Carol Vorderman: 'I was so nervous' Countdown legend recalls tense encounter
CAROL VORDERMAN was left “shaking” during an outing with former Top Gear host Richard Hammond. The math whizz said her knees were wobbling that day, however, the former Countdown star said the overall experience was “amazing”.
Carol Vorderman appears with Michael O'Flaherty in 2000
The 57-year-old mathematician admitted she was anxious when she met a horse following the final race at Ascot last Saturday. Carol Vorderman got to greet Subway Surf after she finished third in the Flat race, a form of jump racing. The unlikely meeting left the TV star weak at the knees, although she was thrilled to have patted the five-year-old mare. "I was so nervous,” the former Countdown star recounted. “My knees are still shaking.”
However, she gushed about the “beautiful” creature and the day's events, with her adding: “It doesn't get any better than Ascot.”
“That was amazing,” she told Racing Post. “It's the first time I've seen her race, and isn't she beautiful?"
On her Twitter account, Carol shared a picture of herself standing beside the delightful horse.
The mother-of-two looked stunning in a bright red coat, which she wore over a turtle neck jumper.
Her hair was worn in tousled waves and she donned a pair of black spectacles and drop-earrings.
She captioned the snap: “Me and my girl in the winners' enclosure....@Ascot Our wonderful trainer @kimbaileyracing thinks we are going to have a great next season with her....ooh so happy.”
Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was also in attendance that day and gushed about the experience too.
“Subway Surf could be a proper horse. I've known Kim [her trainer] a long time, and it's a great group of people involved in her.”
The 49-year-old TV personality continued: “It's been an incredible day."
Carol and Richard’s appearance at the prestigious event comes after the former admitted she is “in love”.
Also, she said she is “in love” with being alive and wrote: “In answer to your charming question (and I don't mind you asking) @dailyexpressuk....my answer is NO I'm not looking for ‘the one’.
“I’m genuinely having the best time of my life. But I am ‘in love’……with being truly alive.”
Carol has been married twice, first to former international rugby league player Christopher Mather in 1985 and later to management consultant Patrick King in 1990.
She shares her two children, Katie and Cameron with her second husband Patrick.
Countdown airs weekdays on Channel 4 at 2.10pm.