‘PRIDE OF BRITAIN IS ALWAYS A PLACE OF HOPE’

PRESENTER CAROL VORDERMAN ON HER LOVE OF THE AWARDS SHOW, WHY SHE’S RECYCLING OUTFITS AND HOW FANS ALWAYS DEFEND HER

- RHONA MERCER

It's fair to say that Carol Vorderman has a lot going on when we catch up with her to chat about the Daily Mirror Pride Of Britain Awards. Carol, 61, is exhausted after flying back from a work trip. I’m a bit tired today,” she admits. I’ve been away for a month, so I'm a bit bleurgh.”

Having interviewed her before, we are well versed in Carol's no-nonsense approach, her brilliant sense of humour and her ability to rise above any negativity aimed at her. Today is no different, and although she sounds to be rather sleep-deprived, she remains as entertaining as ever.

When we tell Carol we saw some pictures of her looking remarkably fresh-faced as she arrived back in London, she says, The photographer must have been kind. had a 30-hour flight delay on the way home. was sitting on the floor of an airport for seven hours.”

Our first topic of conversation is the fact that the organisers of this year's awards are endeavouring to make the event as eco-friendly as it can be. We try to reflect what's going on in the world as much as possible,” says Carol, who will be presenting the awards for the 24th time this year. This whole sustainability thing has grown, and grown quite rightly. think Ash Ashley Banjo, her co-presenter], is wearing the suit he had made to be best man to his brother Jordan earlier this year, and l've been trying on some gowns I’ve worn previously. One is by Isabell Kristensen and one by Suzanne Neville.”