Carol Vorderman has opened up about the cancer scare she had after enjoying “many merry years” of sunbathing.

Carol Vorderman had a cancer scare when she was 50 (Image: Getty)

Carol Vorderman has candidly shared her experience with skin cancer, attributing it to her “many merry years” of excessive sunbathing during her youth.

The 63-year-old admitted that she was part of a generation that embraced sunbathing without understanding the risks involved.

She confessed: “Oh God, yes. I was burning away merrily for many, many years. I’m of the generation where we started to sunbathe – my mother’s generation didn’t.

“We were also caught in the formative years, the 60s, 70s, 80s, where we had absolutely no idea of what sun protection was – you just couldn’t buy it. I think it was the 90s that began.”

She added: “So in all of our youth we were encouraging each other to sunbathe doused in cooking oil.”

A biopsy showed the presenter had precancerous cells (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

After observing changes in her skin, she consulted a dermatologist who conducted a biopsy.

“You hear that word, and it’s very frightening,” she said in an Instagram video.

The test results revealed precancerous cells. Despite having no symptoms, Carol emphasised that she doesn’t want sympathy but rather wants people to follow her advice on sun protection.

Following the removal of the cells, Carol now undergoes an annual check-up and highlights the importance of using sun cream.

Despite “slathering herself in SPF at all opportunities,” Carol explained: “In many ways, the damage is already done, but I don’t sunbathe now, I cover myself up.”

Tragically, Carol’s mother succumbed to cancer in 2017, having endured three distinct types, with melanoma being the final one.

Carol now undergoes an annual check-up (Image: Getty)

Reflecting on her mother’s battle with the disease, Carol noted: “Not a single time in her life did she sunbathe – my mum had a different skin to me, she had moles, I don’t. I know that makes you much more prone to melanomas.”

It comes after Carol left fans stunned as she debuted a bold new hairstyle on Instagram, transforming her signature blonde locks to a rich brunette with a fringe.

After a trip to the hairdressers, she took to Instagram to show off her impressive results to her followers. Sharing a series of snaps of her new do, she thanked her followers for their support online.

She captioned the post: “YOU TOLD ME TO DO IT. I trotted down to @toniandguybristol to see Kim and James….brunette you said (7,000 votes later!) so that’s what we did….with a little fringe…and I bloomin love it.”