Carol Vorderman leaves BBC radio show over new social media guidelines

Published

1 year ago

November 9, 2023

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Carol Vorderman has left her BBC radio show over the corporation’s new social media guidelines.

The former Countdown co-host said she was “not prepared to lose [her] voice on social media”.

Ms Vorderman said BBC Wales management had “decided [she] must leave” as she had “breached the new guidelines”.

She has presented the Saturday morning show on the station for the last five years.

Ms Vorderman said it had been explained to her that the new guidelines would apply to “all and any content” posted by her throughout the year.

This was “despite [her] show being lighthearted with no political content,” she added.

She said she did not want to lose the ability to express her “strong beliefs” on “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,” she said.

“I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on.”

Earlier this year, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker was taken off the air by the BBC after criticising the government’s asylum policy on social media.

New guidelines were then introduced by the broadcaster which state high-profile BBC presenters should be free to express their views on political issues, as long as they stop short of campaigning.

Ms Vorderman previously told the Sky News Daily podcast she would “wait and see” what the guidelines were and “make a decision based on that”.

“I’ve had all sorts of experiences in broadcasting, some of them not so good,” she said.

“The vast majority of them are wonderful. So I’m a very lucky woman. Life is what life is.”

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In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Vorderman thanked her listeners, saying: “You made me laugh so much.”

She also said she was “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,” she added.

A BBC spokesperson said: “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.”

UK

UK winner of EuroMillions scoops £177m jackpot

Published

5 hours ago

November 27, 2024

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UK winner of EuroMillions scoops £177m jackpot

A UK ticket-holder has won £177m in the EuroMillions draw, making them the third biggest National Lottery winner ever.

The winning numbers were 07, 11, 25, 31 and 40, with Lucky Stars 09, 12.

No one has come forward to claim it yet, and players have been urged to check their tickets as soon as they can.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser at Allwyn, operator of the National Lottery, said: “Wow, it has been a truly incredible night for a single UK ticket-holder who has scooped tonight’s jaw-dropping £177m EuroMillions jackpot!

“The win has landed them a spot on the National Lottery’s Rich List, as they have become the third biggest National Lottery winner of all time!

“What a wonderful win right before Christmas, and we cannot wait to pay out this amazing prize.”

An anonymous UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195m – the biggest National Lottery win ever – on 19 July 2022.

The second-highest winners are Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, who scooped up a then-record £184.3m on 10 May 2022 with a Lucky Dip ticket.

UK

David Coote: FA investigating allegations referee discussed giving yellow card before match

Published

5 hours ago

November 27, 2024

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David Coote: FA investigating allegations referee discussed giving yellow card before match

The FA has launched an investigation into allegations that suspended Premier League referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card ahead of a match.

Mr Coote booked Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski during a match against West Brom in October 2019.

The Sun claims that the day before, he discussed carding the player with a Leeds fan he had met online, then after the game messaged him saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.”

Mr Coote insists nothing improper took place.

He said in a statement: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations.

“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field.

“I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”

An investigation has now been opened to get to the bottom of the claims surrounding the already-suspended referee.

Previously, a video emerged showing Mr Coote snorting a white powder.

That came after another video showed Mr Coote in a foul-mouthed rant about Liverpool FC and their then-boss Jurgen Klopp.

After the most recent allegations, a spokesperson for Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) told Sky Sports News: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations.

“We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis.

“PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven.

“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA.”

It added: “We will be making no further comment at this stage.”

UK

Davina McCall feeling ‘stronger and stronger’ after brain tumour surgery

Published

5 hours ago

November 27, 2024

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Davina McCall feeling 'stronger and stronger' after brain tumour surgery

Davina McCall has said she is feeling “stronger and stronger” every day after having brain tumour surgery.

In an update posted to Instagram, the TV presenter emphasised the importance of sleep during her recovery after having a benign brain tumour, known as a colloid cyst, removed.

Sporting a bruised left eye, McCall said she is being “brilliantly” looked after by her boyfriend, hairdresser Michael Douglas, and stepmum Gabby and is “just trying to sleep a lot” and “get better”.

Earlier this week, the star said she was suffering with short-term memory problems, due to the operation. But on Wednesday, she said that her memory is now “improving”.

“My short-term memory is really improving a lot every day,” she said, adding: “It has been an example to me of how much sleep helps me recover from everything.

“If I feel a bit confused or I’m struggling to concentrate, I just got to sleep, and I wake up just completely renewed and refreshed.

“I know that my brain needs lots of sleep.”

The 57-year-old ended the update by thanking fans for their “ongoing support”.

‘Out of the woods’

Speaking during a livestream on Tuesday, McCall’s partner Douglas said the star is “definitely out of the woods” during her recovery.

“She’s quite tired at the moment. She sleeps really well at night and goes to bed at 10pm and has a nap in the morning, and sleeps for two or three hours in the afternoon,” he said.

He added that the presenter is off work until mid-January and has “a lot of time to relax and recuperate”.

Douglas told fans: “It’s been a very, very emotional and quite an incredible experience. We’re definitely out of the woods.”

McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.

She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and together they present a weekly lifestyle podcast called Making The Cut.