Vanessa Feltz Reflects on Show Axing and Career

Vanessa Feltz, 64, has described feeling blindsided when her Channel 5 show was axed, admitting she had no "plan B" in place. The presenter revealed the unexpected news left her in shock and "very, very disappointed."

Speaking on Isabel Webster's New Chapters podcast, Feltz recounted her immediate thoughts after learning of the show's cancellation. "Oh my God, I don't have a plan B. What am I doing next?" she wondered, leading her to consider launching a new show on YouTube.

Feltz also reflected on her nearly 40-year career, noting experiences with "bossy men" who she felt often told her what to do and dismissed her ideas. "Imagine after a whole career, nearly 40 years and being bossed about by bossy bosses, most of whom I'd say 99.9% of them were male telling me what to do and also stamping on my good ideas which I know are good because I've been doing it for years," she stated.

She expressed that the prospect of having creative freedom and broadcasting about subjects she chose was a "germ of excitement" that emerged alongside the "terror" and the feeling of audacity in pursuing such a venture.

Feltz acknowledged the daunting nature of this newfound creative control after decades of working for others. She emphasized that her new YouTube venture, "At Home With Vanessa," must be viable and attract viewers, stating, "It's got to work and people have got to watch it otherwise I won't carry on doing it." She also added, "It's my money on the line, at least some of it's my money on the line. So obviously I'm very concerned to make it work."

The presenter quickly set up a filming studio in her home, launching "At Home with Vanessa" in mid-August. The show is filmed at her home with friends, featuring what she described as "bottomless bagels and cocktails on tap."

Vanessa welcomed Kaye Adams as her first guest on her YouTube channel over the summer. She had previously announced her new social media show in a post, inviting viewers to subscribe to her YouTube channel and enjoy the ride. She had also assured viewers in her final Channel 5 episode that she was "not going to hide under a rock."

The full interview with Vanessa Feltz is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.