Growing up in poverty TV star Carol Vorderman still remembers the first item of clothing she was ever bought.
Living in a one-bedroom flat in Prestatyn, North Wales, with her mother and two siblings, for a long time she had dressed only in hand-me-downs.
Then came the first new buy – a cape.
“The first time any clothes were bought for me, I was nine,” she recalls. “It was the 1960s growing up in poverty that was just normal. I have an older sister, but there was a girl in the street, and I used to get her hand-me-downs.
“I think her name was Pamela, but she lived in one of the big houses.
“The first outfit that was bought for me was a cape, other than that it was all hand-me-downs, but we didn’t mind, we didn’t know any different.”
That humble beginning has stayed with Carol throughout her life and it is something she is embracing as she hosts the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, with TSB, for the 24th time on Monday.
She will be wearing not one but two of her pre-worn gowns, which have been upcycled – adapted and transformed for the occasion – and originally worn to the ceremony by Carol in 2018 and 2021.
Known for her fabulous outfits both in everyday life and on the red carpet, Carol, 61, says: “We’re doing things a little bit differently this year, we’ve been working hard to make the whole event as green as we can.
“As part of that, for my red carpet and on-stage outfits, I’m wearing two dresses that I have worn before, so we’ve upcycled two of the amazing dresses that have been made for me.”
And it’s an idea she is fully behind adding: “I love it, I wouldn’t buy any new clothes if it was up to me.”
The stunning red Suzanne Neville gown she wore to present on stage at last year’s awards will be making an appearance on the red carpet. The floor-length number has padded shoulders, long sleeves, a V-shaped neckline, and a silver zip down the back.
And a grey silk Isabell Kristenson dress, which is strapless and embellished with crystals on the bodice, has been taken in for Carol to wear on stage, having debuted on the red carpet four years ago.
Carol says: “At Pride of Britain we always reflect what is going on in Britain as much as we can. Given the cost of living crisis, people have to cut back so it is only right that we recycle these dresses.”
She is not the type of celebrity that only wears a designer outfit for an event and then tosses it aside. Carol who hosted Countdown from 1982 to 2008, admits: “I’m the kind of person who will always wear things more than once. I always have, I do it all the time. People go ‘Where did you get that dress?’ I’m thinking ‘Well, I got it 15 years ago’.”
Carol’s Pride of Britain co-host, Diversity dance troupe leader and choreographer Ashley Banjo, 34, is also recycling a suit he has worn before.
And the whole event will be greener this year with a vegan starter for guests, ensuring all food is locally sourced and the table print will be on recycled paper using eco-friendly ink.
The production equipment will all be hired for the night, and the red carpet will be repurposed so schools can make use of it in the future.
Carol has also been on a mammoth health kick in recent months, often sharing videos of her workouts to her 247,000 Instagram followers.
As a result, the star’s two dresses have had to be taken in. “I haven’t weighed myself since 1999, but I feel great, I’m fit as a flea,” admits Carol. “I have more energy than a lot of people half my age.
“I’ve been doing lots of really good things – exercise, stretching and looking at the way I eat and supplements I take. It’s always been really important to me to live my life in the most enjoyable way.”
However, the glamorous star had a few health setbacks during the pandemic, explaining: “I have but I had a tricky few years. I got Covid very early on – at the end of 2019 – and was almost hospitalised with it, then I got Long Covid very badly. It was horrendous.
“I couldn’t do the things I usually do – I couldn’t even walk very far. Then I got an ankle injury which is okay for now. So I feel lucky to be back moving and feeling so good again.
“Whereas for people in their 20s, 30s, 40s it’s all about toning your legs, for me, at this age, being active is about being able to enjoy life.”
The presenter is certainly in the right frame of mind to enjoy Pride of Britain, explaining: “I’m really looking forward to it, obviously.
"It is going to be wonderful. I’ve said it before but there really is nothing else like Pride of Britain.
“Life can feel very hard right now, it’s been a year of massive change, things aren’t easy for a lot of people but Pride of Britain always feels like a place of hope.
“Somewhere we can come together to celebrate the best of who we are. And we need that don’t we?”
