Vanessa Feltz joins talkTV for Drivetime show and vows to ‘have a personal point of view’ after BBC exit-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

Vanessa Feltz is taking over Drivetime (Picture: Andrew Benge/Redferns)

Vanessa Feltz is promising big things as she joins talkTV at the helm of the network’s drivetime show.

The 60-year-old star – who spent two decades waking people up with breakfast shows on BBC Radio 2 before her exit last month – is replacing Jeremy Kyle as permanent host from September 5 as she steps into a new role fronting a three-hour show at 4pm Monday to Friday.

She said in a statement: ‘The allure of a retirement reclining on a chaise longue while the fragrant Ben peeled me a grape was fleeting.

‘While there are politicians to be tackled, fat cats to be flattened, scams to expose and Lovely Listeners to champion it’s my mission to breathe fire into the microphone.

‘After an elegant sojourn at the BBC I am effervescent with joy at the invitation to unleash my hitherto hidden side on Talk TV. I will relish full-throttled debate and the chance to have a personal passionate point of view at last.’

She’s looking forward to the ‘luxury’ for a lie-in as she takes over the ‘reins of Drivetime’ without needing to worry about setting an alarm clock.

Jeremy Kyle is getting a prime time show as Vanessa takes over Drivetime (Picture: talkTV)

‘If I terrified Mayor Sadiq Khan so acutely he never dared set foot in my studio on almost no sleep, tune in to see what I can achieve on a full eight hours shut-eye,’ she continued. ‘Times have never been tougher and neither have I.’

Meanwhile, Vanessa will continue to appear on talkTV’s The Talk show two to three nights a week.

Scott Taunton – EVP, President of Broadcasting for News UK – hailed the TV veteran as a ‘national treasure’ and backed her to succeed.

He commented: ‘Vanessa Feltz is not only a world-class broadcaster, she’s also a national treasure. I’m delighted that she is joining the brilliant talent roster at TalkTV. With no alarm clock needed, I’m sure our viewers and listeners will be getting the full force of Feltz!’

Earlier this year, it was revealed her predecessor Jeremy Kyle will be hosting a new primetime show on the network, and it’s set to launch this autumn.

Drivetime airs weekdays at 4pm on talkTV.

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