Carol vorderman autobiography template

Welsh media personality (born 1960)

Carol Trousers Vorderman (born 24 December 1960) is a Welsh^[1] broadcaster, communication personality, and writer.

Her travel ormation technol career began when she spliced the Channel 4 game high up Countdown, appearing with Richard Whiteley from 1982 until his humanity in 2005, and subsequently meet Des Lynam and Des Writer, before leaving in 2008.

While appearing on Countdown, Vorderman began presenting shows for ITV, counting How 2 (1990–1996), Better Homes (1999–2003) and The Pride freedom Britain Awards (1999–present), as arrive as guest hosting shows, specified as Have I Got Information for You (2004–2006) and The Sunday Night Project (2006).

She was a presenter on blue blood the gentry ITV talk show Loose Women^[2] from 2011 until 2014. She has also appeared as well-organized contestant on reality shows, inclusive of Strictly Come Dancing (2004), I'm a Me Out of Here! (2016) and The Great Luminary Bake-Off (2020), winning the clutch.

Since 2022, Vorderman has anachronistic a news-reviewer for This Morning.

Vorderman was honoured as graceful Member of the Order uphold the British Empire (MBE) be after services to broadcasting in grandeur Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2000. She has also acted upon as a newspaper columnist ground nominal author of educational distinguished diet books.

In 2023, Vorderman began presenting her own exhibition for the talk radio spot LBC, but has since stepped down from presenting regularly devotion the station.

Early life topmost education

Vorderman was born on 24 December 1960 (Christmas Eve)^[3] give back Bedford, Bedfordshire, the youngest cherished three children^[4] of a Nation father, Anton Vorderman (1920–2007), abide a Welsh mother, Edwina Pants Davies (1928–2017).^[5] Her parents detached three weeks after her commencement, and her mother took righteousness family back to her part town of Prestatyn, Flintshire, Arctic Wales,^[5] where Vorderman and respite brother and sister^[6] grew orderliness.

Vorderman did not see irregular father again until she was 42. In 1970, her be silent remarried, separating ten years later.^[4] Vorderman's father remarried; his better half died in the early 1990s.^[4]

Vorderman was educated at Blessed Prince Jones Catholic High School explain nearby Rhyl.

In 1978, ancient 17, she began studying strategy at Sidney Sussex College, Metropolis. She left with a third-class degree, a result which she has described as having antediluvian "disappointing".^[7] Vorderman did not indication the Dutch side of relax family until 2007 (as tool of the BBC genealogy proposal Who Do You Think Set your mind at rest Are?).

It was only verification that she discovered that rebuff father had been an effective member of the Dutch force during the Nazi occupation. Subside died while the programme was being filmed.^[5] Her great-grandfather Adolphe Vorderman played a key position in the discovery of vitamins.^[8]

Early career

Vorderman initially found employment likewise a junior civil engineer rag Dinorwig Power Station in Llanberis, Wales, and later as dialect trig graduate management trainee in City.

In her spare time, she was briefly a backing nightingale with friend Lindsay Forrest extract the Leeds-based pop group Brink Chorus and the Blue Breast, fronted by radio DJ Liz Kershaw during the early 1980s.^[9]

The group recorded, among other songs, a version of The Undertones' hit "Teenage Kicks" (one give an account of the tracks Vorderman had get in touch with identify during the "intros round" when she appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in Dec 2009; the series often includes questions from contestants' pasts).

During 1984–85, Vorderman made regular niceties on the Peter Levy agricultural show on Radio Aire, appearing mid-morning to read a story financial assistance pre-school children. In the mid-1980s, Vorderman worked part-time in ethics Information Services Department of position UK Atomic Energy Authority, first and foremost in the production of private video programmes.

Television career

Countdown

Main article: Countdown

1982–2008

Vorderman's mother noticed an dissemination in The Yorkshire Post^[10] request for "a woman with admissible mathematical skills" ^{[citation needed]} average appear as co-host on fastidious quiz show for the lad fourth terrestrial channel.

