Carol Vorderman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carol Vorderman
MBE HonFIET
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Vorderman in 2011
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| Born |
Carol Jean Vorderman
24 December 1960 Bedford, England
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| Nationality | Welsh |
| Education | Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (BA) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Christopher Mather
(m. 1985; div. 1986)Patrick King
(m. 1990; div. 2000) |
| Partner(s) | Des Kelly (2001–2006) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Adolphe Vorderman (great-grandfather) |
Carol Jean Vorderman (born 24 December 1960) is a famous Welsh TV and radio presenter, media personality, and writer. She is best known for being the maths expert on the game show Countdown for 26 years.
Vorderman's career started in 1982 on Countdown. She worked with host Richard Whiteley until he passed away in 2005. She then co-hosted with Des Lynam and Des O'Connor before leaving the show in 2008.
Besides Countdown, Vorderman has hosted many other popular shows. These include The Pride of Britain Awards since 1999 and the talk show Loose Women from 2011 to 2014. She has also competed on reality shows like Strictly Come Dancing (2004) and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2016).
In 2000, she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her work in television. She has also written many popular books about school subjects and diets.
Contents
Early Life and School
Carol Vorderman was born in Bedford, England. She is the youngest of three children. Her father was Dutch and her mother was Welsh. Her parents separated shortly after she was born, and her mother moved the family to Prestatyn in North Wales.
Vorderman was very smart in school. When she was 17, she went to the famous University of Cambridge to study engineering.
Later in her life, she learned about her family's history for a BBC TV show called Who Do You Think You Are?. She discovered that her father had been part of the Dutch resistance during World War II. She also found out that her great-grandfather, Adolphe Vorderman, helped discover vitamins.
Television Career
Countdown
Vorderman's TV career began by chance. Her mother saw a newspaper ad looking for a woman who was good at maths to be on a new TV show. Her mum sent in an application for 21-year-old Carol, and she got the job on Countdown.
When the show started in 1982, Vorderman's main job was the numbers game. She became famous for her amazing ability to do difficult maths problems in her head very quickly. She often found the answer when the contestants could not. Her skill and popularity made her one of the highest-paid women on British television.
In 2005, the show's original host, Richard Whiteley, sadly passed away. Vorderman stayed on the show, co-hosting with Des Lynam and later Des O'Connor.
She decided to leave Countdown in 2008 after 26 years. Her final show was very emotional. She received flowers and was too moved to finish her goodbye speech. A special tribute show was aired to celebrate her time on Countdown.
Loose Women
In 2011, Vorderman joined the popular ITV talk show Loose Women as a presenter. She co-hosted the show for three years.
She announced she was leaving in 2014 to focus on other projects. One of her biggest goals was to train for a solo flight around the world. She said she wanted to give her full attention to her projects and couldn't commit to the show anymore.
Other TV Shows
Vorderman has hosted the Pride of Britain Awards every year since they started in 1999. The awards celebrate brave and inspiring people from across the UK.
She has also appeared on many other shows. In 2004, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing. In 2016, she was a contestant on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. In 2020, she won The Great Celebrity Bake-Off for charity.
In 2020, she took part in a Welsh-language show called Iaith ar Daith (Language Road Trip). She learned to speak Welsh with the help of presenter Owain Wyn Evans. She also appeared on the all-stars version, I'm a Celebrity... South Africa, in 2023.
Other Work
Writing and Business
Vorderman has written many successful books. She is well-known for her educational books that help children with subjects like maths and English. She also created an online maths program for kids called the MathsFactor.
She has also written books about health and diet. Her book Detox For Life sold over a million copies.
Flying and Charity Work
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One of Vorderman's biggest passions is flying. In 2014, she earned her private pilot's licence and announced she planned to fly solo around the world. She named her plane Mildred after an adventurous female pilot from the 1920s and 1930s.
Because of her love for flying, she was made an ambassador for the Royal Air Force Air Cadets in 2014. She was given the honorary rank of Group Captain.
Vorderman is also involved in charity work. She is a patron for the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) because her older brother was born with a cleft lip and palate. She has raised a lot of money for this and other charities, including cancer research.
Political Views
Vorderman is not afraid to share her opinions on politics. In 2009, she worked with the Conservative Party to help improve how maths is taught in schools.
More recently, she has been a strong critic of the government. She uses her social media to talk about issues she cares about and has described herself as politically independent. She is known for speaking directly and holding politicians accountable for their actions.
Personal Life
Vorderman has been married twice. She has two children, Katie and Cameron, from her second marriage. She lived with or near her mother for her whole life until her mother passed away in 2017. She currently lives in Bristol with her children.
Honours and Awards
- 2000: Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to broadcasting.
- 2011 & 2014: Voted UK Female Rear of the Year. She is the only person to win the award twice.
- 2021: Awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Institution of Engineering and Technology for her contribution to the engineering profession.
Images for kids
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Vorderman (middle left) with Boris Johnson in February 2020
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Vorderman presenting an RAF Association show in July 2011
See also
- List of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series) contestants
- List of Strictly Come Dancing contestants
