This Is Your Life: Carol Vorderman

Carol VORDERMAN (1960-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Carol Vorderman, television presenter, was surprised by Michael Aspel while recording for her latest television series at the Fortune Theatre in central London.

Carol, who was born in Bedford but grew up in Prestatyn, showed an early aptitude for maths while at school. After graduating in engineering from Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge, she moved to Leeds, where she found a job as a graduate trainee with a frozen food storage company.

In 1982, Carol was selected from 3000 applicants and appeared on the first edition of the daily quiz show Countdown on the launch night of Channel 4 in November of that year. Since then, she has appeared on every edition of the programme and presented the science programmes How 2 and Tomorrow's World and entertainment shows such as the Midweek National Lottery Show.

"No! You're joking!"

programme details...

Edition No: 981
Subject No: 956
Broadcast date: Mon 20 Oct 1997
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Mon 13 Oct 1997
Venue: unknown
Series: 38
Edition: 8
Code name: Count

on the guest list...

Sian Lloyd
Timmy Mallett
Sally Meen
Paddy King - husband
Jean - mother
Trixie - sister
Anton - brother
Diana Jackson
Patricia Wynne Jones
Frank Ashworth
Sandy Owen
Sue Thomas
Donald Green
John Meade
Richard Whiteley
Liz Kershaw
Prof Ian Fells
Fred Dinenage
Gareth Jones
Diane Keen
Palmer Parry
Ken Dodd
Tim Rice
Carol Smillie

production team...

Researcher: Jean Davidson
Writer: Tony Bilbow
Directors: John Gorman, Peter Wisdom
Associate Producer: Liz Rawlings
Executive Producer: John Longley
Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
Producer: Sue Green

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Presenting Life

celebrating the hosts

Biggest night of all for the big red book

Press coverage for The Night of 1000 Lives

Ken Dodd

Carol Smillie

Richard Whiteley

Screenshots of Carol Vorderman This Is Your Life

Daily Express 14 May 2020

Carol Vorderman: Countdown legend's shocking snub from university lecturer revealed

CAROL VORDERMAN received a shock when her Cambridge University lecturer delivered an awkward snub about her appearance during a celebration of her TV career.

Carol Vorderman fronted the popular game show Countdown for more than 26 years and was the first woman to appear on Channel 4. Despite her TV success, the mathematics whizz always longed to be an airline pilot and her move onto the small screen baffled many. This surprise was especially felt by fellow students and lecturers at Cambridge University, where she graduated with a third class honours in engineering. Her time at the institution was revealed during an episode of This Is Your Life – which recapped those younger years. During the BBC show, Carol was left in utter shock by the comments of one of her former teachers.

Michael Aspel presented the popular programme, which delved deep into the personal lives of stars through the anecdotes of those nearest and dearest to them long before their fame.

The episode that focused on Carol Vorderman in 1997, featured interviews with her mother, former neighbours, school friends and others.

But in a surprising moment for the star, she was left speechless by the remarks of one of her favourite Cambridge University lecturers Donald Green.

The segment started with first year roommate Sue Thomas standing inside the apartment they used to share, where she pointed out Carol's old desk.

She said: "I can still see you sitting there pouring through pages and pages of the most complicated looking mathematics for what seemed like hours on end."

"I also remember some really happy times as well, lots of parties, May balls, lots of fun, it was a great year."

Scenic shots of the school's historic grounds and corridors took over the screen, before ending at the room of Mr Green – her former Director of Studies.

He said: "Do you remember coming for an interview and telling us that you wished to be an airline pilot?"

Mr Green recalled Carol's interview, in which he described her as "the most fashionable of undergraduates" before making a surprising comment.

He said: "You raised the morale of all the others with your fine thigh-boots, and you took your studies of engineering pretty seriously too."

Carol could be seen flushing on-screen and appeared to be flabbergasted by the comments, as Mr Green signed off: "It was all a great success, well done."

The pair were brought on-stage where they embraced and the TV star, still with her mouth open in shock, quipped about her lecturer's comment.

Before eyeing up her friend in disbelief, she told Mr Green: "You noticed the boots."

Daily Express 15 May 2020

Carol Vorderman: Countdown star's unusual invitation from idol Ken Dodd revealed

CAROL VORDERMAN received an unusual invitation from her childhood hero Ken Dodd during a show that recapped the Countdown star's life and career highlights.

By JOSH SAUNDERS

Carol Vorderman became a popular hit among TV audiences as the mathematical whizz on the game show Countdown. She was the first woman to appear on Channel 4 when it first launched in 1982. The star left the show in 2008 over claims she was given an "ultimatum" and would be forced to take a "90 percent pay cut". While she was replaced by Rachel Riley, many viewers still favoured her as the host of the maths and word puzzle segment. Her showbiz highlights were shown during a 1997 episode of This Is Your Life. There her favourite comedian Ken Dodd left her a sweet message that featured an unusual invitation to join her on-stage.