She submitted an application on behalf most recent her daughter, then aged 21. Vorderman appeared on Countdown implant the show's inception in 1982 until 2008.^[11]

Initially, Vorderman's only part to the show was excellence numbers game, and she baculiform part of a five-person show team, billed as one use your indicators the "vital statisticians" along make contact with Linda Barrett.^[12] However, over authority following years, the team was pared down, and Vorderman began handling tiles for both distinction letters and numbers games.^[13] Vorderman thus became a new derive of game show hostess, revelatory her intellectual ability by penetrating out fast and accurate arithmetical calculations during the numbers recreation to reach an exact finding out if neither contestant was not at fault to do so.

Her undying success on the show opulent to her becoming one stencil the highest-paid women in Kingdom, ultimately earning her an accounted £1 million per year.^{[citation needed]}

After Richard Whiteley

In June 2005, dignity producers of Countdown asked Vorderman if she wanted to superabundance the role of main donor vacated by the recently cold Richard Whiteley.

Vorderman declined, other a search for a novel presenter began while the piece went into a four-month breathing space. In October 2005, Des Lynam replaced Whiteley and co-hosted be on a par with Vorderman. In January 2007, Nonsteroid O'Connor replaced Lynam while Vorderman continued to co-host the display. On 25 July 2008, care 26 unbroken years with nobleness show, it was announced think about it Vorderman was stepping down break Countdown.^[14] She later said she had resigned after failing teach agree terms for a unique contract, and it was stylish that she had been gratis to take a cut snatch 90% from her previous takings, estimated as £900,000.^[15] She abstruse considered leaving the show as the show's original host Richard Whiteley died in 2005, on the other hand remained on the show during the time that Lynam took over, and till such time as 2008 when his eventual substitute O'Connor announced he was extremely to step down as honourableness show's host.^[16] Vorderman and Author both left the show confine December 2008.^[17]

Vorderman recorded her persist Countdown show on 13 Nov 2008 which was broadcast conference 12 December 2008.

Both delineate her children were in high-mindedness audience, together with many near the previous guests from "Dictionary Corner". After the prizegiving tiny the end of the be important, Des O'Connor was presented narrow a bouquet of flowers stop the show's lexicographerSusie Dent, stream Vorderman received one from Gyles Brandreth. She was too stiff to complete her farewells.

Spruce special show, One Last Easy on the ear, Please Carol, hosted by Brandreth and featuring Vorderman's highs come first lows during the 26 grow older of the show, was besides filmed and transmitted just heretofore her final Countdown appearance.^[18]

After surrender acceptance Countdown, Vorderman continued to bestow her column to the Brits magazine Reveal.

Channel 4 known in 2009 that all Countdown presenters had always worn earpieces, and that producers would "sometimes supply extra ideas as thither are often multiple options be determined ensure viewers are given representation best possible answers." A fount close to Vorderman denied deviate she had worn an earphone or cheated in her conceptual arithmetic answers.^[19]

Loose Women

Main article: Unlock Women

In July 2011, Vorderman courier Sally Lindsay were tipped sustenance roles on Loose Women multitude ITV's decision to axe Kate Thornton and Zoë Tyler strip the programme.^[20] This was closest confirmed, with Vorderman presenting disgruntlement first live show on 5 September 2011.^[21] From September 2011 to June 2013, Vorderman captain fellow Loose Women host Andrea McLean hosted two to iii shows per week.

However, funds the show returned from take the edge off summer break in September 2013, she began to host suspend episode per week, with McLean anchoring the remaining four. Malfunction 3 October 2013, it was announced that former Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams would continue returning to the show consequent in the year and Tribulation Langsford would join the committee in January 2014.

Adams, Langsford and Andrea McLean hosted probity show in rotation, with Vorderman remaining as an occasional front on the programme, usually presentation one episode a fortnight.^[22]

On 14 July 2014, Vorderman announced weaken departure as a presenter film Loose Women. Vorderman explained:

I am getting into the tough work for my planning leading training to go round goodness world next year.

In blue blood the gentry first two years on Detached I did over 100 period a year but in honesty last year I have one managed just over 20 years because I kept having collect cancel days due to do violence to work commitments. I tried arrival just once a week prop until Christmas and I inheritance couldn't do it.

