Vanessa Feltz Quits BBC Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show to Catch Up on Sleep
Vanessa Feltz, BBC’s highest-paid broadcaster and beloved TV personality, has announced she’s stepping down from her early-morning Radio 2 show. After nearly 12 years on air, she says it’s time to make up for a “decade’s deficit of beauty sleep.”
Final Shows and Fond Farewells
Feltz told listeners on Thursday morning that hosting the Early Breakfast Show has been “an honour and a privilege.” She will host her last show this Friday before taking a two-week break. She’ll then cover for Jeremy Vine for a couple of weeks, with her official final farewell set for Friday, August 26.
“I have loved every moment with my Radio 2 ‘Early Birds’ and will miss my Lovely Listeners, Jolly Good Fellows, and beloved friends and colleagues at Radio 2 with all my heart,” Feltz said.
“After nearly 12 blissful years, I now need to step down to catch up on a decade’s worth of beauty sleep.”
Vanessa also reflected on her 20 years at BBC Radio London: “It’s been an honour and privilege to be the breakfast voice… and although I’m leaving the show, I’ll continue to expect hugs from my lovely listeners when I see them on the streets of London.”
Top Ten BBC Earners Include Just Three Women
According to recent BBC pay data, Feltz ranks eighth among the top ten highest-paid on-air stars, earning between £400,000 and £405,000. She is one of only three women in the BBC’s top earners list, alongside Zoe Ball and Fiona Bruce.
A Radio Career Full of Awards and Early Mornings
Vanessa took over the Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show in January 2011, initially airing from 5am to 6:30am. In 2021, her timeslot was extended to start at 4am. Her show featured popular segments like Famous Last Words, Jolly Good Fellows, and The Feltz Philological Challenge.
Her dedication earned her multiple accolades, including a Sony Gold in 2009, two Gold Gillard Awards, and silver at The Radio Academy’s Arias in 2017 and 2022 for Best Speech Breakfast Show.
Before early mornings, Feltz hosted mid-morning and mid-afternoon phone-in shows on BBC Radio London for over a decade, becoming a familiar voice to millions.
BBC Radio 2 Boss Praises ‘Lady V’s’ Commitment
Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2, thanked Vanessa for her “thousands of middle-of-the-night starts” that entertained listeners for nearly 12 years.
“Vanessa made her live weekday Early Breakfast Show her very own kingdom,” Thomas said.
The Wogan House team also sent their best wishes, celebrating Feltz’s glittering career and wishing her well in the next chapter.
