BBC Radio 2 presenter Vanessa Feltz has announced that she will be leaving her early morning Radio 2 breakfast show, as well as her breakfast show on BBC Radio London.

Feltz began presenting the Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show in January 2011, from 5am-6.30am, which was extended to 4am from January 2021.

The BBC said she had "entertained listeners with the news of the day, as well as much loved features including Famous Last Words, Jolly Good Fellows, The Feltz Philological Challenge and Early Bird Earworms."

In a statement, Feltz said: “I have loved every moment with my Radio 2 ‘Early Birds’ and will miss my Lovely Listeners, Jolly Good Fellows and beloved friends and colleagues at Radio 2 with all my heart. However, after almost 12 blissful years, I now need to step down to catch up on a much needed decade’s deficit of beauty sleep!

“It’s been an honour and privilege to be the Breakfast voice of BBC Radio London for 20 years and although I’m leaving the show, I’ll continue to expect hugs from my lovely listeners when I see them on the streets of London!

“I will enjoy a dollop of energy-boosting shut-eye to swing from zip-lines with my three effervescent grandchildren and frolic with my fiancé Ben, who irritatingly remains 10 years younger than me!”

Feltz will present her last Radio 2 Early Morning Breakfast Show on Friday, July 29.

After taking a two-week break, Vanessa will cover for Jeremy Vine for two weeks (w/c August 15 and 22, noon–2pm) as planned, and bid farewell to Radio 2 listeners on Friday, August 26.