The Beeb’s social media guidelines have prompted Carol Vorderman to quit her Radio Wales show. She has presented a Saturday morning show on the station for the last five years.
Her decision to step down from the show was announced on X (Twitter), a platform on which she frequently criticises the government.
The former Countdown co-host said she was “not prepared to lose [her] voice on social media”.
She further noted that some of her posts were considered to have “breached the new guidelines”, upsetting BBC Wales management who had “decided she must leave”.
“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,” she said. “I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on.”
Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker was taken off air earlier this year after he criticised the government’s asylum policy on social media.
The Beeb then introduced new guidelines which state that presenters on flagship shows must not endorse or attack a political party, criticise the character of individual politicians in the UK, or take up an official role in campaigning groups.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We would like to thank her [Carol] for her work and contribution to the station over the past five years.”
Vorderman’s statement in full:
“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.
“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.”
