Carol Vorderman
TV’s smartest sexpot, Carol Vorderman, 46, on presenting the Pride Of Britain Awards, leaving showbiz behind to concentrate on motherhood, and why she’s loving those laughter lines...
Carol Vorderman reveals she’s not one for doing interviews any more. She doesn’t really need to – she’s well-established as our sassy-woman-with-brains Countdown host after a 25-year career on the box, and has various industry projects going on behind the scenes. ‘If a week goes by and I’m not in the papers, I’m quite happy,’ she says. ‘I only do the things I’m interested in now.’
So we guess we should count ourselves lucky that’s she taken time out to chat to us for this year’s Pride Of Britain Awards (hence the giant Union Jacks in our pictures), which she’s presenting for the ninth year running.
The glitzy bash will see some of the hottest names in showbiz handing out gongs to the country’s unsung heroes – something that Carol says gets her ‘peculiarly excited’. She says, ‘The show is part of me now, I love it. I know most of the stars in the audience, so that’s not my big thrill, it never has been. It’s the winners and their reaction to their prize that’s very special.’
Still, Carol’s not wasting the opportunity to put on the glitz at the ceremony. ‘I really want my hair done 1940s style, you know,’ she says pulling a picture of Veronica Lake out of her bag. ‘And maybe a gold dress. I’ve lost quite a bit of weight this last year.’
Carol’s looking a very slim but still curvy size 10. But unlike previous years it’s not gallons of water and fresh ginger that’s helped her get into shape. Carol has been detox-ing London out of her system and as a result has lost a few pounds. ‘I’m done with London life, forget the media frippery, I’m happier in Bristol with my kids,’ she says.
The move has turned into a bit of a social experiment for the three of them (kids Katie, 15, and Cameron, 10). While they wait for the building work to be completed on their new country home in Somerset, the family are living in a small(ish) flat in the city centre for a year. ‘Our flat is as big as the lounge in our old London penthouse,’ Carol says. ‘We don’t have a cleaner or a nanny, and I do normal stuff like wash their uniforms and do the school run. We don’t watch TV or read newspapers. I don’t do the wellie brigade stuff either, we just do what we want. It’s good for me. It’s been a great experience so far, as I’ve realised even without all the material stuff, we’re still happy. It’s how life should be. I wish I’d done it two years ago. We have the best fun now.’
Time at home with her kids (often spent surfing YouTube for The Simpsons outtakes) has also helped Carol appreciate her role as a mum much more. ‘I didn’t really relish the mum thing when they were babies,’ she reveals. ‘It’s not that I didn’t enjoy them as people, it was the things you have to do when you have a baby, like going to coffee mornings. It’s just not me. But it’s fabulous now they’re older, as we love doing the same things. It’s also helped that I’ve calmed down at work.’
There’s no word of a new man in Carol’s life during our conversation (she split from her partner, journalist Des Kelly at the end of last year). In fact, the only man’s name she does mention is Richard Whiteley, her late Countdown co-host who passed away in June 2005. ‘Richard and I were together for 23 years – some people’s marriages don’t last that long,’ she says. ‘His loss affected my life big time – it was a catalyst for me to make changes in my life. I owe him. I still really miss him too.’ This year marks C4’s 25th anniversary, so as well as putting her glad rags on to celebrate at a star-studded party, Carol will be paying her respects to her old colleague. ‘It’s going to be an emotional time. I always go to Richard’s grave on 2 November for our Countdown anniversary, so that’s where I’ll be.’
It sounds like Carol finally has her priorities in order (although she admits it’s taken her years to work it out). ‘My 30s were my worst – I had no time to look after myself,’ she says. ‘But I’m in a better place now. Age doesn’t bother me. You get to a point where you realise you’re never going to be perfect, but you deal with it. I’m happy with my appearance and very comfortable in my skin,’ she says. ‘I find people’s obsession with age funny. I’m not up for plastic surgery. I think if you do anything on your face you’re taking a risk. I’ve still got my wrinkles,’ she adds proudly pointing out her laughter lines. Well, we think she’s earned every one of them.
ON LOOKING GOOD
‘At one point in my life I didn’t go to the hairdressers for five years. I never had time, so I did it myself. I didn’t lose my pregnancy weight for years. It was ridiculous. Now I’m slimmer, but people on the street often comment on my weight. They say, “You’re not as fat as you look on telly.” The thing is, we don’t record on wide screen, so we get stretched out to fill your home TV. I look two sizes bigger than usual. Even the Countdown clock is stretched.’
ON THE FAME GAME
‘I’ve never been fame hungry. It was my mum who wrote to Countdown in the first place. There are a lot more people who want to get on TV now and don’t necessarily do the hard work. I get letters all the time from people who ask me how they can become famous. It’s not good enough. It’s a sad situation. My career isn’t about fame – I don’t get photographed out with my children, it’s not the way I like to conduct my life.’
PRIDE OF BRITAIN – ON THE NIGHT
Alongside Carol will be a host of stars cheering on winners like Kirsty Howard. Prince Charles and Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be there with JK Rowling, Ewan McGregor, Peter Kay, Ant and Dec, Stephen Fry, Dame Shirley Bassey, Jamie Oliver, Simon Cowell and Little Britain’s Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Formula One star Lewis Hamilton will be showing his support, with Wayne Rooney and England captain John Terry.
The Daily Mirror’s Pride Of Britain Awards, sponsored by Tesco, is on ITV1, this Wednesday, 9pm
Words: Louise Burke.
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