{"id":5003,"date":"2025-07-17T14:18:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/5003\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T14:18:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:18:17","slug":"vanessa-feltz-will-look-at-these-photos-and-see-everyone-knows-the-truth-i-wasted-17-years-jaw-dropping-interview-with-ex-fiance-ben-ofoedu-as-he-marries-vanessa-2-0-and-the-brides-verdicts-e","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/5003\/","title":{"rendered":"Vanessa Feltz will look at these photos and see everyone knows the truth. I wasted 17 years: Jaw-dropping interview with ex-fiance Ben Ofoedu as he marries ‘Vanessa 2.0’… and the bride’s verdict’s even WORSE"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Ben Ofoedu<\/a> split from his fiancee Vanessa Feltz<\/a> after 16 years together, he believed he\u2019d never get the chance to walk down the aisle.<\/p>\n

But on Wednesday, the musician\u2019s dream of becoming a husband finally came true \u2013 and, in a curious twist, he married another Vanessa. Not a television presenter or reality star like Feltz, but an aesthetics expert, Vanessa Brown, who is 23 years his junior.<\/p>\n

Ofoedu, 52, affectionately calls her \u2018Vanessa 2.0\u2019 and their love has already inspired him to write ten unreleased love songs. The pair tied the knot in a lavish \u00a3100,000 ceremony at the breathtaking medieval Rose Castle in Cumbria, near Carlisle, where Brown grew up.<\/p>\n

She dazzled in a Berta Privee strapless lace gown, while the former band member for Phats & Small and Intenso Project opted for a cream suit and black shirt. The day began in a tiny church, where they received a blessing from a priest, before moving on to the castle lawn for the main celebration.<\/p>\n

Among the 72 guests were famous faces including Boyzone<\/a>\u2019s Shane Lynch<\/a>, who acted as best man, as well as his former bandmate Keith Duffy<\/a>, S Club 7<\/a>\u2019s Bradley McIntosh<\/a> and pop group 911\u2019s Lee Brennan. Guests toasted the newlyweds with filled-to-the-brim flutes of \u00a333-a-bottle Jean-Noel Heritage Champagne.<\/p>\n

After a romantic first dance to Boyzone\u2019s Every Day I Love You \u2013 a nod to Ofoedu\u2019s long-standing music industry friendships \u2013 the crowd was treated to a \u00a37,500 drone show that told the couple\u2019s love story, which began in April last year after a chance meeting backstage at a gala dinner celebrating business men and women in Carlisle, at which Ofeodu was performing.<\/p>\n

Their chance meeting was described extensively in their order of service: \u2018We met on the 19th April 2024 at the Elite Awards in Carlisle \u2013a night we will never forget.<\/p>\n

\u2018It just so happened that Ben was performing [at the event] with Boyz on Block as a last-minute edition after Boyzlife [comprising Boyzone\u2019s Duffy and Westlife\u2019s Brian McFadden] had to cancel. If Brian and Keith had not stepped back, Ben wouldn\u2019t have been on that stage and we might never have met.<\/p>\n

\"Ben <\/p>\n

Ben Ofoedu affectionately calls his wife ‘Vanessa 2.0’ – after his former fiancee Vanessa Feltz<\/p>\n

\"Ofoedu, <\/p>\n

Ofoedu, 52, met aesthetics expert Vanessa Brown last year and knew she was The One\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Their <\/p>\n

Their chance meeting was described extensively in their order of service: \u2018We met on the 19th April 2024 at the Elite Awards in Carlisle \u2013a night we will never forget’<\/p>\n

\"In <\/p>\n

In his first exclusive interview with the Mail as a married man, Ofoedu spoke of his joy at finally becoming a husband<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The bride said:\u00a0\u2018Our wedding felt like a fairytale \u2013 a white dress, white doves and all our favourite people there to see us start our for ever’<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The pair tied the knot in a lavish \u00a3100,000 ceremony in Cumbria, near where Brown grew up<\/p>\n

\"Vanessa <\/p>\n

Vanessa Feltz met Ben in 2005, when she was at the height of her broadcasting fame and he was a little-known pop singer. Here they are in 2022<\/p>\n

\u2018After the show we ended up chatting \u2013 nothing planned or forced. That conversation sparked something real and everything changed from there.<\/p>\n

\u2018Since that night, we\u2019ve packed a life time into a year. Then in February 2025, during the most unforgettable trip to New York, Ben proposed.<\/p>\n

\u2018Now standing here on our wedding day with all of you, it\u2019s surreal and beautiful to think how it all began.\u2019<\/p>\n

Dinner tables were named after songs written by the couple\u2019s musical friends and guests tucked into an indulgent meal of lobster ravioli, roast chicken, salmon, and cheese souffl\u00e9. It was especially enjoyed by the groom, who has spent the last six months in the gym preparing for what he called \u2018the happiest day of my life\u2019.<\/p>\n

And in his first exclusive interview with the Mail as a married man, Ofoedu spoke of his joy at finally becoming a husband.<\/p>\n

