Vanessa Feltz, 64, hosted her final Channel 5 daytime show on Friday, marking the end of her one-year contract for the chat program, which was axed by network bosses. Feltz announced her intention to launch a new show on YouTube, titled "At Home With Vanessa," to be filmed at her residence, which she affectionately calls 'Feltz Tower.'
Despite her public resolve, sources close to Feltz told the Daily Mail that she is struggling with the show's cancellation, stating she was "crying all morning before the show and didn't think she would get through it." The presenter herself expressed her sadness, telling viewers, "I feel very, very sad this is the last show. To anybody who is sending me nice messages, I really appreciate it." She also shared that she had been "weeping in the car last night thinking 'oh god, tomorrow is my last show.'"
Feltz's final broadcast featured guests Danniella Westbrook, Cosmo Landesman, and Lizzie Cundy. Cundy, who was also a guest on Feltz's first show, expressed her admiration, saying, "Vanessa it's been such an honour working with you. We've all loved you, I'm so proud of you." A personalized message from Jeremy Vine was also shared, with Vine saying, "You're amazing. We're going to miss you in the afternoons, your company. You bring the sunshine, I hope you enjoy your last show. Lots of love, dear Vanessa."
Fans also shared their sentiments on social media platform X, with one user writing, "Vanessa Feltz has been my rock" and another stating, "Oh Vanessa Feltz on 5's final show is so emotional.. until we meet again."
Feltz learned of the show's cancellation in a meeting on a Wednesday afternoon, just days before her final broadcast. She described the axing as "a bit of a shock" and expressed that she was "shocked to the core and very upset and I still am." She attributed the decision to Paramount's acquisition of Channel 5, suggesting the new owners intended to air Paramount movies in the afternoon slot to save costs.
Sources indicated that while low ratings were a factor in the cancellation, the show's struggle with nuisance and scam callers during phone-in segments also played a role. Producers had attempted to mitigate the issue by limiting calls to landlines, but this measure was deemed too restrictive. Feltz reportedly left her role on the established program "This Morning" for this opportunity, and insiders stated she felt "blindsided" and "let down by bosses." She also expressed concern for her production team, many of whom will now face job losses.