National Express - 13

Celebrity interview

FLYING

the ﬂag!

CAROL VORDERMAN REVEALS WHY
PRESENTING THE INSPIRATIONAL PRIDE OF
BRITAIN AWARDS IS SO SPECIAL TO HER
he team behind this
programmes. It's there where she became
year's Daily Mirror's
something of a national treasure - though
Pride of Britain
she very nearly didn't take the job!
Awards event toured
'There was an article one day saying
the country in a
that Yorkshire Television was looking
specially branded
for someone who was good at maths
National Express
for a television programme that was
coach - so we were thrilled when one of
being made for a new channel called
its long-time hosts, TV presenter, Carol
Channel 4,' explains Carol. 'My mum said
Vorderman, 52, wanted to sit down and
"look at this, you'd be good at it". I said
share her passion behind it.
no; everyone on television is a star and
'It's reassuring to know people want
I'm quite happy doing what I'm doing.
to watch real people getting awards,'
Despite this, she wrote a letter, forged
says Carol, when asked how she felt to
my signature and sent a photo.
be entering her 16th year of hosting
'She told me afterwards and I just
the event. 'The stars of the show are
thought it was funny but then the
ordinary folk who have achieved
Countdown producer rang and said
extraordinary things.'
come in for a maths test. They'd
The Awards attract an
spent months looking for
audience of around seven
someone and they couldn't
SHOW YOUR
million viewers every year
believe they'd found a
SUPPORT
in a prime-time slot on
young girl who lived a mile
Make a nomination
for your hero at
ITV1. Many of the biggest
away from the studio. It
www.prideof
names in show business,
was meant to be.' And the
britain.com
sport and politics attending
rest, as they say, is history.
the glittering annual ceremony.
Here and now
'Every year I stand on the stage,
Carol left Countdown in 2008,
look out at all these famous faces
but has been busy since, hosting Loose
and just think, wow, they're all here to
recognise the phenomenal achievements Women for the last two years. 'It's been
such a laugh, with some great guests,'
of normal people,' says Carol.
she says. But Carol is really in awe of the
Personal best
winners at the Pride of Britain Awards.
Carol is probably best known for
'These people are not celebrities, but
presenting Countdown for an astonishing
real stars. To me, it is the only awards
26 years, clocking up nearly 5,000
show on TV that really matters.'

WORDS: Emma King | PHOTOGRAPH: Trevor Leighton

T

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http://www.prideof http://www.britain.com
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