Carol Vorderman, the well-known TV star and former presenter of Countdown, has recently spoken out about the pervasive problematic culture in the television industry. .
In the wake of the recent allegations against Gregg Wallace, she suggested that these issues are merely the tip of the iceberg in an industry rife with long-standing issues. .
Vorderman, at 63 years of age, stated unequivocally: “It’s about keeping people down, particularly women. And it’s not just Gregg Wallace. This kind of behaviour is widespread, and it’s been happening for years.”
She also shared her personal story of being fired from a show after making complaints about inappropriate behaviour on set, testament to how these incidents continue to be addressed within the industry. .
Vorderman said: “I’ve made complaints, you may not be surprised to hear, about various people. Well, obviously, I get sacked. But even in the last couple of years – I can’t tell you which show it was – but I complained about someone, and after that I never appeared again. It’s still happening today.”, reports Birmingham Live.
The spotlight turned to Gregg Wallace, the 60 year old MasterChef host, who took a leave from his BBC role upon becoming embroiled in scandal, accused of making continuous unsuitable sexual remarks over his 17-year stint. Initially, he dismissed his accusers as “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”, only to retract and apologise for these comments thereafter.
His representatives have vehemently denied any suggestions of sexually harassing behaviour, asserting his continual professionalism, as reported by the Mirror. Carol, famed for her impressive 154 IQ, first graced our screens at the tender age of 22 on Channel 4’s Countdown in 1982.
Speaking candidly about the industry’s inherent favouritism towards big names, often to the detriment of those lower down the ranks, she shared: “You get this pattern of people being too scared to speak up. If you’re the first one to make a complaint, you’re branded a troublemaker, and it’s incredibly difficult to get heard. People are scared to lose their jobs, especially when you’re just starting out. If you stick your head above the parapet, you risk everything.”
Esteemed among colleagues, Carol has also opened up about the challenges faced by young females carving a path in television, saying: “I get a lot of women coming to Auntie Carol for advice – younger women in TV who just want to know how to survive.”
Highlighting larger issues, she continued: “I tell them, ‘You’ve got to play the game, even if it’s not right’. But it’s hard, and it’s not just about sexual harassment. It’s a culture that keeps women down and hides the truth.”
Carol joins a rising number of voices calling for reform in the industry, alongside ‘Withnail and I’ star Richard E Grant, aged 67, who has highlighted the bullying and harassment that new TV workers often endure. Carol emphasised the need for change, stating: “We need unions that protect people, not just the stars. And we need producers and managers who are trained to manage properly, not just let things slide because it’s easier. We need a cultural shift. And it’s going to take all of us standing together to make it happen.”
