 40 years with the station.
In a statement shared on July 28, Ms Feltz said: “I have loved every moment with my Radio 2 ‘Early Birds’ and will miss my dear listeners, Jolly Good Fellows and beloved friends and colleagues at Radio 2 with all my heart. However, after nearly 12 blissful years, I must now step down to make up for a much needed decade of beauty sleep deficit!
Gone Girl: Vanessa Feltz has become the latest start to leave the BBC and will host Radio 2 for the last time on Friday. Pictured: Delivering the message to her audience on July 28th
“It has been an honor and privilege to be BBC Radio London’s Breakfast Voice for 20 years and although I am leaving the show I still expect hugs from my dear listeners when I see them on the streets of London!
“I’ll be pumping up a dollop of energy to swing off zip lines with my three bubbly grandkids and frolic with my fiancé Ben, who annoyingly stays 10 years younger than me!”
Speaking on Radio 2’s breakfast show after Ms Feltz announced her departure, Zoe Ball described her colleague as “always glamorous and probably the smartest person I know”.
She added: “I’m not going to lie, we’re all in tears at Radio 2. She’s always been outrageous and the hardest working girl.
“Wherever she goes next, whatever she does, she’s going to be spot on and very lucky to have her.” Eventually we’ll bump her up.’
Beloved: Ms Feltz (left) said she needed to step down “to make up for the deficit of a much-needed decade of beauty sleep” and use her “energizing closed eye” to “frolic with her fiancé Ben Ofoedu (right), who’ irritatingly stays 10 years younger than me’
Of the star’s departure, Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “For almost 12 years Vanessa has made her weekday live breakfast show her very own kingdom and I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for the thousands of mid-night starts them to entertain Radio 2 listeners.
“On behalf of you and everyone at Wogan House, I would like to convey our best wishes to Lady V for the future.”
British Broadcasting President Scott Taunton said: “Vanessa Feltz is not only a world-class broadcaster, she is a national treasure. I’m delighted that she joins TalkTV’s brilliant roster of talent.
“With no need for an alarm clock, I’m sure our viewers and listeners will get the full power of Feltz.”
In July, Feltz announced she was leaving her shows on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio London, joining a number of established presenters who are leaving the station.
Paul O’Grady, 67, and Steve Wright, also 67, have also left their Radio 2 shows in recent months.
In recent BBC figures, Feltz was one of just three women in the top 10 highest paid on-air talent, with wages ranging from £400,000 to £404,999 which put her in eighth place.
Zoe Ball and Fiona Bruce were the other two presenters 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 has been extended to 4 a.m. from January 2021.
In addition to daily news, their shows also included features such as Famous Last Words, Jolly Good Fellows, The Feltz Philological Challenge and Early Bird Earworms.
Change: Radio 2 fans have accused the BBC of ageism after Paul O’Grady left the station. He is the latest in a line of older DJs to step down, including Steve Wright, Graham Norton and Simon Mayo. The ‘changing of the guard’ brings with it younger talent including ex-Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, RuPaul’s Michelle Visage, Waterloo Road’s Angela Griffin and DJ Spoony