Carol Vorderman quits BBC radio: All her social media controversies

Carol Vorderman has announced she is quitting her BBC Radio Wales show over a change in social media guidelines for presenters.

She told her followers on X: “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.”

But why are the BBC’s new social media rules such a dealbreaker for Vorderman and what spats has she previously found herself in online?

Blasting the Tories

Carol Vorderman often speaks out against the government. (Getty Images) (Alan Crowhurst via Getty Images)

Back when David Cameron was prime minister, Vorderman was a Tory supporter and even backed their numeracy campaign.

But times have changed, and the former Countdown star has used her social media platform to hold the government to account for everything from partygate to their small boats policy.

She labelled Boris Johnson “a dose of diarrhoea that keeps on giving” for his actions during the Covid pandemic and branded Suella Braverman “the very worst of the worst” for how she dealt with migrants.

There were also a couple of Tories who came in for extra special scrutiny from Vorderman.

Johnny Mercer and the foodbank row

She has a long-running feud with Johnny Mercer. (Future Publishing via Getty Images) (Future Publishing via Getty Images)

The maths whizz has a long-running animosity with veterans’ minister Johnny Mercer and his wife Felicity Cornelius-Mercer.

MP Mercer had suggested that former military staff using foodbanks do so as a lifestyle choice, angering many including Vorderman who has spoken many times about needing to claim free school meals as a child.

She called out both Mercer and his wife for their life of privilege, which lead Cornelius-Mercer to accuse Vorderman of being a “celebrity attack dog”.

The MP’s wife said: “It’s this idea of these celebrity attack dogs that know nothing about politics…You can’t blanket hate. This is what Vorderman seems to be doing.”

Mercer also called Vorderman a “horrible little snob” after she mocked him for being privately educated but not having a degree.

Matt Hancock at the races

Carol Vorderman was spotted with Gina Coladangelo and Matt Hancock at the races. (PA Images via Getty Images) (Andrew Matthews – PA Images via Getty Images)

As a vehement critic of the government’s response to COVID, Vorderman was in for an awkward moment in March when she was pictured at Cheltenham Races chatting with Matt Hancock and his partner Gina Coladangelo – who he broke his own social distancing rules to have an affair with.

Vorderman was appalled by reports of them enjoying a day out together and took to social media to explain she felt it was “a set-up”.

She said: “We’ve had a great day and we’ve just looked online and there’s a whole blooming thing in the Daily Mail – talk about a set-up – about how I’ve been cosying up to Matt Hancock at the races!”

Vorderman continued: “We’re looking out at the course… tap on the shoulder – ‘Hello, my name’s Gina.’ And then I turn around and it’s Matt Hancock – ‘Hello, my name’s Matt.’ I went, ‘Hello, I’m Carol, this is my friend Jules.’ What are you meant to do? You’re in the royal box. You can’t call them a… in the royal box, can you?”

Edwina Currie calls BBC role into question

Carol Vorderman has been on the receiving end of fierce criticism from Edwina Currie. (Getty)

Former Tory minister Edwina Currie spoke out against Vorderman and her role at the BBC in a GB News discussion in August.

Currie told then-host Dan Wootton: “I do have a problem with Carol. One is the way in which she puts her points of view is really quite vicious.”

She added: “You treat people with some respect. You try and show other people how to behave.

“She’s doing completely the opposite. So much of what she’s saying is so unpleasant and so nasty and so directed at the individual and not the policy that you think, ‘Oh, come on, you’re going overboard.'”

The former politician also said: “She currently has a live presentation on a national, taxpayer funded broadcaster. We don’t have any choice, if we’re going to listen to the BBC at all, we don’t have a choice.”

Michelle Mone fall-out

Michelle Mone and Carol Vorderman were previously good friends. (PA/Alamy) (Tony Marshall, PA Images)

Vorderman has made no secret of her fall-out with her previously good friend, lingerie boss Michelle Mone.

She even called her out live on This Morning, saying “sue me, Michelle” and this week, Vorderman aired further views on her former pal on X.

Linking to coverage of Mone and her Tory peer husband admitting to taking advantage of government contracts for PPE during the COVID pandemic, she wrote: “Finally the lies unravel…

“Let me be very clear. What she & her husband Doug Barrowman have done disgusts me. The money MUST be retrieved & I hope criminal proceedings follow.

“To profiteer in the pandemic and lie and spend and mock the good people in this country, while our NHS front line workers risked their lives for no reward whatsoever, is beneath contempt.”

What did Carol Vorderman say about quitting the BBC?

Carol Vorderman says she wants to be able to speak freely. (Getty Images)

Here is Vorderman’s statement in full which she shared on Wednesday, 8 October.

She said: “After five years, I’m leaving my Saturday morning show on BBC Radio Wales.

“The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines which I respect. However, despite my show being lighthearted 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 criticise 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 have decided I must leave. We each must make our 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.”

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