After a challenging year managing chronic arthritis, Carol Vorderman has been celebrated by Swansea University
TV legend, Carol Vorderman, has bounced back from a chronic health battle to be awarded an honorary doctorate. The former Countdown host, 64, received the accolade from Swansea University in recognition of her “services to broadcasting and STEM education.”
Earlier this year, Carol admitted to stepping back from work after suffering a period of burnout. Speaking to Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston on Heart Radio in October, she shared: “I had burnout and then, it’s really weird thing. I had sudden and chronic rheumatoid arthritis and I literally would lie on the floor crying for a day and I couldn’t move my shoulder.
“I had to keep my elbow in at my waist. I’ve been on steroids on and off, months and months and months because they have to try certain drugs for you and that takes months for them to take effect. But now I’m on the right ones and now I’ve been off steroids for three months and it’s like ‘yeah, I like this’.” For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here.
The mother-of-two revealed she had undergone tests for dozens of cancers after recovering from the “chronically debilitating” arthritis. Speaking at the ceremony, Carol said: “I was struck with sudden and chronically debilitating rheumatoid arthritis almost a year ago and it’s taken a long time to get the meds right, so I no longer take my health for granted in any way.”
Dressed in a plaid brown dress beneath her gown and mortarboard, Carol collected the scroll that officially made her an Honorary Doctor of Science.
Carol has a long-standing connection with Swansea University, having previously worked with the institution to establish the Carol Vorderman Maths Access Bursary.
The initiative has awarded £2,000 grants to 27 students pursuing mathematics or actuarial science degrees. Carol also delivered a lecture at the university on International Women’s Day, sharing her experiences and inspiring the next generation of mathematicians.
Reflecting on the honour, she said: “It’s a privilege to be honoured by Swansea University. Our connection goes back many years, united by a passion for encouraging numeracy and mathematics in young people. It has brought me great joy to support mathematics students at Swansea through giving bursaries.
“I find our younger generation inspirational: bright, hardworking, talented, curious, creative, tolerant, and kind, with a big-picture perspective that my generation was not always encouraged to embrace. Thank you, Swansea, for bringing us together.”
Swansea University praised Carol’s contributions, saying: “Honorary awards recognise individuals who have made outstanding achievements and significant contributions in their fields. Her passion for mathematics extends far beyond broadcasting.”
Carol’s impact on mathematics education is extensive. Between 2009 and 2011, she chaired a government taskforce aimed at improving maths education for children. She later founded themathsfactor.com, which supported around half a million primary school pupils during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, she delivered an International Women’s Day lecture for Swansea University’s Computational Foundry, the hub for the university’s mathematics and computer science departments, sharing insights into her life, career, and experiences as a woman in STEM.
Following that visit, discussions with staff and the Vice-Chancellor led to the creation of the Carol Vorderman Maths Access Bursary. Worth £2,000 each, the bursaries have helped 27 students pursue degrees in mathematics or actuarial science to date.
