Vanessa Feltz is dating again after a difficult split earlier this year, but it hasn’t been without challenges, according to Celebs Go Dating expert Anna Williamson.
Vanessa, 61, stated in February that she and long-term boyfriend Ben Ofoedu had split up after he was caught cheating.
The TV host has gradually revealed how much that violation of trust harmed her, previously describing herself as “broken and wounded.”
She had been engaged to Ben since 2006, and while they never married, they had established a life together.
Going back into the dating world after 17 years away was always going to be difficult, but the celebrity is ready to document her experience on Celebs Go Dating.
Anna Williamson, a dating specialist and celebrity love guru, spoke to Metro.co.uk about Vanessa’s ‘rusty’ dating career.
Anna described this season as a “total Bobby Dazzler,” saying that the celebs “jumped in with both feet” this year, with snogs aplenty just a few days in.
Under the cautious supervision of Anna and her colleagues specialists, single celebs such as Adam Collard, Lottie Moss, and Chloe Burrows date ordinary people.
While there are plenty of suitable celebrity faces on the programme, fans are particularly interested in Vanessa following her heartbreaking split.
‘She came in looking forward to it but understandably nervous about what the dating world has in store for her,’ Anna explained.
‘Vanessa openly hasn’t dated in 17 years but she was ready and raring to go.’
The radio presenter may have been thrilled, but the experience was not without its challenges.
‘When you haven’t dated for that amount of time, you’re gonna be a bit rusty and not really sure about who you’re after, what you’re after, and how to do it,’ continued Anna.
‘We were very aware as well that Vanessa has been very, very heartbroken and let down. We wanted to make sure that she felt supported and taken care of while also introducing her to dates and hopefully helping her find happiness.’
Vanessa intimated on Instagram that she had ended up going on three dates in one night during the E4 reality show’s speed dating event.
In another post, she described her first date following the devastating breakup as “indescribable,” encouraging viewers to “imagine” how she felt.
Despite her apprehension, Anna praised the This Morning host, stating that assisting celebrities with their love life was “the greatest honour.”
She added: ‘We are genuinely there to help. We want people to be better daters. You want people to have worked on themselves because essentially every relationship starts with working on yourself first.’
The expert feels that the time spent together helps the stars to “lower their barriers” and invite herself, Paul C Brunson, and newbie Dr Tara Suwinyattichaiporn into the “most private and difficult portions of their lives.”
Anna labelled the agency her “second home,” having been a resident relationship specialist since 2019, saying that if she leaves, they’ll have to drag her off the programme.
While the love guru is definitely excited about this season’s shenanigans, Vanessa’s new chapter will have to wait a bit longer.
Anna hinted: ‘She really has gone through it on this series and I’m really excited for people to see how she ends [the show].’
Celebs Go Dating airs Sunday to Thursday at 9pm on E4, stream or catch up on Channel 4.
Source My Celebrity Life.
