This Morning’s Vanessa Feltz and TV's other leading ladies who have become empowered after being cheated on

Heartbreak can be debilitating, with health experts even saying that a person mourning the loss of a relationship while also trying to treat their heartbreak, will find it very difficult to manage.

A relationship may end for various reasons, but one of the most painful is when your beloved partner turns out to be unfaithful to you.

This Morning’s Vanessa Feltz, 60, confirmed that she and her fiancé Ben Ofoedu had gone their separate ways after getting engaged in 2006, and alluded to Ben’s infidelity as a key catalyst to their relationship breaking down.

It comes after Vanessa had previously spoken about the 10-year age gap between herself and 50-year-old Ben, adding difficulties.

Vanessa took to her Instagram to say: “Well I haven't been on Instagram for three weeks and that's because my relationship with Ben is over after sixteen years and I honestly didn't know what to say…But now it's clear that it's over and I really do feel that once the trust in a relationship is gone then you can't really get it back, and that's what I would tell anyone else to do.”

As Vanessa made the ‘brave’ confession, she turned the topic of conversation to how the events, although heart-breaking, will empower her as she is ‘full of resolve’.

She added to her 252,000 followers, ‘I am not going to let this defeat me,’ especially as she approaches her 61st birthday and remembers that she has out-lived her mum.

Friends flocked to the comments section to commend Vanessa on her empowered stance, with famous faces from the television such as Holly Willoughby, Rochelle Humes and Zoe Ball reaching out.

While Carol Vorderman said, ‘He's a....and you have survived far far worse V....you ARE a survivor and I can't wait to be going out with you..as you know’, Myleene Klass also commented:

“You have got this Vanessa and we have got you. You have been so brave and will absolutely rise from this like the Queen you are. You deserve loyalty and love and knowing your worth and not settling for anything less than that takes balls. Proud of you.”

Vanessa’s confession and empowered stance is not the first in the line of television’s leading ladies facing infidelity in their personal lives.

Countryfile presenter Helen Skelton split from her husband of eight years, rugby player Richie Myler in April 2022 as the Leeds Rhinos professional was suspected of cheating with his now-girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill - the daughter of the Leeds Rhinos’ owner.

Helen was expecting their third child when they announced their separation, and reportedly hired a private investigator to uncover Richie’s potential infidelity.

However, much like Vanessa, Helen made emboldened moves in the wake of their relationship and waltzed her way into people’s hearts on the 2022 season of Strictly Come Dancing, to make it all the way to the final against Fleur East, Molly Rainford and winner Hamza Yassin.

While you don’t need a man to help get over your ex, I am sure dancing with professional Gorka Marquez gave her the strength to be an independent lady.

From the top hats of the Strictly ballroom to the Top Gear presenter Paddy McGuinness and his potential slip-up that cost him his marriage to model and mum-of-three Christine McGuinness.

Christine was said to find some friendly messages from Paddy to a BBC presenter last year, and although they may have been simply platonic, it was the ‘driving force’ to the end of their 11-year marriage and the start of them leading different lives, albeit living in the same home for their children.

Christine has confessed to trying to be the ‘perfect wife’ and had ‘faked it for a lifetime’ so has gone on to live her best life, signing on for a potential TV project and going out with friends.