Carol Vorderman says she is “humbled and excited” after being named as a recipient of a special Bafta Cymru honour, recognising her decades of contribution to television.
The Welsh presenter, who was born in Bedford but raised in Prestatyn, north Wales, will receive the accolade alongside casting director Lauren Evans at the upcoming Bafta Cymru ceremony.
Vorderman is one of the most recognisable faces to come out of Wales, having first shot to fame on Channel 4 maths quiz Countdown back in 1982. She stayed with the show for 26 years, becoming a household name across the UK before going on to front a string of other TV projects.
In recent years she has become just as well known for her outspoken political views and her vocal support for Welsh identity, often speaking proudly about her upbringing in Wales and what the country means to her.
Bafta Cymru hands out its special honours to recognise outstanding contributions to the screen industries in Wales, and Vorderman fits that bill as someone who has flown the flag for Welsh talent on a national stage for more than four decades.
Lauren Evans, who receives the honour alongside Vorderman, has built a strong reputation as one of the most respected casting directors working in Wales. Evans has played a key behind the scenes role in shaping some of the most notable Welsh productions in recent years, helping to find the right faces for projects that have put Wales firmly on the map as a serious filmmaking and television destination.
The pair were announced ahead of the main Bafta Cymru ceremony, with organisers clearly keen to shine a light on two very different but equally important careers in the Welsh screen industry.
Vorderman has always been open about her pride in her Welsh roots. She has spoken in interviews about growing up in north Wales and how that shaped who she is, and she has been a consistent champion of Wales in public life. That connection to her home nation has only grown stronger over the years, making this kind of recognition from Bafta Cymru feel particularly fitting.
The Bafta Cymru awards celebrate the very best in Welsh television and film, covering everything from drama and documentary to entertainment and news. The ceremony brings together the people working both in front of and behind the camera to recognise the talent that makes the Welsh screen industry one of the most vibrant in the UK.
For Vorderman, this honour adds another significant milestone to a career that has seen her become one of the longest serving and most beloved presenters in British television history. From her early days solving numbers on Countdown to becoming a major voice in public debate, she has never strayed too far from her Welsh identity along the way.
The ceremony is expected to be a celebration of everything that makes Welsh screen culture special, and having Vorderman as one of the headline honourees will no doubt draw plenty of attention to the event.
Well deserved tbh, she’s been a proper institution on telly for years. Wales should be dead proud of her!