Vanessa Feltz says men ‘aren’t fanciable past 55’ and why young bachelors are superior

By Leah Stanfield, Assistant Showbiz Editor

Vanessa Feltz says 'men aren't fanciable past 55'. (Image: ITV)

Vanessa Feltz has claimed that men stop being “fanciable” once they reach 55, while younger men are far more desirable thanks to their “rock-hard enthusiasm”. 

The journalist, 62, has been single since she split from her fiancé, Ben Ofoedu, 52, in January 2023, after 16 years together. 

Since then, Vanessa says she has been “out every night” enjoying herself and meeting eligible bachelors. However, she has now found herself in a “dating vortex” and reached the realisation that her once-preferred older men are no longer taking her fancy. 

Writing for The Mail on Sunday, she said: “In general, chaps fall off the fanciable precipice the minute they sail north of 55. They shrivel physically, intellectually and spiritually. Think Samantha's older lover's sagging buttocks giving her the ick - despite him giving her Cartier diamonds - in Sex and the City. 

“Let's be factual, not polite. It isn't sexy hanging out with fellows who take an hour and a half to pee. Their toenails crumble. Their scalps flake through carefully combed wisps of frizzled hair. These crusties missed out on #MeToo, consent and the female orgasm... 

Vanessa and fiancé Ben split in January 2023 after 16 years together. (Image: Getty)

“Lord, show me a woman who wouldn't rather be pursued by a sweet-smelling youth.”

Vanessa continued to claim that younger men are “obsessed with older women” and love the thought of “getting jiggy with a woman who might have been at school with their mothers”.

She adds: “There's no doubt as to whether you float their boat. Their rock-hard enthusiasm can't be faked.”

The This Morning regular also praised younger men's prowess in the bedroom but noted that they “aren’t for keeps,” so women should “enjoy them while you can”.

Vanessa praised younger men's 'rock-hard enthusiasm'. (Image: Getty)

Last month, Vanessa revealed that she had enjoyed "four or five" dates with the "most swiped man on Tinder".

She said she enjoyed her nights out with model Stefan-Pierre Tomlin, 33, but admits they didn’t have much in common.

The TV star told The Times that what she really wants is "someone I could hand bits of The Sunday Times to and say, 'Look, shall we go to this?' I believe in love. I do. I really hope to find it with someone. I don’t like being on my own."

Vanessa's split from Ben last year was all the more heartbreaking due to allegations of infidelity on his part. She said she experienced "crushing solitude" after calling off the engagement.

The Express columnist wrote: "I’m a reluctant singleton. I try to muster some backbone, but I don’t like it. I’ve found the contrast between the togetherness of family 24/7 to crushing solitude tough to navigate. My heart goes out to all those in the same boat.”

Before becoming engaged to ex Ben in 2006, Vanessa was married to orthopaedic surgeon Michael Kurer from 1983 until 2000. Together they had two daughters: Saskia, 35, and Allegra, 38.