TV presenter Carol Vorderman kicks off her World Record plans with her first solo flight live on television at Gloucestershire Airport

On Wednesday, August 21 Carol Vorderman will begin her very own countdown on ITV’s flagship daytime show ‘This Morning’ as she takes her first steps towards a 2014 World Record attempt. With plans to fly around the world solo next year, Carol hopes to become the fastest ever person to progress from first solo flight to global solo flight within approximately 18 months.

During Wednesday’s show, summer hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford will speak with Carol live on This Morning ahead of her first ever solo flight at Gloucestershire Airport. This will be the first time a trainee pilot’s ‘first solo’ has been broadcast live on television.

Taking off from runway 27 and flying up to 1000 feet whilst turning in a rectangle around the airfield before taking her final approach and landing, this will be the first time Carol will be in the aircraft alone... The TV first should take around five minutes, but this will be the start of her forthcoming global aim.

Speaking for the first time since agreeing to undertake the challenge live on This Morning, Carol – who has been learning to fly with Debra Ford at Staverton Flying School in Gloucester – says, “I’m very excited about my first solo flight. It was meant to happen a few weeks ago but the weather wasn’t good enough and the conditions for a first solo are very strict for obvious reasons. But this time hopefully the sun will shine and we won’t have too much of a crosswind, because I’m not too good in high crosswinds just yet!

“A first solo flight is a nervous moment for all pilots, but one they remember throughout their lives... and I can’t wait to tell the Loose Women ladies about it in a few weeks’ time.”

Weather permitting, Carol hopes to get her Private Pilot’s Licence in September and then to move onto more rigorous and formal training that will lead to her commercial pilot’s exam before Carol can embark on the long 29,000-mile trip around the world covering Amelia Earhart’s route.

This Morning’s Deputy Editor, Suzie Marsh says, “The whole team at This Morning are looking forward to being involved in Carol’s challenge and new adventure. As a live show This Morning can bring the viewers this big moment, as it happens, and witness Carol achieve her ambition. We are certain she’ll do brilliantly.”

Airport Operations Director at Gloucestershire Airport, Darren Lewington says, “We met Carol at an aviation exhibition earlier this year and we are delighted that she has chosen to learn with one of the flying schools on our airfield.”