Carol Vorderman Biography
Carol Vorderman is a broadcaster, writer, and media personality. She had a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio Wales and had worked for five years before leaving in November 2023. She left the BBC following criticism of her social media activity, saying she would “not be silenced” after the corporation introduced new social media guidelines.
Carol Vorderman Age
Vorderman is 62 years old. She was born on December 24, 1960, in Bedford, United Kingdom.
Carol Vorderman Height
She stands at a height of 5 feet 5 inches, approximately 1.65 m or 165 cm.
Carol Vorderman Nationality
She is British/English by nationality.
Carol Vorderman Education
Vorderman schooled at Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School in nearby Rhyl. In 1978, aged 17, she began studying engineering at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. She graduated with a third-class degree, a result which she has described as having been “disappointing”.
Carol Vorderman Parents
Carol is the youngest of three children of a Dutch father, Anton Vorderman (1920–2007), and a Welsh mother, Edwina Jean Davies (1928–2017). Her parents separated three weeks after her birth due to the infidelity of her father who was having an affair whilst her mother was pregnant. Her mother took the family back to her hometown of Prestatyn, Denbighshire, North Wales, where Carol and her brother and sister grew up in a one-parent household. Carol did not see her father again until she was 42 even though he would have a lot to do with her brother and sister, he refused to have anything to do with Carol.
In 1970, her mother remarried an Italian prisoner of war, Gabriel Rizzi, who Carol described as her dad who had been posted to a prisoner of war camp in North Wales during the Second World War. However, they separated ten years later. Carol’s father also remarried; his wife died in the early 1990s.
Carol Vorderman Husband/Spouse
Carol was first married in 1985 at age 24 to Christopher Mather, a Royal Navy officer, but the marriage lasted only twelve months. Four years after her split from Christopher, Carol went on to marry her second husband Patrick King. She remained married to the management consultant for a decade and they welcomed two children Katie born in 1992 and Cameron born in 1997. However, the pair then split in 2000, with Carol calling their separation one of her biggest regrets.
In the early 2000s, she met Des Kelly at a Christmas party and they embarked on a long-term relationship together. Carol and Dec lived together and split their time between London and West Cork in Ireland. However, after six years together the couple eventually went their separate ways in December 2006. Carol then went on to date Graham ‘Duffy’ Duff, who was 14 years younger than her. The TV star and the Red Arrows veteran dated for four years and then had a short breakup in 2015 before rekindling. However, despite having another go at the relationship, Carol revealed they had called it quits the following year.
She told the Mirror in 2016: ‘I’m happily single, freely independent and doing my own thing.’
Carol then added: ‘I’m not opposed to going out with someone 10 years younger, it’s acceptable. But Duffy was 14 years younger – that was a bit silly really.’
In 2022, Carol declared a lack of interest in traditional monogamy, preferring to have “special friends” with benefits.
Carol Vorderman BBC Radio Wales
Vorderman was a broadcaster at BBC Radio Wales before she left BBC in November 2023. She announced she was leaving her BBC radio show because she was “not prepared to lose my voice” after the corporation introduced new social media guidelines. The former Countdown star had had a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio Wales for five years. She has also been vocal in her criticism of the Government on social media and has had several arguments on X, formerly Twitter, with Tory MPs.
In a statement, she said: “The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines, which I respect.
“However, despite my show being light-hearted 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, I’ve ultimately found that I’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 criticize 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 has decided I must leave. We each must make our own decisions.
“I’m sad to have to leave the wonderful friends I’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.”
Vorderman’s career began in 1982 when she joined the Channel 4 game show Countdown, appearing on the show with Richard Whiteley from 1982 until his death in 2005, and subsequently with Des Lynam and Des O’Connor, before leaving in 2008. While appearing on Countdown, Vorderman began presenting other television shows for various broadcasters, including Better Homes (1991–2003) and The Pride of Britain Awards (1999–present) for ITV, as well as guest hosting shows such as Have I Got News for You (2004–2006) The Sunday Night Project (2006), and Lorraine (2011, 2018–2019, 2022). She was also a presenter on the ITV talk show Loose Women from 2011 until 2014.
In addition, she has appeared on reality television shows, including Strictly Come Dancing (2004), I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (2016) and The Great Celebrity Bake Off (2020), winning the latter show. Since 2022, Vorderman has been a news reviewer for This Morning.
Vorderman was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to broadcasting in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2000. She has also worked as a newspaper columnist and nominal author of educational and diet books.
Carol Vorderman Net Worth
Vorderman has an estimated net worth of $18 million as of 2023. She has accumulated her net worth through her successful career over the years.
