Vanessa Feltz latest star to leave TalkTV after Piers Morgan's exit

Vanessa Feltz has left TalkTV after two years as the station undergoes a big schedule shake-up ahead of it being taken off air to move online

The presenter, 62, who hosted the drivetime slot, will be replaced by Jeremy Kyle , 58, for four days a week, with Peter Cardwell hosting from 4-7pm on Fridays

'As TalkTV steps back from linear TV, it's time for me to also step back and focus on my other commitments and new projects ahead.'

Scott Taunton, EVP President of Broadcast for News UK, added: 'Vanessa is a unique broadcaster and has made a unique contribution to TalkTV over the last two years. She steps back with our thanks and best wishes.'

The schedule shake-up will also see Mike Graham move to the Breakfast show while Julia Hartley-Brewer stays on her morning slot. 

The Talk with Sharon Osbourne and CrossTalk with JJ Anisiobi and breakfast co-host Nicola Thorp are also missing from the spring schedule. 

Dennie Morris, Director of Audio, News Broadcasting, said: 'The home of common sense is back and is going completely digital. Talk will continue to bring viewers and listeners the biggest, boldest opinions and analysis in broadcasting.

'Our flagship weekday lineup with Mike Graham, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Ian Collins, Jeremy Kyle and Kevin O'Sullivan will maintain Talk's growing reach across the brand: on YouTube, on connected TVs, on radio, online and on the Talk app.'

The This Morning favourite left her Radio 2 show, where she earned £400,000 a year in 2022 to move to Talk Radio and Talk TV after more than 20 'years of 3.30am starts'. 

TalkTV, which launched in 2022, has struggled to attract viewers on its linear platform. 

In February, Piers announced he was leaving the channel to focus on the Uncensored YouTube channel, saying that daily, fixed TV schedules have been 'an increasingly unnecessary straitjacket'.

In February, Piers announced he was leaving the channel to focus on the Uncensored YouTube channel, saying  daily, fixed TV schedules have been 'an unnecessary straitjacket'

The Talk with Sharon Osbourne is also missing from the spring schedule 

A statement from Scott Taunton, TalkTV's president of broadcasting, said in a briefing to staff: 'Two years ago, we would not have been brave enough to launch a channel without a linear presence.

'But audiences of all ages have moved fast and smartphones are now the primary device where news is consumed. We need to adapt to this as a priority.'

He added: 'We are therefore intending that Talk comes off linear television from early summer and our focus will be on streaming.'

'Talk will continue broadcasting as a live streaming news and opinion channel, distributing through streaming platforms to include YouTube, Amazon Fire, Samsung, LG and others.

'A large proportion of our live viewing is already through streaming on televisions and we intend to continue to grow this.

Scott said clips will continue to be shared through social media, and that while there is 'no doubt over Talk's future as an audio and video channel, it just won't be distributed on linear'.

TalkTV currently has 869,000 YouTube subscribers. Piers Morgan Uncensored has 2.4 million.

TalkTV, a venture from News UK, the publisher of The Times and The Sun, launched in 2022.