The ghastliness of Carol Vorderman
National icon turns into poor man's Sarah Palin.
By James Macintyre Published 05 March 2010 13:34
I have an embarrassing confession to make: I used to have a crush on the former Countdown co-presenter Carol Vorderman. Not any more.
Her performance last night on BBC1's Question Time was one of the worst by any panel member I have ever seen. It wasn't just that she outed herself nakedly as a partisan Conservative, having gone down the "they're all as bad as each other" route. It wasn't just the ghastliness of her clichéd, shrill, pub-boring, parochial approach.
It was, I'm afraid, her sheer stupidity. I thought this woman was hailed as our great national genius! Instead, she trotted out sluggish conventional wisdom at every turn.
The key example was with the Jon Venables affair, on which she was the only panel member to insist not only that Jamie Bulger's parents have a "right" to know what Venables has done to go back into prison, but that the public does, too. She could not answer why, and it became clear that her desire was based on: a) ignorance, b) crude populism and c) nosiness.
It was left to our own excellent Will Self to argue bravely that the child killers may not have been evil. (I don't necessarily agree with that, but boy, was it a courageous view to articulate in that Middle England arena.)
Carol, you were so lovely on Countdown. Please stay out of politics, though. I know Sarah Palin, and you're no Sarah Palin.
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123 comments
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She can sit on my face anytime...
And she can sit on the bus next week.
She was so annoying I wanted to stamp on my TV. A vile woman with a voice like fingers on a blackboard and opinions of an uneducated thug.
Yet not quite so slightly as vile as Kelvin McKenzie this week.
..sure James it smacked of desperation, nonetheless allowing her and those like her (Kirstie Allsopp springs to mind) a credible platform to voice their confused poison unchecked and eclipsed by the excellence of Will Self and Shirley Williams (and bloggs like this) would allow her and her myopic tribe to continue to dominate. Displays like last night should consign them to history.
I remember no other time in my childhood that caused as much visceral anger from a news item than the Jamie Bulger murder, but this faux compassion that comes from outsiders grates at me more than anything. I'd hail paedophiles just to get one up on this populist bullshit -- just to show them. Outsiders' opinions aren't worth the tear that those who hold them wouldn't shed one way or the other. Thanks for the heads up -- I'm on to iplayer to see QT. Looking forward to watching some embarrising bullshit persona wax lyrical about morality while living a lifestyle that consigns millions to a life that's short, brutush and harsh.
LOL! looks like journalist John Robb's Twitter observation about Vorderman being like Sarah Palin has stuck firmly!
Surely comparing a woman with whom you disagree to an ex-girlfriend is bordering on sexism isn't it?
I can't believe you "don't necessarily agree" that they were not evil. Try looking at their life stories. Try reading up on how personalities are formed. In other words do as you say and don't write in ignorance. Carol is simply a fool.
If Will Self had not been on the programme, the despair I felt every time CV spoke would almost certainly have caused me to self harm. The other panelists were far too timid in the face of her crazed rants. Seriously though, is she having a breakdown? .
I wonder if CV reads the Daily Mail?
Facially she resembles Margaret Thatcher more and more as she ages... Seemingly in mannerisms and politics too. Thoroughly repugnant.
Carol Vorderman is marvelous, I find her mathematical skill rather salacious. Coutdown will never be the same without her wonderful bouncey rear. The number selection is not the same, bring back Vorderman!
I knew she was an ars quite early on, when she hosted a Chess championship on TV. Refering to an opening she was commentating on, the real chess expert babysitting her said, "It looks like it's going to be a gambit." Carol thought he said "gamble", clearly having no idea what a gambit was. Like commenting on the cricket and not knowing what "a run" is. Incredible.
I always thought Vorderman was a Tory - intelligence devoid of the ability to reason.
Ever since Question Time bought the celebrity ticket, the show has been stumbling towards a moment like this. CV's ill-informed, gaff prone, tabloid blood lust exposed her as the intellectual lightweight most can see her for. Will Self was terrific even managing to tweet during the show.
Politics is about getting the most votes from Mail and Express readers. New Statesman readers think they are much more academic and therefore much worthier. But a vote is a vote, be it from a 90 year old, or those enjoying football.
If Carol, put up as a Conservative candidate she'd be worth millions of votes. She's pretty, Prestcott is not, neither can he add up!
I've been watching countdown lately and can't help wondering if this is where CV's problem lies, the presenter from Sky sports is doing quite well and comes across as a genuinely nice guy and the young maths lady is so much more attractive than CV while appearing to be at least as good at arithmatic if not better. The QT programme itself while leaving me quite sad and even frightened was nevertheless a classic for many different reasons firstly the sight of a "National Treasure" self destructing on national television but most of all for the skill and talent of the brilliant Will Self and also Shirley Williams in not fully engaging with CV but to allow her to self destruct in her own time. They both seemed as shocked as the rest of us and handled the situation brilliantly...
