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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Gemma Jones

Gogglebox's Carol Vorderman's luxurious homes, love life and Gyles friendship

Carol Vorderman is the latest addition to Celebrity Gogglebox.

The maths whizz is best known for appearing on Countdown for 26 years between 1982 and 2008 before the role was taken over by Rachel Riley. As well as being the face of the hit Channel 4 show, Carol has hosted the Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards since 1999.

The former Countdown host has been joining long-term friend, This Morning's Gyles Brandreth on his sofa as they enjoyed the week's latest TV programmes together. Speaking of having Carol join the cast, Gyles said: "We are very old friends but I had forgotten how easy it is being together, just fun and having the programme to chat about with snacks."

READ MORE: Carol Vorderman looks unrecognisable in throwback snaps

We take a look at Carol's life off screen including her love life and how she still looks so good at 61.

Friendship with Gyles

When appearing on ITV's Lorraine, friends Carol and Gyles revealed that they first met 40 years ago while on Channel 4's Countdown. Gyles recalled that Carol was the first woman to appear on the channel.

Lorraine showed a throwback picture to when they originally worked together, as Gyles said: "You've grown younger and more beautiful as the years have gone by."

Secret to youthful looks

Previously, the countdown star has admitted that botox is the key to maintaining her ever youthful good looks. She claimed that she wasn't alone in having the procedure done as "everyone in showbiz does it."

Carol said: "My secret is Botox, probably! But it’s not so much of a secret, is it? Everyone does it. Name me a person over the age of 50 on the telly that doesn’t do it?"

She added: "It’s quite funny you know, because when you talk about it to people in the industry they go, ‘Yeah, and then it’s like, and?’"

Whirlwind love life

In her youth, Carol had a whirlwind love life, as she was married twice before the age of 30. Carol first got married in 1985 at the age of 24 to Royal Navy officer Christopher Mather but the couple's marriage only lasted 12 months before they decided to call it quits.

Carol's second marriage came a few years later in 1990, when she was 29. She married management consultant Patrick King. While the couple were married, they had two children together - Katie in 1992 and Cameron in 1997.

They got a divorce in 2000, after Carol met Des Kelly, a broadcaster and journalist, at a Christmas party in 1999. Carol and Des lived together in London from 2001 but after five years together, the couple separated in December 2006.

Carol was last known to be in a relationship with Red Arrows pilot Graham Duff, with their romance lasting from 2012 to 2016.

In January 2021, Carol announced that she was single but was on the dating scene. In an interview with The Telegraph, the star said: "I'm single, and yes, I am dating. Would I marry again? Honestly, I just can't see it.

"I'm always on the move and I have a pretty low boredom threshold. My happiness doesn't depend on being part of a couple, I know that."

Carol has been single for some time but recently she started some speculation when she mentioned a "new love" on the scene towards the end of 2021. But rather than an actual lover, she was referring to her campervan that she planned to renovate into her very own motorhome.

In a series of videos and pictures, she documented the first time she "met" the new van, where she said: "Isn't she gorgeous?" In one image she posed in front of the van, stood in the rain wearing a fluffy black coat as she captioned it: "It's a love thang" with lots of love hearts and loved up emojis following. In another picture, she leaned on the van, and captioned it: "In the rain in Aberystwyth after a four hour drive... and then I fall in love."

Luxury homes

Not long after buying the new van, she also sold her £2.6million luxury Bristol mansion, affectionately named "Sloblock Hall". She revealed that she had named the building "Sloblock Hall" in a tribute to a cheeky moment from a sketch based on Channel 4's Countdown, and it is an anagram of a swear word.

“Sloblock” was a conundrum on the show A Bit of Fry & Laurie, where Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie mocked Countdown. The word then became a joke between Carol and the late former Countdown host Richard Whiteley.

The 61-year-old shared a selection of pictures from her "happy place" home, including selfies, interior and exterior shots and even some from an aerial view. The five bedroom property was bought by Carol for £1.1million back in 2007, which she then extensively renovated.

It also featured four reception rooms and three bathrooms, with the main living area featuring an impressive wood burning open fire and glass ceiling. Outside, the grounds featured a large pool, gym, several outbuildings and private parking.

Carol shared her love for the place, as she posted on Instagram. She said: "Goodbye my happy place..... So many wicked parties.....so so many brilliant memories. I'm a lucky woman.

"And now I'm moving on to yet more new adventures. Wishing the new family who call you home now every happiness and health and laughter. Cheers SLOBLOCK. We had a blast."

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