Carol Vorderman's Countdown binge

24-09-2008 13:00

Carol Vorderman has put on nearly a stone in weight since announcing she would be leaving 'Countdown'.

The presenter - who announced she would be quitting the long-running Channel 4 game show earlier this year after bosses asked her to take a huge pay cut - says the stress of her impending departure has caused her to 're-tox' and pile on the pounds.

I need to get a lot fitter and I simply haven't had time to do that.

Carol - who has previously shed two stone on a strict detox diet - told Reveal magazine: "I have had a re-tox year. When I get stressed, I don't sleep well and then I get tired. And when I get tired I find myself shovelling food in my mouth just to keep myself awake.

"I've put on about 10lb due to stress. I realised I was putting on weight when I found my dresses were a bit tighter. I was trying to blame the zips when I had difficulty putting them on, but the zips weren't to blame."

However, the 47-year-old star has vowed to lose the extra weight by Christmas, when she is due to leave 'Countdown'.

She added: "I need to get a lot fitter and I simply haven't had time to do that."

Successors for Carol and co-host Des O'Connor - who is also leaving the Channel 4 show at the end of the year - have not yet been revealed.