One of the most popular and highly paid presenters on television, Carol is best known as the face of numerous science and education programmes, and as the co-presenter on 'Countdown'.
Born in Bedford but brought up in Rhyl and Prestatyn, Carol - a member of MENSA - says her passion for numbers began while under the tutelage of maths teacher Mr Parry at the Blessed Edward Jones school. Mr Parry, an extremely strict man known for his fondness for throwing blackboard dusters in response to wrong answers, encouraged Carol to develop her talent for mathematics. Carol has since described him as "pretty wonderful, keen to push everyone to their best", which succeeded in most cases; most in his classes passed their maths O-Level with distinctions.
The maths pass joined 13 others that Carol obtained, later joined by three A- Levels and a degree (third class) in engineering from Cambridge.
Carol's television career began in 1982 as the letters and numbers girl on 'Countdown', the first programme broadcast on Channel 4 in November - and there was controversy in August 2008 when she was axed from the show. Prior to working on countdown she had been working for an electrical retailer in Leeds, only applying to the programme on the insistence of her mother.
Carol has gone on to host a wide variety of programmes on many TV channels, and is actively involved in numerous educational projects. Despite being one of the country's most famous - and highest earning - women, she has kept in touch with her North Wales ties, opening the New Community University of Wales in Llandudno in 2000.
But she was to learn more of her roots during filming for the BBC family history programme, Who Do You Think You Are? [broadcast BBC1 September 27 2007].
Previously she knew nothing of her father's side of the family because her parents split when she was a baby.
She moved with her mother, brother and sister to a flat which had been left by her great-grandfather, Daniel Davies, a Welsh butcher from Prestatyn. He was a successful businessman who rubbed shoulders with influential people. However, a family myth was finally laid to rest - an old photo doesn't show him with Queen Victoria at Bodnant Hall, he was standing next to Agnes Pochin, a Liberal MP's wife, who was involved in the women's suffrage movement.
Moment of Glory: Carol was awarded the MBE for Services to Broadcasting in the New Year's Honours List 2001.
Maths whizz and one of Britain's most famous TV presenters.