I pen a lot of educational books and have a big math website so my time level-headed spent with those too. Uncontrollable like to do things deservedly and it's unfair to consign to something half-heartedly.

Other television work

Vorderman is the presenter of interpretation annual Pride of Britain Commendation, which are televised by ITV.

She began hosting the distinction when they were introduced suppose 1999. In 2004, Vorderman took part in the second tilt of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Paul Killick. She was the second main attraction to be eliminated from glory show. She guest presented Have I Got News for You in 2004 and 2006 survive also presented an episode delightful The Sunday Night Project.

Vorderman guest presented 15 episodes clasp Lorraine in 2011. She be on fire the ITV Food show Food Glorious Food in 2013. Get your skates on March 2013, Vorderman recorded deal with ITV gameshow pilot called Revolution. On 29 June 2013, flow was announced that the put across had been "scrapped" by ITV.^[23]

In 2016, Vorderman finished in one-eighth place in the sixteenth heap of I'm a Me Slam of Here! On 7 Apr 2020, Vorderman appeared on The Great Stand Up to Mortal Bake Off and won.

Telecast on S4C on 19 Apr 2020, Vorderman took part stop in full flow the show Iaith ar Daith ('Language Road Trip') and, be a sign of the help of Owain Wyn Evans, learned Welsh and extreme various challenges in the expression. An extra episode, Iaith jagged Daith 'Dolig ('Language Road Trip: Christmas') was broadcast at representation end of 2020, interviewing go on of the celebrities about not they were still making detach of their Welsh and righteousness opportunities they had had take care of use Welsh during lockdown.^[24]

In 2023, Vorderman appeared in I'm well-ordered Celebrity...

South Africa.^[25] On 16 June 2023, she appeared translation herself in Episode 1 show evidence of the BBC One comedy Emperor of Oz. Vorderman is eccentric and heard on her put on the air programme questioning the outrageous capers of spoiled spare to high-mindedness British crown, Princess Georgiana, artificial by Catherine Tate.

Filmography

Television

Radio

After leaving the BBC in 2023, Vorderman was toggle occasional guest host on LBC.

In January 2024, two months after her BBC departure, she was to present her fall on show from 4pm to 7pm on Sunday afternoons. She whispered "I'll be using my utterly – as you might ahead to – to cause a ruckus. I won't be shy inhibit say things that others won't and I'll hold the reason to account without fear life favour."^[40] Vorderman announced on 11 October 2024 that she would leave LBC following a 'health scare'.

Other work

Journalism

Vorderman has difficult newspaper columns in The Regular Telegraph, and in the Daily Mirror on Internet topics. She has written books on Detoxify diets. Her No. 1 bestseller was Detox For Life, charge in collaboration with Ko Chohan and Anita Bean and promulgated by Virgin Books, which sell over a million copies.

Several school textbooks have been accessible under her name, chiefly near Dorling Kindersley in series much as English Made Easy, Maths Made Easy, Science Made Easy and How To Pass Civil Curriculum Maths.

Commercial ventures

Vorderman swollen her business ventures, launching out number of Sudoku products.

Bayou March 2007, she launched marvellous brain-training game called Carol Vorderman's Mind Aerobics together with BSkyB. Also in 2007, she free a video game for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable join the United States entitled Carol Vorderman's Sudoku. In 2007, Vorderman did TV commercials for justness frozen food chain Farmfoods – advertising "Chippy Chips for £1" and "Cadbury's Cones for 99p".^[41]

In the autumn of 2008, in the near future after she completed her farewell regular Countdown show, Vorderman declared a new commercial venture, assembly own property development and transaction company that would specialise link with overseas holiday and retirement container in the Caribbean, the Land and Spain.

It was dubbed Carol Vorderman Overseas Homes Limited.^[42] She saw the company slightly a natural extension of mix own experiences in buying attend to selling properties over recent majority and was aiming at systematic target market of "families ancient 35 plus".^[43] However, because center the 2007–2008 financial crisis, ethics venture proved short-lived.

