Vanessa Feltz's Show Targeted by Elaborate Hoax Callers
Vanessa Feltz's daytime television programme Vanessa has been systematically targeted by a group of sophisticated hoax callers who have successfully impersonated deceased celebrities and even notorious criminals during live broadcasts. The alarming security breach has exposed significant flaws in the show's vetting procedures, with multiple fraudulent calls making it to air without detection.
Multiple Impersonations Uncovered
During last Tuesday's episode, which focused on whether children should choose their own bedtimes, a caller successfully pretended to be Celebrity Big Brother star Lauren Harries. The impersonator used Harries' distinctive mannerisms, referring to the panel as "stars" - a term Harries famously uses for her fans on social media. The caller even fabricated a detailed personal story about growing up in a religious family with strict 6pm bedtimes.
Subsequent investigations have revealed this was not an isolated incident. The same group of pranksters has also impersonated the late Kim Woodburn, the beloved cleaning expert who passed away in June 2025. The caller adopted Woodburn's iconic accent and characteristic phrase "my love," identifying themselves as "Kim from Cheshire."
Disturbing Criminal References
Even more troubling, the hoaxers have made references to Virginia McCullough, who murdered her elderly parents in 2019 and lived with their bodies for four years before being arrested in 2023. The prank caller made veiled references to McCullough's crimes, mentioning financial difficulties and wardrobe construction - a chilling allusion to where McCullough stored her mother's body.
According to reports, the callers have also incorporated scenarios from popular television programmes including Coronation Street and The Catherine Tate Show, demonstrating considerable planning and research behind their deceptions.
Production Failures Exposed
The hoaxers have reportedly used the same telephone number for multiple calls, raising serious questions about why production staff failed to recognize the pattern. One caller told The Sun: "It's not a very thorough process. When you speak to them on the phone for the pre-chat before going on air, they seem more bothered about just finding someone to shove on the show rather than care about what we are planning to say."
Another added: "I've used my same number every time and have been amazed I've got on! They obviously don't keep any kind of record of them."
Celebrity Reactions
Lauren Harries took to social media platform X to clarify she was not involved in the broadcast, expressing surprise that Feltz didn't recognize the impersonation given their previous professional interactions. "What surprises me is that Vanessa didn't introduce me on the call, even though she has interviewed me before... so I would have thought she might recognize my voice," Harries stated.
She further commented: "With all the researchers and production staff working on a national TV show, you would think something like this simply wouldn't happen. Viewers deserve an explanation."
Fans expressed both disappointment and concern upon learning about the deception, with many admitting they had been completely fooled by the convincing impersonation.
Broader Implications
The repeated security breaches on a major Channel 5 programme highlight significant vulnerabilities in live broadcasting protocols. The incidents occurred on Vanessa, which launched on March 24 and represents a substantial investment for the network.
Industry experts suggest that the lack of proper caller verification procedures creates risks beyond mere embarrassment, potentially allowing more malicious actors to exploit similar weaknesses in television production systems.
The Daily Mail has contacted Channel 5 for comment regarding the security lapses and what measures might be implemented to prevent future occurrences of celebrity impersonation on live broadcasts.
