‘Countdown’ Icon Carol Vorderman To Deliver Alternative MacTaggart At Edinburgh: “Beware The Post-Menopausal Woman Who Doesn’t Give A Damn”

Carol Vorderman, the maths genius and political activist who was on Countdown for 26 years, will deliver this year’s Alternative MacTaggart at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Vorderman’s speech will precede the publication of her first book, Now What? On a Mission to Fix Broken Britain, and she has become a voice in the political landscape of late, arguing passionately against the ruling Conservative Party and its policies.

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Vorderman will “bring her extensive experience in TV and frontline of social media campaigning to her address,” the fest said, and she will then be interviewed to discuss in further depth.

Vorderman made a name for herself when she landed a job as the maths genius on Channel 4’s Countdown, the only C4 show to have been airing since the network’s inception. She worked on the show for 26 years, making a name for herself for her exceptionally quick maths and simultaneously smooth presenting style.

Since stepping down, she has presented a number of other TV shows and currently hosts a weekly radio show on LBC. More recently, Vorderman, who grew up in a single parent family in poverty in North Wales with her sister, brother and mum, has turned to political activism. Her turn in the Alternative MacTaggart seat comes a year after Goodness Gracious Me star Meera Syal used her address to lambast the structures preventing greater diversity in the industry.

“Beware the post-menopausal woman who doesn’t give a damn,” said Vorderman. “I feel honored to have been asked to be this year’s Alternative MacTaggart speaker. As our industry transitions, there is much to discuss. With 42 years on the box, hosting shows for all channels, it’s been an interesting life. I choose to live a life outside of the media thrall of London and I live without apology.”

The main MacTaggart will be delivered by Dear England creator James Graham, who will speak about “why television has a problem with the working classes.”

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