PICKING UP THE PIECES: 'I'M SHOCKED BUT IT WON'T DEFEAT ME'

VANESSA FELTZ ON HER DEVASTATION’ AFTER HER SPLIT WITH BEN OFOEDU

- LISA BLAKE

She once described herself as “incredibly lucky” to have a partner “who is 10 years younger than me, hot as hell and desires me”. But Vanessa Feltz has opened up on her “heartbreak” and “devastation” that her relationship with Ben Ofoedu has ended after 16 years.

Vanessa, 60, recently ended her engagement with former Phats & Small singer Ben, 50, after uncovering his “double life”. She reportedly discovered numerous emails and social media messages which suggested he had been unfaithful several times.

But the star – whose ex-husband, surgeon Michael Kurer, walked out on her after 17 years of marriage – has defiantly declared she is not going to be defeated by the break-up.

She told fans on Instagram, “My relationship with Ben is over after 16 years… I really do feel that once the trust in a relationship is gone you really can’t get it back, and that’s what I’d tell anyone else to do.”

She continued, “So I just wanted to say, obviously I feel incredibly sad, and I’m pretty disappointed and shocked and all those horrible things. But also full of resolve, because I’m not going to let this defeat me.

Putting a positive spin on it, Vanessa added, “I’m so glad to be living longer than my mum did. She died at 57 and I’m going to be 61 soon. So I feel very grateful to be alive and I want to carry on feeling that way. I want to celebrate and I want to find fun and laughter anywhere I can and I know it’s not going to be easy but I’m absolutely determined to do it.”