Carol Vorderman quits BBC radio show over new social media guidelines

Carol Vorderman will leave her weekly show on BBC Radio Wales after breaking BBC guidelines with vocal attacks against the government on social media

Carol Vorderman has announced she is leaving her BBC radio show because she is “not prepared to lose my voice” after the corporation introduced new social media guidelines.

The 62-year-old former Countdown star has had a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio Wales for five years.

In a statement, she 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.

“Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave. We each must make our decisions.

“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. We laughed a lot, and we will miss each other dearly.

“But, for now, another interesting chapter begins.”

The BBC set out the new rules for flagship presenters after a tweet by Gary Lineker prompted an impartiality row in March.

An independent review was conducted by former ITN boss John Hardie following Lineker’s brief BBC suspension for comparing the language used to launch a new government asylum seeker policy with that of 1930s Germany on X, formerly Twitter.

The guidelines state that presenters on flagship shows must not endorse or attack a political party, criticise the character of individual politicians in the UK, or take up an official role in campaigning groups.

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