In a bizarre live television incident, broadcaster Vanessa Feltz was pranked by a caller pretending to be Celebrity Big Brother personality Lauren Harries during Tuesday's episode of her Channel 5 programme. The 64-year-old presenter, joined in the studio by guests Anthea Turner, Theresa Cheung, and Lewis Oakley, was conducting a phone-in discussion on whether children should decide their own bedtimes when the imposter struck.
The Deceptive Call
Following the first commercial break, a caller identifying as "Lauren from Cardiff" joined the conversation. The individual's voice bore a striking resemblance to Harries, who actually resides in the Welsh capital. The caller further mimicked Harries' distinctive manner by referring to the panel as "stars"—a term the real Lauren uses for her social media followers.
The impersonator shared an elaborate personal anecdote, stating: "I am for letting children choose their own bedtimes because when I was a child, I was from a very religious family, sort of a new religion. My mum, bless her, she was a lovely woman, she would take me to the Vicky Binns plays in Manchester, but she would always have me in bed by 6 o’clock sharp."
They continued with peculiar details about maintaining this childhood routine into adulthood: "I still go to bed at 6 o’clock now. I am always in bed with a mug of snoozy choc by the time 6 o’clock rolls around." When questioned by Feltz about waking times, the caller claimed: "Very early. Probably as early as 3am sometimes. My schedule is quite all off!"
Lauren Harries' Response
The real Lauren Harries—who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2013—took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday to expose the deception. She posted emphatically: "Someone appeared on the Vanessa show pretending to be me. I want to make this very clear — it was NOT me. The person on the phone was an impersonator pretending to be Lauren Harries."
Harries expressed surprise at the production oversight, noting: "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 recognise my voice. 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."
She concluded by directing fans to her autobiography "Becoming Lauren" for authentic insights into her life and television experiences.
Fan Reactions and Support
Followers quickly rallied around Harries on social media, expressing both disappointment at being fooled and solidarity with the star. One fan lamented: "I can't believe I fell for it Lauren I thought we finally had you back on our television sets, what a cruel prank." Another added: "Awful Lauren, folk should be ashamed," while a third shared: "Oh Lauren I'm so shocked I fell for it, they really had everyone fooled and I was so excited to see you back on screen."
Many admitted they had been completely taken in by the impersonation, with one commenting: "I’m so sad I fell for it. I thought it was a lovely interview," and another offering simple support: "Hope you're okay, hun."
Background and Industry Response
Lauren Harries, born James Charles Harries, first gained fame in the 1980s through appearances on programmes like Wogan and After Dark in 1991. Her television portfolio includes Big Brother's Bit On The Side, Celebrity Juice, Body Shockers, Loose Women, and Naked Attraction, alongside her notable 2013 Celebrity Big Brother stint.
The incident has raised questions about broadcast security and verification processes. Daily Mail has reached out to both Channel 5 and Lauren Harries' representatives for official comment regarding the prank and any potential follow-up actions.
