Carol Vorderman made a shock announcement in October 2024 that she was stepping down from her LBC Sunday radio show after a "health scare". Twelve months later, she exclusively reveals that she's been "very poorly" over the past year, but has finally managed to come out the other side.

The former Countdown star said last year that she felt "fed up" having to step down, but wanted and needed to redress her work-life balance. Speaking to OK! ahead of walking down the red carpet to host the annual Pride of Britain Awards, Carol revealed: "This year has been a bit hellish health-wise."

She continued, "I've been very poorly, not related to the burnout but something entirely different. I'm on the right medications now, but it's only in the last month or so that I felt I've got my mojo back. So watch out, world!"

The twice-married and-divorced mum of two also said she'd been relying on a circle of good friends to lift her spirits and help her enjoy her new time off. "I've had lots of mini-breaks and holidays with friends -- gay friends, female friends I've had for 50 years, or some I've known for 10. I've been back to horse racing, I've travelled to the States, to France, to everywhere, actually!," she said.

"Going back and seeing old friends has been wonderful. And the right friends, too. I think I've managed to drop all the bad ones. It's easy to forget how much your old friends love you. I've had messages to say, 'Oh, come and stay in our villa', or 'Come and visit us on our boat'. It's lovely to be so loved, really."

She also revealed that she stands by her decision to enjoy a somewhat untraditional approach to dating, choosing a number of "special friends" over a monogamous relationship.

She initially shared her fresh outlook on relationships while chatting to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby during an appearance on This Morning a few years ago, and says she has no regrets about doing so.

"It really did a few headlines and I couldn't understand why, because at that point I'd been practising it for a decade," she says. "I'd say I've been single for 15 years, and I've had some fantastic adventures and I've loved it."

Elaborating on why she chooses not to become someone's girlfriend, the Pride of Britain host explained that she couldn't see herself having to ask anyone "for permission" to live her life.

"My brain never stops, and my capacity for adventure is huge. So, I don't ever want to ask someone else again for permission to do something. It's just not my nature. I've been married, I was happily married and I've got wonderful children.

"I have so much love in my life, and people who will come on adventures with me. I've got one friend who goes to the International Space Station every year, so I get a couple of phone calls from there. It's wonderful! And I'm doing nothing wrong, because I'm single."

Pride of Britain's Carol Vorderman's fresh health scare as she admits to being 'very poorly' - The Mirror