Rolf Harris documentary: Vanessa Feltz recalls horror moment Rolf put his hand up her skirt on live TV
Vanessa says his wife Alwen was standing '1ft away'Rolf Harris has sparked outrage from beyond the grave in the wake of a new documentary – and it now appears Vanessa Feltz was also victim of his sick behaviour.
Viewers of Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator have been horrified to learn the full extent of Rolf’s vile antics towards young girls and women during his career.
The documentary has also put the spotlight on Rolf’s late wife Alwen, with suggestion she knew what he was doing.
It’s even pointed out that Alwen would deliberately accompany Rolf to showbiz jobs to keep an eye on him.
Prior to the documentary dropping on Prime Video this week, broadcaster Vanessa spoke about her own horrifying encounter with the Australian entertainer.
And she said Alwen was standing just 1ft away at the time.
Rolf Harris ‘gropes’ Vanessa Feltz on live TV
Vanessa spoke about her encounter with Rolf and Alwen when the shamed star died in 2023. In an appearance on TalkTV, she recalled interviewing him on Channel 4 show The Big Breakfast in 1996.
The TalkTV chat has since resurfaced on YouTube in the wake of Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator.
Vanessa was the ‘On the Bed’ host of The Big Breakfast at the time. This saw her chat to guests while sitting on a plush double bed.
In the Talk TV interview, she says she was excited to interview such an icon – but that things quickly took a turn.
Vanessa explains how she was sat on the bed with Rolf, alongside a cameraman and director. She adds: “His wife Alwen was standing literally a foot away to the side of the bed.”
The show went live but, as she introduced Rolf to viewers, Vanessa says she could “hear this noise”.
“The noise was my [beaded] dress being crunched between Rolf’s fingers as he started at my ankles and began to bring my dress further and further up my legs,” she recalls.
Horrified, Vanessa says she picked up a blue cushion and wedged it between them. But Rolf “completely ignored it”.
She explains how The Big Breakfast was “very innocent and very fun” and watched by children. But adds: “I can feel my dress coming, further and further and further and further up to my thighs.
“His wife, remember, is standing just a few inches away. She couldn’t have been more than a foot-and-a-half away.”
‘I needed to do something immediately’
Vanessa says she had no idea what to do, adding: “His hand, meanwhile, was getting closer and closer and closer and closer.
“And then it got to the edge of my knickers. I knew that if I didn’t do something immediately, it was going to be a proper full-on assault.
“So I did what you’re never allowed to do as a presenter, which is throw to a break when I want to, not when the director says you can.
“I couldn’t afford to wait one more second.”
Vanessa says there was silence in the ad break, recalling: ‘I didn’t say a single word, he didn’t say a single word, his wife didn’t say a single word.”
Vanessa’s shocking account throws more light on Rolf’s wife Alwen.
Rolf’s Animal Hospital co-host, Lynda Bryans, appears in Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator. The pair would appear live on the show daily, but she remembers Alwen was always “watching”.
“A car would come and pick up Rolf and bring him to the venue . But in his car was also his wife. Every day,” Lynda recalls.
“I find that a bit odd and, on reflection I wonder, did she come there to keep an eye on him. Was she there protecting him from what she knew he would be capable of?”
Lynda adds: “In contrast to Rolf who was friendly and charming, Alwen was a little bit more distant. She was just off camera every time he was on camera, watching.”
