Jeremy Clarkson wades into Carol Vorderman BBC row questioning her decision

Carol Vorderman leaves BBC radio show over new social media guidelines

Jeremy Clarkson has today waded into Carol Vorderman’s sacking from the BBC.

The Countdown legend announced she was leaving her Radio Wales show earlier this week because she was “not prepared to lose my voice” after the corporation introduced new social media guidelines.

The 62-year-old said management had decided she should give up her Saturday morning recording over a breach.

She has been vocal in her criticism of the Government online and has had several arguments on X, formerly Twitter, with Tory MPs.

The Top Gear star has now questioned if Carol’s move is “wise” as he branded it “very righteous”.

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Writing in his latest column for The Sun, the 63-year-old claimed she should have looked ahead to where the country could be politically next year.

The Grand Tour presenter stated: “It seems Carol Vorderman was given a choice by her employers at the BBC.

“Carry on with your anti-Tory tweets and lose your job. Or agree to stop and keep it.”

Jeremy continued: “Carol had a think and decided she’d be off, which I’m sure is very righteous. But I wonder. Is it wise?

“Because we all know that in a year’s time, the Tories will be gone.”

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The television regular added: “So then she’ll have no one to shout at AND no job.”

Under the BBC’s new social media guidelines, presenters on flagship programmes including Match Of The Day (MOTD) and The Apprentice have been banned from making attacks on political parties.

The corporation said the guidance does not include contributors, pundits, judges or guest hosts but it has put through additional guidance for freelancers along with those not working in news, current affairs or factual journalism production.

Carol issued a statement on Wednesday saying she would be exiting the station after five years.

She said: “The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines, which I respect.

“However, despite my show being light-hearted with no political content, it was explained to me that, as it is a weekly show in my name, the new guidelines would apply to all and any content that I post all year round.

“Since those non-negotiable changes to my radio contract were made, I’ve ultimately found that I’m not prepared to lose my voice on social media, change who I am, or lose the ability to express the strong beliefs I hold about the political turmoil this country finds itself in.”

“My decision has been to continue to criticise the current UK Government for what it has done to the country which I love – and I’m not prepared to stop. I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on.

The mother-of-two went on: “Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave. We each must make our decisions.

“I’m sad to have to leave the wonderful friends I’ve made at Radio Wales. I wish them, and all of our listeners, all the love in the world. We laughed a lot, and we will miss each other dearly.

“But, for now, another interesting chapter begins.”

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