Carol Vorderman has broken her silence after being sacked by the BBC for breaching its new social media rules.
The Countdown Queen, 62, told fans she was leaving her 'beloved' BBC Radio Wales show – which she's hosted since 2019 – because of the broadcaster's new impartiality guidelines. Carol, who announced the news she'd been sacked on Wednesday, has become an outspoken voice on X, formerly Twitter, regularly calling out the Government, who she once referred to as "a lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks".
Having left her radio show, despite it "being light-hearted with no political content", the Welsh star took to X updating her followers on the situation, which she has referred to as "sad". Alongside a praying and a strong arm emoji, the presenter said: "From my heart, thank you for your overwhelming support today. Just bowled over by it. You're so wonderful, genuinely thank you. I'll now increase calling out this disgusting Tory govt with facts & data which the right wing media fails to publish#StrongTogether."
Her post, which has so far received 15,000 likes, was flooded with comments, with many of Carol's followers telling her how 'proud' they were are of her. One replied: "Well done Carol, everybody is behind you." While another wrote: "I wish you all the very best. Your passion and much-needed voice ought not to be muzzled."
In September, the BBC updated its social media guidelines to include a strengthened "Lineker clause", in an attempt to stop high-profile presenters, including BBC Sport star, Gary Lineker, expressing strong views on party politics. In a statement shared on X following the news she had left the corporation, Carol said: "The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines, which I respect. However, despite my show being light-hearted 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. 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."
A BBC spokesperson told the Mirror: "Carol has been a presenter on BBC Radio Wales since 2018. We’d like to thank her for her work and contribution to the station over the past five years."
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