Carol Vorderman: My ‘facelift’ became folklore! Can women have beauty and brains?
About this episode
<p>It’s an age-old question: can women have both brains and beauty? (Spoiler: obviously yes!) Broadcaster Carol Vorderman says the more people comment on her body... the more thigh high boots and tight skirts she’ll wear!</p><br><p>In this chat with Fearne, Carol charts her early life, from her family running away with the circus, to living out of a car, to being one of the first girls to read engineering at Cambridge University. She also reveals who wrote her first application to Countdown back in the day... because it wasn’t her!</p><br><p>Carol is very politically active, and explains why everything about our lives is political. Care about the pressure put on kids and parents by schools? Where your taxes go? Women’s bodily autonomy? It’s more important than ever, she says, to both use your vote, and live with hope.</p><br><p>What can we learn from Carol about making the best of what we’ve been given? And why do we all have a responsibility to stand up for what we believe in?</p><br><p>You can watch Carol on Celebrity Quizzing on Channel 5.</p><br><p>If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:</p><br><p><a href="https://pod.fo/e/38b6c2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ashley James</a></p><br><p><a href="https://pod.fo/e/394770" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Poorna Bell</a></p><br><p><a href="https://pod.fo/e/361cc1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kate Winslet</a></p><p> </p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Listen to this episode in English to learn English
Podcast episodes are one of the highest-density ways to absorb English at native pace. Carol Vorderman: My ‘facelift’ became folklore! Can women have beauty and brains? from Happy Place gives you natural dialogue, unscripted speech, and vocabulary that actually appears in real conversations.
In the Clue app, every word in the transcript is tappable. Tap an unknown word, see the translation in your language instantly, and keep listening without breaking flow.
Episodes to Learn English
- "Life's too short for bad sex!" Grace Campbell is speaking up about pleasure and shame Jun 15, 2026
- Yoga! Shopping! Talks! DJs! How the Happy Place Festivals come to life Jun 11, 2026
- Ashley Roberts: If you don’t scream your body will! Anxiety, insomnia, and Pussycat Dolls' comeback Jun 8, 2026
- Book Club Meets: Tradwives and the manosphere, with Caro Claire Burke Jun 4, 2026
- Mary Berry: "I didn't want to leave the house!" How gardening helped me through grief Jun 1, 2026
- Alan Cumming: “I allow people to be abusive!” How to build self-worth and say no May 28, 2026
- "Why does criticism hurt so much?" Dr Julie on triggers and behaviour patterns May 25, 2026
- Dr Louise Newson: Anxiety! Joint pain! The perimenopause symptoms you’re ignoring May 21, 2026
- Fear can be wonderful or destructive! How to negotiate with doubt, with Joseph Fiennes May 18, 2026
- I still get triggered! Fearne on how to heal, cope with hangxiety, and having an empty nest May 14, 2026
- Sex scenes are liberating! Nafessa Williams on Rivals, racism, and self-belief May 11, 2026
- Play therapy rewires the brain! Facing childhood traumas, with The King’s Trust May 7, 2026
- Nicole LePera: "Your nervous system is screaming at you!" Healing anxiety and panic May 4, 2026
- Book Club Meets: Rekindling intimacy in marriage, with Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees Apr 30, 2026
- "You can't be a people pleaser and a leader!" Emma Grede on self-belief and female ambition Apr 27, 2026
- “I was overweight and unhappy!” Liz Earle’s perimenopause and midlife reinvention Apr 23, 2026
- Philippa Perry: Why everyone has an inner critic, and how to stop believing yours Apr 20, 2026
- I don’t identify as middle aged! Fearne's talking hormones and single parenting Apr 16, 2026
- Bryony Gordon: How people pleasing fuelled my OCD, alcoholism, and eating disorder Apr 13, 2026
- Women spend HOW MUCH on period products? Mooncups, AI slop, and joining a choir Apr 9, 2026
- Jimmy Carr: “Men half-arse things!” My thoughts on feminism, parenting, and success Apr 6, 2026
- “I had to say ‘c*ck’ at The Royal Albert Hall!” Fearne’s talking about sex and being more creative Apr 2, 2026
- “I wish I was chic-er!” Fearne on personal style and learning new skills Mar 26, 2026
- Ruth Langsford: “We all go through sh*t!” My life with divorce and dementia Mar 23, 2026
- “Why are we always rushing?” Slowing down by writing by hand and lying in Mar 19, 2026
- Break free from people pleasing, with Keisha Buchanan, Megan Barton-Hanson, and Jade Scott Mar 16, 2026
- “Give people pleasing the finger!” Fearne’s no longer trying to be liked Mar 12, 2026
- Radio 1's Matt and Mollie: I’m finding my voice! Back yourself like you back your mate Mar 9, 2026
- Book Club Meets: “I was burnt out!” Live a slower life, with Emma Gannon Mar 5, 2026
- Boy George: “I love fame!” Star signs, sexuality, and writing songs with ChatGPT Mar 2, 2026