Vanessa Feltz admitted that her split from ex-fiance Ben Ofoedu was a "horrible shock" and her heart has snapped "into a million pieces".
The 60-year-old TV favourite returned to our screens last night for the first time since the end of her 16-year relationship with Ben, 50, just hours after he broke his silence.
Bearing her soul, Vanessa admitted that she's "nursing a broken heart" but is determined to "keep on trucking" as she prepares to turn 61 this month.
Putting a brave face on the split, Vanessa also joked that she wants someone to "pull my skirt off" as she starts a new era of being single in her sixties.
"I can’t be the only person in the country nursing a broken heart, can I? I am absolutely determined to put my best foot forward, to keep on trucking, all that sort of stuff. Keep calm and carry on," she said appearing on TalkTV.
"Having said all of this, obviously inside I’m feeling all sorts of things, no questions about it. Very hurt, very sad, terribly disappointed, worried about the future, all the normal stuff – of course I am."
Despite feeling devastated in the aftermath of her split, Vanessa is determined not to spend the rest of her life being the spurned woman.
During a chat with Bucks Fizz stars Cheryl, Mike and Jay, she joked that she's ready to get on the pull.
When asked if she'd like to come to a Fizz gig, she said: "Of course I do, I've got not one arrangement for the rest of my life now that I am single, I better come and I hope that I pull.
"If anyone wants to pull my skirt off I am in!''
Vanessa also revealed the heartbreaking reason she's determined to live life in her sixties to the fullest - her mother's early death.
"The thing is, that my mum died at 57 years old and I have mourned her every day. She’s missed so much – now I might start crying and I hope I don’t as that would be very unprofessional," she said.
"So, when I lived to be older than my mum, and I am older, I’m 60, I’ve been so grateful to be alive. I’ve been so grateful, because I didn’t think it was a given right? I was so pleased.
"So, I was absolutely determined to wring every ounce of happiness and fun and adventure and excitement from every day. And I really mean it, I’m not just saying it because it’s sloshy and slushy – I really mean it.
"So, when people say 'eurgh, you’re 60, you’re old, how do you feel?' The answer is grateful. I feel incredibly grateful, I’m so pleased to be alive. And I’m so determined to enjoy everything I’m given to have.
"But obviously when you get a horrible shock and your heart snaps into a million pieces and you’re just thinking 'oh my God,' all that thing about enjoying every minute, it’s a gift, it’s a wonderful thing, just kind of evaporates. It’s very difficult.
She added: "It’s hard then, because you're on track to be appreciating every minute and you’re feeling so sad. It’s hard, isn’t it? I’m determined to do it, but it is hard. I don’t want to be derailed from it."
Vanessa announced the news that the pair had parted after 16 years at the weekend, saying that she was "extremely sad and disappointed". The star says she is refusing to allow her devastation to destroy her life and vowed to not let the split "defeat" her.
It comes as Ben returned to social media and appeared to have referred to their parting for the first time by posting a large heartbroken emoji on his Instagram Stories.
He last posted a short clip of himself on the train on his Instagram account two days ago, captioning it: "On the train vibez again God bless if you’re reading this."
Vanessa stunned her fans by announcing the sudden split on Saturday.
"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 to you on Instagram," she told her followers in a video.
"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."
The pair met back in 2005, with Vanessa having divorced Michael Kurer five years earlier following cheating allegations.
Ben popped the question a year after first meeting, but Vanessa had shared her worries about marrying him.
She admitted her divorce from her doctor ex-husband made her "wary of getting married again."
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