From Countdown to ‘Rear of the Year’, inside Carol Vorderman’s career highs & lows as she sensationally quits BBC radio
CAROL Vorderman has stepped down from her BBC Radio Wales show after a bitter row over social media posts.
The former Countdown host, 62, dramatically quit over the broadcaster’s new social media rules – but she’s certainly had an interesting career over the years.
From landing Countdown to being named Rear of the Year twice, Fabulous looks back at Carol’s career highs and lows…
Big Countdown break
Carol grew up in North Wales after her parents separated and studied engineering at the University of Cambridge before working as a junior civil engineer at Dinorwig Power Station in Wales.
Her big TV break came after her mum saw a newspaper ad looking for women with good numerical skills and arranged for her to audition.
In 1982, aged just 21, Carol made her very first appearance on the box on Channel 4’s Countdown alongside colleague and firm friend Richard Whiteley.
She also tried her hand at home improvement shows during this time, including on Better Homes, with identical twins Adrian and Neil Rayment.
Dazzling TV appearances
Carol and her fast sums soon caught the attention of viewers, and she went on to enjoy an amazing 26 years on the show, eventually leaving in 2008.
This led to Carol becoming a household name and one of the most in-demand presenters on the box, and she landed an anchor job on ITV’s lunchtime series Loose Women in 2011, which she starred on until 2014.
She was also crowned star baker after her stint on The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off.
Other gigs included a presenting stint on 2013 ITV series Food Glorious Food, and as a contestant in 2020’s The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off.
Meanwhile, she showed viewers another side to herself as she took part in shows such as Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and both 2016 and this year’s I’m a Celeb.
Rear of the Year
While some of her looks may have raised eyebrows among the critics, her curves would later be celebrated in 2011 when she was given the accolade of Rear of the Year.
Her bootylicious rear saw her secure the title again for a second time in 2014, cementing her position as a household sex symbol.
And Carol attributes her X-rated behaviour between the sheets as the secret behind her enviable body.
The presenter previously told the Mirror: “I’m not allowed to say because I will get into trouble but it’s a three-letter word and it starts with S.”
Carol is now heralded as one of the sexiest women in Britain after she started showing off her killer figure in clingy bandage dresses.
Hosting gigs
Now, aged 62, Carol’s career is still thriving.
Most recently, she’s been on the box on Steph’s Packed Lunch and she continues to bring her warmth to the annual televised Pride of Britain awards.
She also recently squeezed into a red latex dress ahead of an appearance on Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
Carol’s also become the epitome of sexy at sixty, managing to look decades younger than her sixty two years – and even turning back the clock since her TV debut.
Dropped by BBC Radio
Carol presented the two hour and 30 minute show on BBC Radio Wales each Saturday morning.
She landed the gig – which was her first ever radio programme – back in 2019 after previously guest hosting the slot.
The star has named the Beeb’s new social media guidelines for presenters as her reason for coming off air.
Carol also admitted breaching the rules and said bosses told her she “must leave”.
In a statement, Vorders said: “After five years, I’m leaving my Saturday morning show on BBC Radio Wales.
“The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines which I respect.
“However, despite my show being lighthearted with no political content, it was explained to me that as it is a weekly show in my name, the new guidelines would apply to all and any content that I post all year round.
“Since those non-negotiable changes to my radio contract were made, l’ve ultimately found that l’m not prepared to lose my voice on social media, change who I am, or lose the ability to express the strong beliefs I hold about the political turmoil this country finds itself in.
“My decision has been to continue to criticise the current UK government for what it has done to the country which I love – and I’m not prepared to stop. I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on.
“Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave. We each must make our decisions.
“I’m sad to have to leave the wonderful friends l’ve made at Radio Wales. I wish them, and all of our listeners, all the love in the world.
“We laughed a lot, and we will miss each other dearly. But for now, another interesting chapter begins.”