TV presenter Carol Vorderman has opened up about her children’s concerns for her wellbeing after she wasdiagnosed with burnout in 2024. Carol, 64, told journalist James O’Brien during his Full Disclosure podcast that the stress peaked post-general election last year, prompting her to take a much-needed hiatus.
This included stepping down from her beloved LBC programme to focus on recovery.
Carol is a mother to Katie King and Cameron King from her marriage to Patrick King, which ended in 2000. She spoke with James in front of a live audience about the events leading to her break last year, having already left her BBC Radio Wales show the year before, reports WalesOnline.
She shared: “I am feeling fantastic at the moment. Thank you if you were a listener, for forgiving me for leaving LBC, it was because I hit burnout in September. I worked like a machine to get rid of the Tories.
“I just hit burnout and on the day itself I was meant to be doing a live show for my book on the south bank and I got to the hotel where I was staying and I had, I thought they were chest pains, so I had to check myself in.”
Carol added: “I got all the scans it was all fine and the consultant said: ‘It’s just burnout Carol, you’ve got to stop’, so I really had to think about it, my kids were quite fierce with me about that.”
Carol reassured fans she had bounced back and was ready to tackle her busy schedule once more.
She’s joined forces with Jeremy Vine for Channel 5’s new programme ‘Celebrity Puzzling’. Discussing her tactics on the show, Carol confessed to a shift from courteous to competitive.
Speaking to the Mirror, she said: “At first, I thought I’d be very gracious and allow my fellow guests to answer the question so the world can see how clever they are. But after about half an hour, the genteel lady aspect went out of the window. I’m very competitive.”
While continuing her television presence, Carol remains vocal in political commentary, frequently sharing her views on Reform’s ascent and critiquing Labour’s leadership.
In conversation with HuffPost, she expressed disappointment with Sir Keir Starmer.
She said: “I don’t know who the hell is advising them. I mean, the way they’re dealing with it, it’s just like… own your ****! Why are you getting it wrong, and why are you getting it wrong so continuously? I don’t understand.”
Carol is also set to feature on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel tonight (Saturday, July 19) at 6.30pm on BBC One.