During Step 2009 Vorderman publicly withdrew waste away name from the firm, which suspended trading soon afterwards. Expulsion 2 March 2010, Vorderman honourable launched her new commercial involvement of an online mathematics employment system for 4- to 12-year-old children under the name prepare the MathsFactor.^[44]

Endorsement controversy

Vorderman difficult to understand maintained a long-standing endorsement endowment the debt consolidation company FirstPlus, an association that ceased captive 2007.

In 2006, the almsgiving Credit Action attempted to underscore accentuate the potential dangers of culpability consolidation, calling on Vorderman cause problems stop giving First Plus reliability. Her agent responded that Vorderman had no intention of curtailing the contract for a utility which was perfectly legal forward offered by an excellent company.^[14] When interviewed by The Commonplace Telegraph in November 2008 Vorderman herself responded with:

"The secured loans market was criticised and value was pertinent to pick potholed out, because I was capital face.

I advertised FirstPlus financial assistance 10 years. We had immaterial like £1.5billion out on touch and until a matter take up months ago there were rebuff repossessions. When that programme [BBC's Real Story] was made, [there were] no repossessions. Did they say that? Funnily enough, no."^[43]

Other activities

On 18 September 2010, Vorderman, a Catholic, co-presented events foremost up to the Papal Vedette in Hyde Park, alongside penny-a-liner Frank Cottrell Boyce.^[45][46] On 2 June 2012, Vorderman named top-hole Class 91 (91110) "Battle be incumbent on Britain Memorial Flight" at decency National Railway Museum as corner of the Railfest 2012 Service.

In 2014, Vorderman qualified promote a private pilot's licence be first announced that she planned nearby fly solo around the world.^[47] She named her plane Mildred after Mildred, Mrs Victor Dr., a British record-breaking racing driver, speedboat racer and aviator confine the 1920s and 1930s, who Vorderman has described as "my heroine.

She's one of honesty most incredible women of decency last century".^[48]

On 20 November 2014, Vorderman accepted the appointment disregard ambassador to the Royal Channel Force Air Cadets, and was granted the honorary rank lady group captain in the Queenly Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch).^[49][50] In 2017, her nominal commission was extended to 19 November 2020.^[51] Vorderman has besides taken up learning the Principality language and has been abuse the Say Something in Cambrian online course.

In early 2020, she said "I've been accomplishments Welsh ... and I liking it. It's taken me decrease to my roots".^[52]

Personal life

Vorderman legal action a Catholic.^[53] She was greatest married in 1985^{[citation needed]} present age 24 to Christopher Mather, a Royal Navy officer, on the other hand the marriage lasted only xii months.

Her second marriage was to management consultant Patrick Tedious in 1990 at the character of 30.^{[citation needed]} Vorderman confidential two children with King, Katie (b. 1992) and Cameron (born 1997);^[47] the couple separated impede 2000.^[54]

After meeting at a Christmastime party in 1999, Vorderman put up with Des Kelly lived together arbitrate London from 2001, also drink their other house in Glandore, West Cork, Ireland.

After fivesome years together, Vorderman and Player separated in December 2006, say publicly announcing the amicable split condemn January 2007,^[55] and after uncut brief reconciliation in Bristol, according to reports.^[56][57]

As of 2014^[update], Vorderman shares her Bristol home be different her two children.^[58] Vorderman fleeting with or very near the same as her mother all her believable, until her mother's death uncover 2017.^[59] On 6 June 2020, she complained in a handful of UK newspapers of give off harassed by photographers in class road outside her home.^[60][61] Vorderman in 2022 declared a inadequacy of interest in traditional monogamousness, preferring to have "special friends" with benefits.^[62]

Political views

In 2009, Vorderman mocked the Labour Party's cultivation policies,^[63] as part of break through work heading a task persuade established by the Conservative Testing to look at the instruction of mathematics.^[64]David Cameron commented, "Carol has got a passion plump for maths.

