Entertainment

Carol Vorderman quits LBC radio show after ‘health scare’

The former Countdown star said she was following the advice of her family and friends to slow down.

Carol Vorderman talked about ‘health scare’ in an Instagram video
Carol Vorderman talked about ‘health scare’ in an Instagram video (Lucy North/PA)

Carol Vorderman said she will not be continuing with her Sunday radio show on LBC after suffering “burn out” from seven-day working weeks.

The former Countdown star said she was following the advice of her family and friends after a “health scare” two weeks ago, which saw her in hospital overnight.

Vorderman said in a post on Instagram that she had a “tight feeling in my chest and I was utterly exhausted” but “after many scans and checks, we know that I don’t have any underlying health issues whatsoever”.

However, the broadcaster said she was taking the health scare as a “warning sign to slow down slightly”, announcing she has “decided to cut my work back to weekdays for now” after working seven days a week for “I don’t know how long”.

“I am very fed up about it, but I have made the decision that I can no longer do my Sunday show on LBC which is a very hard decision to come to but I couldn’t see anything else I could do,” she said in the Instagram video.

The 63-year-old said her time on the radio show had been “really lively and a total joy”, but described it as “one of those things”.

“The good news is that I’ll still be part of the LBC family (they’re a good family) from time to time – so stand by for more details,” she said.

“I am very sad about it but I shall be continuing to make mischief – just not seven days a week in the future,” she added.

Carol Vorderman on LBC
Carol Vorderman on LBC

TV star Vanessa Feltz will present the show on Sunday afternoon.

A statement from LBC said: “We completely understand Carol’s decision.

“Her health comes first and everyone here at LBC sends their best wishes.

“Carol’s show has been an essential Sunday listen and while we know many people will miss her, we look forward to having her back on LBC, from time to time, soon.”

Vorderman joined LBC to front her new Sunday programme from 4pm to 7pm in January.

It came two months after the TV presenter left her BBC radio show saying she was “not prepared to lose my voice” after the corporation introduced new social media guidelines.

Vorderman was vocal in her criticism of the previous government on social media and has had several arguments on X, formerly Twitter, with Tory MPs.

She said management decided that she should give up her Saturday morning show on BBC Radio Wales over a breach of the guidelines.