Singer Ben Ofoedu, known for his work with Phats & Small, is actively pursuing fatherhood following the end of his 16-year relationship with TV presenter Vanessa Feltz. Ofoedu, who married beauty entrepreneur Vanessa Brown last year, shared his journey of seeking fertility assessment.
Ofoedu, 54, visited the Bridge Clinic in London for a check-up, motivated by his desire to start a family and his age difference with his new wife, whom he affectionately calls 'Vanessa 2.0'. He emphasized the importance of men undergoing such checks, stating that the assumption often falls on the female partner when conception does not occur, when the issue could lie with the male.
"I am 23 years older than my partner, and I decided that I should go and get checked out as it hasn’t happened yet," Ofoedu told the Daily Mail. "I want to start a family, and a lot of males don’t go and get checked out to make sure that everything’s kind of working properly."
He advocates for proactive health measures, adding, "Sometimes with males they just assume it’s the female – 'Oh, she can’t conceive' and it could be him that’s the problem. So for a man like me, I’m an advocate for going and getting checked out."
His wife, Vanessa Brown, is supportive of his decision. Ofoedu expressed that his wife's younger age makes him feel that the ability to conceive rests primarily with him. He is currently awaiting his results, with the possibility of reversing any identified issues. The most challenging aspect of the process, he noted, was the required five-day abstinence prior to the test.
Ofoedu and Feltz were engaged in 2006 but called off their engagement in 2023. He described his new marriage to Brown as a "lavish £100,000 ceremony at the Rose Castle in Cumbria."