Ben Ofoedu, known for his music with Phats & Small, is pursuing fatherhood with his new wife, beauty entrepreneur Vanessa Brown. The couple, who married last year, are exploring the possibility of starting a family.
Ofoedu, 54, recently visited The Bridge Clinic in London for fertility testing. He expressed a proactive approach to fatherhood, noting that men often assume fertility issues lie with the female partner. "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. 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," Ofoedu stated. He advocates for men to undergo similar checks, emphasizing that "it could be him that’s the problem."
His wife, whom he affectionately calls ‘Vanessa 2.0,’ is younger than him, and Ofoedu feels the responsibility for conception rests primarily with him. "I feel it would just be down to me on whether we can conceive," he said. He is awaiting his results this week and expressed optimism, noting he was advised that potential issues can be reversed. The singer also shared that the most challenging part of the process was the required five-day abstinence prior to the test.
Ofoedu's relationship with television presenter Vanessa Feltz ended in 2023 after 16 years. He was previously engaged to Feltz in 2006, but the engagement was called off. He married Vanessa Brown last year in a ceremony described as lavish.
In other news, the Oyster Shack restaurant in Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon, was reportedly targeted by a group of six individuals who left without paying, resulting in a £600 loss for the establishment. Separately, cast members from the Disney+ series 'Rivals,' based on the novels of the late Dame Jilly Cooper, gathered at Guards Polo Club in Windsor to honor her legacy. Katherine Parkinson presented the Coronation Cup at the event.
Meanwhile, actor Zawe Ashton, who stars in the BBC iPlayer romantic period drama 'Mr Malcolm's List,' has spoken out about the historical exclusion of Black and Asian actors from the genre. Ashton, of Ugandan and English descent, believes this exclusion denies opportunities for representation in period dramas. Additionally, singer Helen George has found solace in her role in the musical 'High Society' following a recent breakup, stating that the fun of the production and the camaraderie of her castmates have helped her cope.