I’m a Celebrity star lands date with Carol Vorderman after sharing his crush on her

EntertainmentLifestyle
10 Mar 2025 • 7:40 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Melvin Odoom’s dreams have come true after he had a long-anticipated meet up with his celebrity crush Carol Vorderman.

The I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! star, 44, shared a sweet selfie with former Countdown star, 64, months after he admitted that he wanted to ask the presenter on a date but had been too afraid to say hello at the Pride of Britain Awards last year.

Sharing the photo to Instagram on Sunday (9 March), Odoom captioned the post: “Dreamed it then real lifed it,” alongside a red love-heart emoji.

Celebrity colleagues and fans have been supporting the potential couple, with JLS star Marvin Humes writing in the comments, “Nah it’s a mazza.. bro we need a part 2.”

Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks chimed in with a laughing-face emoji as a fan said: “The pairing we all wanted to happen!!”

Another person added: “Goooo Melvin!! This just made me smile soooooo much,” as another said: “Yes!!! This is what I have been waiting for! This is a wedding ITV needs to broadcast!!”

The long distance flirtation began when Odoom called Vorderman a “10 out of 10” while in the I’m a Celeb jungle. “Check your DMs girl, I’ll be waiting,” he said.

Vorderman quickly responded to Odoom’s romantic admission, and sent a message into I’m a Celebrity… Unpacked. She esemed chuffed about the news of the crush, when she said: “Jungle man, keep doing what you are doing, you’re doing a brilliant job. See you on the other side.”

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She then posted about the exchange online, writing: “Well hello @melvinodoom, or shall I say Melvin Vorderman or Jungle Man which sounds very much like Vorder Man?”

“I’m having so much fun watching the camp mates having a joke with Melvin in the @imacelebrity jungle,” she wrote.

When Odoom left the jungle, ITV filmed him checking his messages to find that Vorderman had messaged his social media manager, saying: “Please give him my best. He’s done so well [heart emoji].”

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It comes after Vorderman made an empowered Instagram post on Valentine’s Day, wishing her followers a “Happy Valentine’s” and reminding them there are “so many different kinds of love” and “don’t settle”.

“When I was growing up we were told women were worthless without a husband. Women weren't even allowed their own bank accounts until 1975 when I was already a teenager age 14.”

She said: “Be strong in yourself and don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket. If you find a lover who will respect you and you want to be with them ...marvellous. BUT you are whole without them...always remember that. Work on it. Don't settle.”

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