He said: \u2018I have been waiting for this feeling, I have always wanted to be married since I was seven years old. I always wanted to be with someone who would take my surname.<\/p>\n

\u2018I almost gave up on marriage, thinking there wasn\u2019t a lady that would walk down the aisle for me.<\/p>\n

\u2018I can\u2019t believe the day has come, it is a dream come true. It feels like I\u2019ve been waiting for this moment all my life. This is the finale of the chapter that was 17 years of my life.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The wedding took place at the breathtaking medieval Rose Castle near Carlisle<\/p>\n

\"Guests <\/p>\n

Guests included several big names including\u00a0Boyzone\u2019s Shane Lynch, who acted as best man<\/p>\n

\"As <\/p>\n

As the festivities continued into the early hours, guests were invited to stay the night in the 43-bedroom castle. They included Bradley McIntosh from S Club (front left), Shane Lynch (second from right) and singer Dane Bowers (right)<\/p>\n

\"Guests <\/p>\n

\u00a0Guests including Boyzone stars Keith Duffy (third from left) toasted the newlyweds with filled-to-the-brim flutes of \u00a333-a-bottle Jean-Noel Heritage Champagne<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

\u00a0The couple\u2019s love story which began in April last year after a chance meeting backstage at a gala dinner celebrating business men and women in Carlisle, at which Ofeodu was performing<\/p>\n

\"Ofoedu <\/p>\n

Ofoedu said:\u00a0 \u2018The main thing now [is] it\u2019s ended happily ever after for me \u2013 getting married in a beautiful castle in Carlisle and I\u2019m happy’<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The groom has spent the last six months in the gym preparing for what he called \u2018the happiest day of my life\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Singer <\/p>\n

Singer and rapper Abz Love entertains himself with spot of crazy golf at the castle wedding\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\u2018I <\/p>\n

\u2018I couldn\u2019t imagine spending my life with anyone else,\u2019 the groom told the Daily Mail<\/p>\n

\"After <\/p>\n

After undergoing therapy in the wake of their split, the DJ \u2013 who refuses to mention Feltz by name \u2018ever again\u2019 \u2013 said the torrid experience gave him clarity<\/p>\n

\"\u2018I <\/p>\n

\u2018I know she [Vanessa Feltz] will look at these pictures today and see that everyone here knows the truth about our relationship and the narrative she spun,’ said the groom<\/p>\n

\"\u2018I <\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t believe in long engagements any more. You don\u2019t want to get married if there\u2019s a question mark over your engagement,’ said\u00a0Ofoedu (pictured with Dane Bowers)<\/p>\n

He was, of course, referring to his previous long-term engagement to Ms Feltz.<\/p>\n

The pair met in 2005, when the TV presenter was at the height of her broadcasting fame and he was a little-known pop singer \u2013 best remembered for his stint in Phats & Small. The couple quickly became a fixture on the celebrity circuit and within months were engaged, with Feltz proudly introducing Ofoedu to the public as her fianc\u00e9. She frequently featured him in her media appearances, from red-carpet events to reality-TV shows, reviving his public profile and transforming him into a household name.<\/p>\n

But behind the scenes, cracks were beginning to show. Their relationship came to a dramatic end in 2023 after Ofoedu admitted to cheating \u2014 a betrayal that left Feltz heartbroken and publicly humiliated.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his relationship with the former This Morning agony aunt, he said: \u2018Never again will I do that. I wasted 17 years of my life.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t believe in long engagements any more. You don\u2019t want to get married if there\u2019s a question mark over your engagement.<\/p>\n

\u2018If you don\u2019t want to commit to someone, that\u2019s fine. But don\u2019t pretend you do and hold on to someone for a long period of time. Let them free, let them fly.\u2019<\/p>\n

After undergoing therapy in the wake of their split, the DJ \u2013 who refuses to mention Feltz by name \u2018ever again\u2019 \u2013 said the torrid experience gave him clarity.<\/p>\n

\u2018I knew what I was getting into going out with someone that talks about their sex life on TV. What did I expect? It was great media attention for her. I went into it with my eyes wide open thinking it wouldn\u2019t affect me, but it did.\u2019<\/p>\n

As he surveyed the crowd of loved ones, Ofoedu reflected that the most valuable outcome of his break-up with Feltz was \u2018finding out who my real friends are\u2019.<\/p>\n

He said: \u2018I thought I was friends with everyone but people acted differently towards me [after the break up]. At the time it hurt me but it turned out to be great because it showed me who actually had my back \u2013 every member of Boyzone and a couple of boys from Blu who couldn\u2019t be here.<\/p>\n

\u2018But I know she [Vanessa Feltz] will look at these pictures today and see that everyone here knows the truth about our relationship and the narrative she spun.<\/p>\n

\u2018This love with Vanessa [Brown] has made me realise that the other one didn\u2019t love me as much as she made out, we had two different definitions of love.\u2019<\/p>\n