Carol Vorderman appeared overwhelmed as a number of childhood friends, school teachers and family members recalled their favourite memories about her.

During that edition of This Is Your Life, the presenter's brother Anton told the audience about how she once won a fancy dress competition during their younger years.

He explained that they had both remained big fans of Ken Dodd and his 'Diddymen' – characters who would sing songs with him onstage and on TV.

The sibling transformed Carol into a 'Diddyman' once with a make-shift costume from scraps they found on the street.

Anton said: "We found an old bicycle tyre, an old pair of curtains and an old pair of braces so we put it all together and off we went."

"So anyway, she was awarded first prize and a tin of toffee, something we all still eat."

Host Michael Aspel recalled Carol once telling this tale to Ken Dodd when the pair met and the comedy legend, who died 11 years later, had recorded a special message for her.

The Liverpudlian comic expressed how "tickled" he was to be a part of the programme and wished her a "wonderful, wonderful evening".

The star then jokingly claimed to be a "senior lecturer in accountancy and law of mathematics" at Liverpool's JMU University.

Ken said: "I understand that you're very good at sums but if you ever need any help clever-clogs come and see me because I'd be delighted to crunch a few numbers for you."

Shortly after he pulled out a red, blue and yellow balloon-shaped outfit and extended an offer to the star.

He said: "I also hear Carol that you were once a 'Diddyman' at Colwyn Bay pier, so if you ever want to join my show Carol Vorderman I've got your costume ready for you, you'd be a super, super 'Diddyman'."

While the audience laughed and applauded, the presenter appeared a little choked-up by his thoughtful words.

Ken added: "All your achievements Carol add up to a wonderful career but I know that the best is yet to come, have a wonderful future."

Then with a salute he made a final joke: "Can I wish you success and good health always, Kenneth Dodd PhD... prepares hot dinners. Tatty bye, tatty bye."

Daily Express 28 May 2020

Carol Vorderman: Countdown star's shocking 'bimbo' snub from TV host exposed

CAROL VORDERMAN was subject to a savage snub from an ITV co-presenter when he called her a "bimbo" on a TV highlights show to celebrate her career.

By JOSH SAUNDERS

Carol Vorderman starred on Countdown from 1982 until 2008 when she left amid bitter contract negotiations where she claimed to have been "threatened" and given an "ultimatum" by ITV bosses. The TV star was replaced by Rachel Riley who has since won over audiences but fails to attract the record four million viewers a day her predecessor lured in. Carol has presented other shows too including The National Lottery, Loose Women and Lorraine, during her near four decades in showbiz. On a programme that recapped some of her career highlights, she was on the receiving end of a harsh comment from one of her former colleagues. The cutting words made the former Channel 4 star blush and left her shocked into silence.

Carol was appearing on a 1997 episode of BBC show This Is Your Life, when she was blasted by someone she considered to be a close friend.

Prior to the brutal remarks, comedian Ken Dodd had offered her to join his act, her secret pop band was revealed and she even gave a "naughty" kiss to her school teacher.

Next-up were her co-presenters from ITV show How 2, a children's programme that breaks down difficult science, and they had a few snarky words to say.

TV veteran Fred Dinenage explained that she was a "natural" because of her "great knack" for "explaining something very complicated in a simple way".

He added: "She's just a natural but she has an evil sense of humour, she's set me up in TV studios all across the land – all I have to say to you Carol is 'post-it notes'."

She laughed as Fred explained that because he was "of advancing years" he stuck them the sticky reminders all around different parts of the set to help him remember his lines.

Fred added: "We did one particularly difficult How 2 segment involving lots of stuffed animals and paintings and goodness knows what."

"I had these things stuck all over the studio, no problem, the rehearsal was absolutely brilliant."

He recalled that the group went for a tea break and then when he came back on-set he received a nasty surprise.

Fred added: "She had moved every single one and stuck them onto something else."

"That's the kind of woman we're talking about, but I don't need a post-it note to say I love you very much, you're great."

Following on from that story was Gareth Jones, who knew Carol from their younger years because they attended rival schools in North Wales.

He claimed to pass the TV star every day on the bus and that she and her fellow Catholic pupils would "hurl abuse" at them.

As the audience laughed along, Carol was in store for a cruel comment about the public's perception of her.

Gareth said: "Most of Britain has got this image of Carol as 'the brightest bimbo on TV.'"

She looked flabbergasted by the remark, as he jokingly tried to play it off: "That's a quote yeah, the brightest bimbo on TV."

His co-host Fred then pulled him back and told him to be "careful" – in a hint that he shouldn't swear.

Turning to the This Is Your Life host, Gareth continued: "I tell you Michael [Aspel] that's a far more powerful image."

Series 38 subjects