Jenny Said:
"Well don't know if everyone was watching same as me ..I thought Carol was brilliant she SAID what we are all thinking "
If I had an extremist streak in me I might have been thinking that but I haven't. Voderman was stark raving bonkers, and to ordinary people like me confirmed what a shambles the Tory party is.
Wonder how long it will be before the Tories put Vorderman up as an election candidate?
Known her for a long time and always knew one day the truth would slip out. Yes, she's good at sums. And yes, she's as thick as pigshit and a nasty piece of work toboot. Wonderful TV.
Wow, that was car crash tv. I hope we never have to see or hear Vorderman's inane ramblings for the rest of her bitter and pointless existence.
Awful woman and a VERY embarrassing "performance" by her. Ok, she can do little adding-up sums, but as for her opinion on ANYTHING.... OMG. She must have lost the Tories hundreds or even thousands of votes. I LOVED it all. It was soooooo dreadful. She's so thick and was therefore unable to shut up. Me Me Me Me Me....Listen to MEEEEE...
Did anyone notice how she completely changed her voice and accent too? - 2 octaves lower and 7 degrees posher! She has clearly developed a new persona for the tories as a wannabe seductive headmistress..."If they want it they - should - get - ittttt" (she said to Will re the Bulgers parents).
I think this was a clever ploy by the tories to make Boris Johnson look moderate and articulate. Notice that there are few comments on his blatant avoidance of all questions about tory policy through the usual put-on ignorance and guffawing.
She has a nice ass so zip it
m.omollo@btinternet.com
CV MADE BORIS LOOK LIKE A GENIOUS, BORIS LITERALLY DETACHED HIMSELF FROM HER BY AGREEING WITH NON TORIES ON THE BULGER ISSUE AND CV'S FACE DROPPED IN ANGER. IF BORIS CAN DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM FELLOW TORIES DUE TO THEIR ANGRY SCARE MONGERING NO SUBSTANCE PERFORMANING RECRUITS "NEW FACES OF THE TORY PARTY" we are better of with a hung parliament than these inexperienced yuppies who think they have a right to govern this country based on who they are; osborne, cameron, allsop ki rsty, CV, ASHCROFT, GOLDSMITH etc. Check their backgrounds and tell me they can wear your shoe for a minute.
Having heard CV's observations on previous Andrew Marr paper reviews, I had expectations of how she'd come over on QT but, boy oh boy, did she exceed those expectations. It was an almost Delia " Where are ya - let's be 'avin you" performance. As a Labour supporter with grave doubts about Brown (am currently midway through Andrew Rawnsley's book), the recent Tory performance with William Hague's standout role is making me seriously think even Brown is more palatable than this sorry Tory shower.
I'd like a vowel please carol,then a consonant,two more vowels,and another consonant, i..d..i..o..t.. Thankyou Carol,and stop smiling with that stupid grin.
Hateful Woman.That ghastly cackle laugh and constant interruptions,with no proper evaluation of policies,she came across as a Little Englander Flog em and Hang em Brigade.Her reasoning was non existent,and her hatred of any other reasonable arguments just goes to show what a small minded ,big headed Bigot she is..That will suit the far right in the Con Party.Annoying troll that she is.
OK - I used to like her when she did simple sums but this performance showed why she got a third and couldn't be expected to be good at maths, logical reasoning or seeing another point of view. Highly irritated by her claim to be speaking from an unbiased viewpoint whilst pedalling such biased views. Please don't waste any part of my licence fee on her again.
Incidentally this programme showed how important personality is in politics. If an issue were to come up on which politicians hadn't indicated their views in advance who would you trust - Shirley or CV? Game, set and match to the former.
CV has lost every conceivable plot...which would normally be quite amusing / sad etc. but for a plain fact she is seen by a potential govenment as being a capable future advisor on Maths...what sort of demented judgement is that???.....what next Kirstie Alsop on housing policy....oh please save us...
Glad to see I wasn't alone in being appalled by her performance - I thought she was supposed to be super smart!!! Hoorah for Will Self!
child killers may not be evil........
Hoorah for Will Self - Prat.
I remember this. yes she was ghastly. Shame the samle populist drivel is written down in the daily mail/ express etc..
I felt uncomfortable watching CV's drivel, just embarrassing. However Will Self oozed intelligence and common-sense particularly with regards the Bulger case. I was relieved that someone had the guts to stand up and argue this viewpoint.
