Vanessa Feltz's daughter has said that she was sent messages claiming that her mum's fiance, Ben Ofoedu, was cheating on her on Christmas Day.
The family were opening presents and having “a lovely time” when messages revealing Ben’s betrayal were sent to Vanessa’s daughter Allegra via Instagram, she has said.
Although the messages were anonymous, Allegra said there was enough detail in them to know the accusations were true.
She then had to make the decision to tell her mum the heartbreaking news during what should have been one of the family’s happiest days of the year.
At the time Phats & Small singer Ben was away performing in panto and has now moved out of the home he shared with Vanessa, who he was engaged to for 16 years.
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Allegra, 37, and her younger sister Saskia, 34, have since called in the police over the disturbing social media messages which were cruel and threatening towards their 60-year-old mum.
She said the whole family, including her two children, are “utterly distraught” to learn about Ben’s behaviour.
Recalling the moment they discovered what he had been up to, Saskia told The Sun: “It was Christmas day of all days. We were all together as a family, but Ben was away in pantomime, when the messages appeared via Instagram.
“It was anonymous – and of course it revealed lots that we didn’t know – but it was also very abusive and extremely hurtful.
“We don’t keep things from each other in our family so we knew we had to share that with mum.”
Allegra said they “waited a bit” as Vanessa was having such a lovely day with her grandchildren.
But when it came to finally sitting her down and telling their beloved mum the truth “it just felt horrible”.
Earlier this month, Vanessa confirmed she had split with Ben after almost two decades together.
The Mirror has reached out to Ben's reps for comment.
Devastated Vanessa said she never expected to be single again at the age of 60 as she thought her and Ben, 50, would be together until she died.
Announcing the news they had parted in a heartfelt social media post, Vanessa told her followers: “Well I haven’t been on Instagram for three weeks and that’s because my relationship with Ben is over after 16 years and I honestly didn’t know what to say to you .
“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 TV legend has vowed to not let the shock of her break-up write her off and will celebrate her birthday in style later this month when she turns 61.
She said: “I will cuddle my grandbabies, hit the town with my incredible girlfriends and I will, I fear, go on to make many more mistakes.
"As the legendary Chumbawamba sang: 'I get knocked down but I get up again. You are never gonna keep me down!'"
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