Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2 will be ringing the changes in 2011 as Vanessa Feltz will be the new host of the Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show. From Monday 17 January 2011, between 5-6.30am every weekday, Vanessa will entertain the nation with a show bursting with music, chat and a first look at the day's news.

Vanessa said: "I'm overjoyed to be joining the UK's most listened to network as I'm a huge fan of Radio 2 – home of many of the country's most beloved presenters.

"I'm utterly thrilled to be handing over to Chris Evans every morning – it's my idea of the perfect start to the day."

Vanessa will also become the regular deputy presenter for one of Radio 2's most popular programmes, Jeremy Vine's weekday lunchtime show.

Bob Shennan, Controller, Radio 2 and 6 Music, says: "As well as being an accomplished and prize-winning radio presenter, Vanessa has a huge zest and passion for life in general, making her the perfect early morning show host. I'm convinced that she'll be the ideal companion to the millions of our earlybird listeners."

Since late 2002, Vanessa has presented the morning programme on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ London 94.9 and, in 2009, she won the Speech Radio Personality of the Year award at the prestigious Sony Radio Academy Awards. With characteristic energy, Vanessa will continue to present her mid-morning show on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ London 94.9 from Monday to Friday, handing over the reins to another presenter on Saturday morning.

A Cambridge graduate, Vanessa soon became a newspaper and magazine columnist. Moving into television in the early Nineties, Vanessa became the British "Oprah" on the ITV weekday chat show Vanessa before getting into bed every weekday morning on Channel 4's The Big Breakfast.

From 1995 to 2001, Vanessa presented the consumer show Value For Money for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One and has since appeared on everything from Newsnight and Question Time to Little Britain and Big Brother – including this year's Ultimate Big Brother.

The appointment follows Sarah Kennedy's decision to leave the Dawn Patrol earlier this year.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2 Publicity