Viewers and listeners will feel the full force of Feltz, 4-7pm weeknights

London, Monday 22 August: Award-winning broadcaster Vanessa Feltz will host TalkTV's drivetime show after 20 years waking people up with breakfast shows on BBC radio.

The much-loved TV and radio presenter will enjoy a lie-in for the first time in years, while viewers and listeners will feel the full force of Vanessa Feltz as they tune in for her new three-hour show on TalkTV from Monday, 5 September.

Vanessa has appeared on TalkTV as a regular on The Talk since the channel launched in April, and will now permanently host the drivetime slot from 4-7pm Monday to Friday.

Known for being the people’s champion, Vanessa will use her show to focus on the topics that matter most to the audience at home, unpacking the biggest stories of the day as well as leading fiery panel debates and delivering exclusive interviews with big-name celebrities.

Vanessa Feltz said: “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. Even better, I’ll be at the reins of Drivetime. Lord what luxury! After years of 3.30 am starts I’ll have a show without an alarm clock involved. 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.

“I’ll be on ‘The Talk’ at 9pm two-three nights a week too. Times have never been tougher and neither have I. See you there 4pm from Monday September 5th and have a good lunch first. You’re going to need the calories!!”

Scott Taunton, EVP, President of Broadcasting, News UK, said: “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!”

Vanessa replaces Jeremy Kyle as the permanent host of the drivetime show and joins a stellar cast of talent on TalkTV including Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, Tom Newton Dunn, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Mike Graham and Ian Collins. Earlier this year it was announced that Jeremy Kyle is set to host a new primetime show on TalkTV, launching in the autumn.

Vanessa hosted an early morning Breakfast show on Radio 2 from 2011 to 2022 and fronted shows on BBC Radio London for close to two decades. Across her broadcasting career, Vanessa has won a number of awards including: a Sony Gold, two Gold Gillard Awards and Silver for Best Speech Breakfast Show at the Arias (The Radio Academy's Audio and Radio Industry Awards).

TalkTV launched in April as a bold new voice in news, current affairs, debate and opinion. The continued growth in radio listeners comes as the schedule finds news audiences, simulcasting with TalkTV, available on Sky Channel 526, Sky Glass Channel 508, Virgin Media Channel 627, Freeview Channel 237 and Freesat Channel 217 as well as on DAB, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung TV Plus, YouTube, the Talk.TV website and TalkTV iOS and Android apps.