Carol Vorderman has been married twice and has been single for the past 15 years, but that hasn’t stopped her from having a number of ‘special friends’
Carol Vorderman has spoken out about Pete Wicks’ “crush” comments whilst discussing her romantic life. The 64 year old former Countdown star revealed she has “basically been single” for 15 years following her split from journalist Des Kelly.
Carol, who has walked down the aisle twice, disclosed in 2022 that she was no longer interested in monogamous relationships. She now prefers to have several “special friends” for casual arrangements.
The TV personality claims this lifestyle has given her a far “freer” way of living, reports Wales Online. However, in a recent chat with Yours magazine, Carol refused to disclose exactly how many special friends she currently enjoys.
She said: “I know I’ve had what I call medium-term boyfriends for a year or so, but I’ve basically been single for about 15 years.
“I have a very close-knit family, great friends, and my two children. We adore each other. I feel like I don’t need love because I’ve got so much in my life.”
Here we examine Carol’s romantic history over the years, including a cheeky remark from former The Only Way is Essex star Pete Wicks.
Carol’s two marriages
Carol walked down the aisle for the first time aged just 24. She married Royal Navy officer Christopher Mather, though the union lasted merely 12 months.
Carol confesses she did something “inappropriate” during the wedding ceremony.
Speaking on BBC Wales, she said: “I was wearing a dress, right, you know the days when you had the white dress for the day, for the big thing itself.”
When co-host Owain Wynn Evans enquired whether she changed outfits, Carol responded: “And I found a frock to wear at night time – it was like something they now wear in Strictly Come Dancing. It was entirely mesh with sequins in the right places.
“So I had this thing that was probably not appropriate for a bride and I got on the stage and sang It’s Raining Men.”
Carol wed management consultant Patrick King in 1990, four years following her divorce. The pair welcomed children Katie and Cameron before separating in 2000.
Carol then embarked on a five-year romance with Des, though they parted ways in 2006. The couple briefly reunited before ultimately going their separate ways for good.
Carol ‘freer’ with ‘special friends’
Carol has revealed she feels “freer” maintaining special friendships rather than pursuing a monogamous partnership.
During a 2022 appearance on This Morning, Carol explained: “Our mothers told us that we should marry when we were still 18 or 19 or 20, so we grew up with that convention that you should find one partner for life. My view is not quite like that.”
She added: “I live my life in chapters, and you said and this chapter since I was about 50. So for the last decade or so, I’ve lived a life which is much freer.”
Carol confirmed last year that she had separated from two of her “special friends”.
She told The Times: “Life’s moved on. It’s free-spirited. There’s no ownership but it works.”
Pete Wicks’ ‘weird crush’
Former TOWIE star Pete Wicks, who co-hosts the Pride of Britain red carpet with his mate Sam Thompson, has previously labelled Carol as his “weird crush”. On his Staying Relevant podcast, Pete cheekily said: “Carol let me know when you’re free.
“I can’t wait to, we can talk maths, have a cracking night on tequila and wake up in the morning to a breakfast made by yours truly!”
A chuffed Carol told Heat magazine: “I didn’t know who he was then but he’s lovely.”
The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant isn’t the only one smitten with Carol. BBC Radio One’s Melvin Odoom has also expressed his fondness for the star.
“They all need to go to Specsavers,” she quipped.