News

Johnny Vaughan has a new girlfriend – and she’s nearly 20 years his junior!

He met music exec through mutual friends

Motormouth DJ Johnny Vaughan obviously still has the gift of the gab – he’s managed to land a girlfriend nearly 20 years his junior.

The Radio X presenter, 50, was introduced to 33-year-old music exec Vanessa Howard by mutual friends, and the couple have been dating for a few months.

In fact, Johnny is so smitten with the pretty brunette, he’s whisked her off for a luxurious break in Marbella.

Johnny was married to costume designer Antonia Davis – the mother of his two children, Tabitha and Rafferty – for 14 years, but the pair divorced in 2013 after a series of rows.

There was no animosity in the separation, with one source saying: “Both [Johnny] and Antonia have moved on amicably, and they are very happy.

“There was no scandal and nobody else is involved in the split.”

But it must have damaged Johnny’s confidence because, following the split, the former Big Breakfast host admitted that he was having difficulty meeting women.

Read more: ChuckleVision star, 85, marries 26-year-old fan he met on Facebook

He said in one interview last year: “I find myself telling lies to impress people. I told one I was training for a triathlon, which I’m absolutely not.”

But meeting Vanessa has given the Londoner a new lease of life.

Said a source: “There’s a spring in his step again. Vanessa makes him really happy and he seems loved-up.”

Johnny’s big break came in 1997 when he was chosen to front Channel 4’s alongside Denise Van Outen.

Read more: Zoe Ball pays tribute to “angel” boyfriend as she returns to BBC Radio 2 show

The show’s success was built upon the chemistry between the two presenters, although their relationship was always platonic.

After Denise left to pursue an acting career, she was replaced by Kelly Brook.

However, the partnership failed to reproduce the spark that Johnny and Denise had enjoyed.

Now that Johnny has a new job – he joined Radio X in 2015 – and a new girlfriend, he’ll be feeling right back on top of his game.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

Related Topics