Still feeling bitter, Boris? Ousted PM tells Vanessa Feltz he hopes ‘no sinister forces have conspired to force you to step down from your crucial position in our national life’ as DJ quits Radio 2
- Boris Johnson left a bitter message to departing BBC broadcaster Vanessa Feltz
- Johnson stepped down in July after losing the confidence of dozens of Tories
- He told Feltz: ‘I hope no sinister forces have conspired to force you to step down’
- Feltz is leaving the BBC after 20 years to host a drivetime show on Talk TV
As a boy, he famously said that he one day imagined that he would become ‘World King’.
So it’s no surprise if Boris Johnson still has a bitter taste in his mouth about having to step down as Prime Minister, if his parting message to BBC presenter Vanessa Feltz is anything to go by.
Feltz, 60, who hosted her final Radio 2 segment yesterday after more than two decades with the public broadcaster, played a short montage of well-wishes from various personalities during the show.
Amid the melange of heartfelt goodbyes and words of encouragement, a familiar voice piped up.
‘I hope no sinister forces have conspired to force you to step down from your crucial position in our national life,’ the outgoing PM quipped in a thinly-veiled jibe.
Vanessa Feltz outside Wogan House in London, as she arrives to cover Jeremy Vine’s show on Radio 2
The PM admitted defeat in July after the Chris Pincher scandal – one of many in which Johnson was embroiled – proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back and caused dozens of senior Tory MPs to publicly state their desire to see him step down
Johnson admitted defeat in July after the Chris Pincher scandal – one of many in which Johnson was embroiled – proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back and caused dozens of senior Tory MPs to publicly state their desire to see him step down.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and former Chancellor Rishi Sunak are now going toe-to-toe in a race for Downing St.
Johnson did manage to contain his bruised ego long enough to add some well-wishes to his statement, citing the Radio 2 DJ’s ‘amazing journalism’ and ‘volcanic passion’ for the subjects she covered.
Feltz announced last month she is joining TalkTV after leaving the BBC.
The long-time BBC broadcaster will replace Jeremy Kyle as presenter of the fledgling network’s three-hour drivetime show from September 5.
Kyle, meanwhile, is set to host a new primetime show on TalkTV launching in the autumn.
In her announcement in July, Feltz said: ‘The allure of a retirement reclining on a chaise longue while the fragrant Ben (Ofoedu, her partner) peeled me a grape was fleeting.
Long-time BBC broadcaster Feltz will replace Jeremy Kyle as presenter of the fledgling network’s three-hour drivetime show from September 5
‘While there are politicians to be tackled, fat cats to be flattened, scams to expose and lovely listeners to champion, it’s my mission to breathe fire into the microphone.
‘After an elegant sojourn at the BBC, I am effervescent with joy at the invitation to unleash my hitherto hidden side on Talk TV.’
On air, she declared: ‘Today, there is no jolly good fellow because I have something to tell you’ before reaching for the tissues and announcing her exit.
In a statement, she added: ‘After almost 12 blissful years, I now need to step down to catch up on a much needed decade’s deficit of beauty sleep!’
News UK broadcasting president Scott Taunton said: ‘Vanessa Feltz is not only a world-class broadcaster, she’s also a national treasure. I’m delighted that she is joining the brilliant talent roster at TalkTV.
‘With no alarm clock needed, I’m sure our viewers and listeners will be getting the full force of Feltz.’
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