Vanessa Feltz's Channel 5 Show Repeatedly Targeted by EastEnders Prank Callers
Vanessa Feltz has become the latest victim of persistent on-air pranksters, with her Channel 5 talk show being repeatedly targeted by callers pretending to be characters from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders and various celebrities. The presenter, aged 64, found herself at the centre of yet another elaborate hoax during a live broadcast this week, highlighting an ongoing issue for the programme.
Latest Prank Involves Fake Sandra Goodwin Caller
During Tuesday's edition of Vanessa on 21 April 2026, Feltz was discussing the future of the British royal family when she took a call from a woman claiming to be Sandra from Aberdeenshire. Viewers quickly recognised the caller was impersonating EastEnders character Sandra Goodwin, played by Scottish actor Dawn Steele, who first appeared on the soap in March.
The prank caller, speaking with a Scottish accent, began by expressing what an honour it was to speak to Feltz on what would have been the late Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday. "Sandra" declared herself a "massive royalist" who had made many visits to Buckingham Palace with her son, describing the Queen as "the heart of the country."
However, the conversation took an unexpected turn when the caller suggested the monarchy might not survive another century, stating: "A lot of people I've spoken to don't particularly believe in them anymore." She then referenced a dinner with her son's birth family where the mother was searching for "Mini Mo," the name of a cat belonging to EastEnders character Zoe Slater.
Looking visibly confused by the bizarre reference, Feltz promptly ended the call, telling viewers: "I think we'll say goodbye to this call, we seem to have veered off into a strange territory there." The moment was quickly clipped and shared on social media platform X, where one commenter noted the apparent "bad blood" between the fictional characters.
History of Prank Calls Plaguing the Show
This incident represents just the latest in a series of prank calls that have targeted Feltz's programme in recent months. In March, a caller pretending to be "Bea from London" shared a story based on EastEnders character Bea Pollard, played by Ronni Ancona, discussing school reunions and referencing "the Pink Ladies" social group.
During the same month, another impersonator pretended to be the late television personality Kim Woodburn during a phone-in segment, using one of Woodburn's typical catchphrases about disliking "two-faced-ness." These incidents follow a pattern of prank calls affecting Channel 5 programming, with The Wright Stuff experiencing similar issues in 2018 when a caller repeatedly abused the system to insult another participant live on air.
Channel 5 presenters have previously been forced to apologise for such incidents, with former host Matthew Wright telling viewers after one particularly offensive prank: "I can only apologise once again for the language used and any offence caused. We're trying our best to make sure this man never gets back on the line."
The continued targeting of Feltz's show raises questions about broadcast security measures and the challenges of live television in an era where prank calls can quickly gain traction on social media platforms. Despite the humorous nature of some incidents, they represent a genuine production concern for broadcasters attempting to maintain professional standards while engaging with audience participation.
