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| Vorderman: 600 stitches |
The attack took place during filming of the hit Channel 4 show, as Carol - who earns £1m a year for her part in the programme - revealed the correct solution to the game's numbers segment.
Eyewitnesses say Carol had just begun some "humourous banter" with host Des Lynham about the mathematical problem, when the bear ran into the studio and leapt upon her, instantly knocking her to the ground. Lynham - who took over from former presenter Richard Whiteley following his death earlier this year - is reported to have shouted "get it off her, get it off her" as the North American bear brutally mauled the screaming Vorderman.
Popular 80's magician and regular guest on the quiz show's "Dictionary Corner", Geoffrey Durham, describes the full horror of the scene:
"There we all were enjoying Carol and Des' marvellous toing and froing, when all of a sudden the side studio door where [warm-up comedian] Greg [Scott] usually enters and exits was thrown open with tremendous force. Everyone stopped and looked, and I could hear the gasps going round the audience as this enormous animal charged in on four legs, roaring and gnashing its teeth."
Added Durham: "It was out for blood, and it was making straight for Carol."
MERCILESS
Channel 4 security attempted to pull the grizzly off the fallen Vorderman, but despite their efforts the animal refused to halt its merciless mutilation. The helpless Carol - who was due to begin filming a new series of First Plus Debt Consolidation TV advertismentss on Monday - was forced to endure the furious assault for almost sixteen minutes until a police animal control team arrived on the scene and subdued the bear with tranquiliser darts.
Vorderman was immediately rushed to hospital, where she required an astonishing six hundred and eleven stitches and a blood transfusion. Unconfirmed reports also suggest a limb, believed to be an arm, had to be surgically reattached to the Sudoku expert after it was gnawed off in the attack.
Several audience members have slammed Des Lynham for not trying to lure the animal away from Vorderman.
"Richard Whiteley - rest his soul - would have done anything he could to save Carol from a butchering like that," long term Countdown fan Ethel McRae (72) said. "Or at the very least he'd have made a pun about her having to grin and bear it until help arrived, which would have lightened the atmosphere."
"A bit," Ethel added.
It is unclear as to how the grizzly got into the studio, or why it singled Carol out for special attention, but some speculate the animal may have been angered at Vorderman's constant, ill-advised attempts at humour, as well as her efforts to play an increasingly vocal role in the show, rather than just sticking to doing the numbers and putting the letters on the board like she's supposed to.
Vorderman was immediately rushed to hospital, where she required an astonishing six hundred and eleven stitches and a blood transfusion. Unconfirmed reports also suggest a limb, believed to be an arm, had to be surgically reattached to the Sudoku expert after it was gnawed off in the attack.
Several audience members have slammed Des Lynham for not trying to lure the animal away from Vorderman.
"Richard Whiteley - rest his soul - would have done anything he could to save Carol from a butchering like that," long term Countdown fan Ethel McRae (72) said. "Or at the very least he'd have made a pun about her having to grin and bear it until help arrived, which would have lightened the atmosphere."
"A bit," Ethel added.
It is unclear as to how the grizzly got into the studio, or why it singled Carol out for special attention, but some speculate the animal may have been angered at Vorderman's constant, ill-advised attempts at humour, as well as her efforts to play an increasingly vocal role in the show, rather than just sticking to doing the numbers and putting the letters on the board like she's supposed to.
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