Pride of Britain Award presenter Carol Vorderman has opened up about suffering with ‘chronic pain’ over the last year – and how her lifestyle has completely changed as a result

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Carol Vorderman has revealed that she’s now a ‘party animal’ after previously suffering with chronic pain

Carol Vorderman has opened up about spending the last year with a chronic pain condition, revealing that she’s since turned into a “party animal”. The TV presenter, who is hosting the Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards tomorrow night with Ashley Banjo, gave an update on her health when stopping by This Morning today.

The 64-year-old told OK! earlier this week that she had been “very poorly” throughout the year, having been diagnosed with sudden rheumatoid arthritis. Having stepped down from her LBC Sunday radio show as a result, she said that it had been “hellish health-wise” while she coped with the symptoms.

Now, Carol has revealed what brought her out the other side and turned her into a party animal as a result. Speaking to This Morning’s Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, Carol said that she “hit burn out” after being a “workaholic” for decades.

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Carol Vorderman at the Pride of Britain Awards this week(Image: Ian West/PA Wire )

“I’m a gym bunny and I did my rotator cuff in. By the time I had my Wellwoman bloods done in December, I had an inflammatory marker,” she added.

However, after treating the high inflammatory levels from her rotator cuff issues, she developed “chronic and sudden rheumatoid arthritis within two days”.

She said: “My hands were twice the size. I couldn’t move without crying in pain. Chronic pain for months and months while they found the right information.

“The NHS has been superb. I’m on the right drugs now and I’m off the steroids but I would live that year again because it’s been like an intervention. Suddenly, I appreciate everything in my life. Every wonderful person.”

Carol said that she’s been catching up with old friends. “Now, I’m back to being a bit of a party animal. I’ll be in the wrong pages of the tabloids.”

The ex Countdown star turned heads on the Pride of Britain red carpet on Monday night, with the pre-recorded ceremony set to air tomorrow night. She joined Diversity’s Ashley Banjo yet again to host the 26th annual awards, celebrating the nation’s unsung heroes.

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Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo hosted the Pride of Britain Awards, which will air on ITV tomorrow night(Image: ITV)

Yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed this year’s winners to Downing Street as he called them “the very best of our country”. He said: “The stories, I find them so uplifting,” speaking to Asha Ali Rage, winner of the Special Recognition award for launching Dream Chasers FC in Small Heath, to help keep teenagers off the streets.

“I always arrive thinking of this problem, that problem, like the world is on my shoulders. But the moment I hear the first story, I think, ‘give your head a wobble’. You’re doing amazing things here,” the Prime Minister went on. “Loads of people sitting in their living rooms may well say, ‘if they can do that, maybe I can do that’.