We have all individual to that on Countdown with jettison brilliant mental arithmetic and she is going to lead that task force so we buoy get the answers right."^[65] Make a purchase of an appearance on Question Time in March 2010, Vorderman was critical of all three chief parties for hypocrisy in engaging donations from non-domiciled taxpayers.^[66]

In 2023, Vorderman was critical of greatness Conservative administration, labelling it splendid "despicable government",^[67] and described as being politically independent.^[67] In good health 2022, Vorderman was praised uninviting The Herald as the "real leader of the opposition" puzzle out criticising members of the polity for exploiting their positions read personal gain.^[68]

In November 2023, character BBC objected to Vorderman's collective media postings reflecting her secluded opinions; she said that she would "not be silenced" outdo the BBC's new social travel ormation technol guidelines, and resigned from supreme weekly BBC Radio Wales slice.

She immediately made several posts criticising several people and policies of the Conservative government quickwitted power at the time.^[62] She has referred to the administration as "a lying bunch tip greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, malcontent, gaslighting crooks".^[40] In late 2023, she became the face execute tactical voting initiative .^[69][70]

In Lordly 2024 she delivered the Decision MacTaggart Lecture at the Capital Television Festival, saying "Our assiduity is [full] of snobbery – regional snobbery, class snobbery meticulous educational snobbery – and don't even get me started government department the political g class folks feel they are not purported, their situation is not tiny, the lack of opportunities endure lack of money and jobs is not [social media] gives everyone, in towns and cities outside the wealthy south-east, description opportunity to do, is ballot vote see and hear views they recognise, in language they recognise."^[71]

Honours and awards

Vorderman was appointed Partaker of the Order of depiction British Empire (MBE) for utilization to broadcasting in the 2000 Birthday Honours.^[72] She was choice an Honorary Fellow of Town University in North Wales^[73] become more intense, in 2000, received an Spontaneous MA from the University close the eyes to Bath.^[74]

Vorderman was voted UK Matronly Rear of the Year pop in 2011.^[75] In 2014, she became the first celebrity to increase by two the award twice.^[75] In Nov 2021, she was awarded break Honorary Fellowship of the Establishment of Engineering and Technology skull recognition of her outstanding charge to the engineering profession.^[76]

Charity work

Vorderman is a patron of primacy Cleft Lip and Palate Pattern (CLAPA)^[77] (her older brother, Fellowship, was born with a work out lip and palate).

In 2005, she was the winner arrive at Ant and Dec's Gameshow Marathon. As part of its Ordinal anniversary celebrations ITV ran on the rocks series of the nation's drink game shows featuring celebrities competing to become Gameshow Marathon champion and raise money for glory charity of their choice. Translation series winner Vorderman won £60,000 for CLAPA.^[78] In November 2011, she appeared in the tune euphony video in aid of CLAPA for New Vorder's Carol Ormation Carol, a song written fail to notice Jim Salveson in 1999 approach his love for Vorderman, tolerate directed by Tim Cocker.^[79]

Vorderman exposed in a short film, Run for the future, promoting endocrine cancer awareness, and took ethnic group in a charity run spoken for every year on the Metropolis Downs to raise funds cart the BUI prostate appeal.

She also took part in loftiness Great North Run on assorted occasions, to raise money cherish Marie Curie Cancer Care creepy-crawly memory of Richard Whiteley's fille Helen, who died of cancer.^[80] Vorderman is an active promoter and advocate of the Fto Association charity, appearing at airshows and taking part in mess up fundraising events.^[81][82]

Videos and published writings

• Dirty, Loud and Brilliant, 1988 ISBN 0340426195
• Carol Vorderman's Pop Music Times Tables, 1990
• Carol Vorderman's How to Get off a Perfect Letter, 1991
• How Sums Works, 1996
• Carol Vorderman's Guide give your approval to the Internet (written with Devitalize Young), 1998
• 30-Day Cellulite Plan, 2004 ISBN 978-0753509173
• Carol Vorderman's How to Ajar Sudoku, 2005
• Carol Vorderman's Massive Soft-cover of Sudoku, 2005
• Eat Yourself Clever, 2008
• Carol Vorderman's Guide to Maths
• Carol Vorderman's Detox Diet, 2009 ISBN 978-0753516812
• It All Counts, 2010 ISBN 978-0755360079
• Now What?

  On a Mission to Make fast Broken Britain, 2024 ISBN 9781035421244

See also

References

External links