Insisting he didn\u2019t want to make his special day about the \u2018past\u2019, Ofoedu added: \u2018All of that was worth it and everything happens for a reason because I\u2019ve found my perfect person.<\/p>\n

\u2018The main thing now [is] it\u2019s ended happily ever after for me \u2013 getting married in a beautiful castle in Carlisle and I\u2019m happy.<\/p>\n

\u2018Vanessa is the woman of my dreams, our connection was instant and when I found out she was dreaming of a beautiful white wedding fit for a princess, I thought, \u201cBen, it\u2019s time to get your Prince Charming boots on and be the fairytale prince she\u2019s always dreamed of\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u2018As I look back at our beautiful romance it has confirmed my belief that true love is waiting around the corner \u2013 you just have to keep the faith.\u2019<\/p>\n

Bride Vanessa echoed the sentiment, beaming as she recalled how their connection had been \u2018instant\u2019, adding: \u2018It was like everything suddenly made sense. When you know, you know.\u2019<\/p>\n

She revealed the couple hope to start a family within the next year and are planning a business venture together.<\/p>\n

After trying on six gowns, she chose an off-the-shoulder lace number and said: \u2018Our wedding felt like a fairytale \u2013 a white dress, white doves and all our favourite people there to see us start our for ever.<\/p>\n

\u2018I couldn\u2019t imagine spending my life with anyone else.\u2019<\/p>\n

Though she didn\u2019t shy away from referencing her husband\u2019s former relationship, she dismissed the negativity surrounding it.<\/p>\n

She said: \u2018When it comes to his last relationship, a lot of it is spiteful and untrue.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m the right person for him. Their relationship ended for reasons the public weren\u2019t aware of. Everyone always says they have never seen Ben as happy as he is now.<\/p>\n

\"Reflecting <\/p>\n

Reflecting on his relationship with former This Morning agony aunt Ms Feltz, the groom (pictured with Keith Duffy and Dane Bowers) said: \u2018Never again will I do that. I wasted 17 years of my life’<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The bride dazzled in a Berta Privee strapless lace gown, while the former band member for Phats & Small and Intenso Project opted for a cream suit and black shirt<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The happy couple with Boyzone’s Keith Duffy\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"You <\/p>\n

You may kiss the bride.\u00a0\u2018It will be a love story for the ages, a Romeo and Juliet,\u2019 said her mother<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s a testament to where he is in his life. He\u2019s completely fulfilled when previously he wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u2018To be honest I don\u2019t care whatsoever, I couldn\u2019t care less about her. She is his ex \u2013 I have exes \u2013 and they\u2019re in the past.<\/p>\n

\u2018Why would you care?\u2019 Brown adds, talking about Feltz. \u2018Enjoy your retirement, your family and just chill. Stop talking about it, it\u2019s so tragic!<\/p>\n

\u2018Part of me feels sorry for her but it\u2019s my life and I don\u2019t care.\u2019<\/p>\n

Her mother, 59-year-old Lana Brown, who helped plan the wedding, agreed.<\/p>\n

She told the Mail: \u2018I think it\u2019s strange [he\u2019s married] another Vanessa but I said to Ben, maybe you were just waiting for the right Vanessa.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s no doubt in the past 16 years he was not a happy person, he was hurt a lot, but that\u2019s in the past.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s great to see him so happy. From now on it\u2019s a different chapter in his life, I hope this change will inspire him to start up making music again.<\/p>\n

\u2018Creativity will begin again, he has taken the chains off his feet and he\u2019s healed.<\/p>\n

\u2018It will be a love story for the ages, a Romeo and Juliet.\u2019<\/p>\n

The evening continued with speeches from Ofoedu\u2019s former bandmate Rodney Williams, and Vanessa\u2019s father Stewart, 63.<\/p>\n

At 7.30pm, the party kicked off in earnest, with a VIP sing-along featuring members of Boyzone.<\/p>\n

As the festivities continued into the early hours, guests were invited to stay the night in the 43-bedroom castle \u2013 secured, as the Brown family say, on \u2018mates\u2019 rates\u2019 through a close friendship with the owners.<\/p>\n

Best man Lynch, 49, told the Mail: \u2018Ben and I go back 30 years. He took me under his wing and Irish man into the UK. To see his love for Vanessa, it\u2019s beautiful and a blessed day. I am so happy to see Ben so happy. He deserves nothing more than this perfect day. Vanessa has given him the most outstanding gift and brings out the best in him \u2013 comfort, joy, commitment and trust. All that a marriage should have.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s found someone later on in life who\u2019s his person.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Ben Ofoedu split from his fiancee Vanessa Feltz after 16 years together, he believed he\u2019d never get…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5004,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[3030,3031,97,96,59,478,56,54,55,3032],"class_list":["post-5003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-ben-ofoedu","tag-boyzone","tag-dailymail","tag-entertainment","tag-gb","tag-tvshowbiz","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-vanessa-feltz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5003\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}