And Sadiq, where there is real superiority of mind, pride will always be under good regulation!
"she came across as a Little Englander Flog em and Hang em Brigade."
She's half Welsh half Dutch so less of the racism.
None of the panel mentioned the fundamental principle of open justice. The presumption is that the public has every right to know about every step of the legal process, unless there's a good reason otherwise. Perhaps there is a good reason as to why Venables' details should not be made public - though I don't see why it should apply to the details of his licence breaches as opposed to his new identity - but none of the panel bothered to say what it might be.
I thought Will Self came across as smug. His 'I've read the notes on venebles therefore my OPINION is more valid than yours' stance was sickening. He put the perpetrator's rights before the victim's family's ( sickening) Of course the victim has no rights because poor Jamie is DEAD. He was quick to criticise politicians but has no responsibility to the electorate himself.
Shirley Turncoat just says nothing but waffles for England.
Johnson is a buffoon. Vorderman is a b*tch and Adonis should be charged under the trade descriptions Act.
All in All a pretty poor panel.
lols@the CV comments. :)
thought she looked pretty hot myself - then she opened her mouth.
Ouch!
dear god, talk about politically ignorant! Like a rag-bag of tabloid opinions dressed up with an attempted "i'm with the People" spin-doc effect, truly painful.
reminded me most of esther rantzen, in fact.
--still wouldn't kick her out of bed however... :)
adonis showed what he is, a single-minded (but intelligent) party hack who nonetheless CARES about his brief (a rare thing these days), williams was an excellent example of why in pre-Christian times 'crones' (no offence intended at all Shirley) were highly respected members of a community, boris may have managed to hold ground (lose some votes, gain some votes) through his really quite amusing and inimitable personality - although he really should have thought about the whole current 'bullying' media focus before revealing that part of him perhaps - and dimbleby made him come clean regarding his battle between him and camoron - kudos for that, but easily the Star of the show was Will Self, who was a rock for honest, open, and courageous speaking. You don't have to agree with such people to still respect the fact they will take a stand against 'popular' (truly: populist) opinions.
Satbir: heh, if you're who you appear to be from that comment... well spoken in the show too! ;)
yet another rocking QT in 2010!! :D
Can't understand why she gets called a "brainbox". She did mental maths on Countdown. But do you know what level of honours she graduated with? A first? 2:1? 2:2? Nope - a THIRD. Blimey, even Prince Charles did better than that!
I was really shocked and horrified by her appearance and performance. I used to like her too....not anymore. She was like a child who has done some rote learning with a few figures and just waiting for a question to come around that she could answer.
The next government is highly likely to be the tories. I wonder what worse we are going to see from her. The future will tell. But if she has sold her soul to the tories,what a sad act indeed.
Don't write CV off after one bad performance. If the Tories get beaten at the next election (my money is on a Labour return) then they will need the likes of her (not to mention her looks)
Sarah Palin's upward rise has not been stopped by bad performances. All the faults of the QT showing can be put to rights.
The amazing thing is that the Tories were so stupid as to let her go live on TV without first getting the job done. But they will.
Like the new hair style. And it is good to see the Grayson Perry as been sacked as frock consultant.
I didn't like Will Self appealing to the crowd with the all too familair "MP's are all as bad as eachother" line. Will is wrong. The Conservatives are a lot worse. I am willing to bet that most Labour politicians have good intentions and want Britain to progress. The same can't be said for Eton Cameron and the rest of his Notting Hill set. Voter apathy is at an all time high, and this kind of comment is glib and pointless. It will be Labour that will suffer because those disengaged from politics are usually at the lower end of the socio-economic scale. We should do our best not to reinforce Will's populist stance.
That is what rank and file Tories are like. Cameron will need to throw them some red meat even if he tries to be more moderate. I don't like people using "evil" in this context or any other. It is a sign that you are open to a populist analysis when you should know better. Born to the same parents with the same genes we could all have done that awful act.
17 years of Labour Goverment.
After how many years of Tory rule?
We're STILL in the sh*T.
All you lot can moan about is Carol Vorderman?
Pull your heads out of your arses.
Vorderman reminded me of an unpleasant teacher whose lesson strategy is to sneer at and embarrass her students. Nasty piece of work.
Adonis was strangely cute in comparison, I don't think he suits his name though
Thought Will Self was his usual incoherent self, so wrapped up in himself and oblivious to reality. But then New Statesman is a breeding ground for intellectual parvenus
Consonant please!
Vorderman's missing an "r" in your headline ...
Very funny john :)
You're not wrong, James, she was awful. And I say that as a (closet) Tory myself.