The 47-year-old star is said to have found it difficult to recover from long-serving host Richard Whiteley’s death in 2005.

She reconsidered her role after the resignation of current host Des O’Connor on Wednesday, her agent John Miles said last night: “When Richard died it was such a shock, she wondered whether she should call it a day then, but she agreed to carry on,” he said.

“It takes such a long time getting to know someone when you are working with them and she thought she could not cope with getting another new person on the show.”

Carol was one of the favourites to replace 76-year-old Des O’Connor, who had been with the Channel 4 show for two years.

Carol and the late Richard Whitely in 1989

Mr Miles refused to comment on her plans but said she would probably continue to work in TV.

He added: “Carol was the first woman on Channel 4 and she is enormously grateful to have had 26 wonderful years and nearly 5,000 shows. She wants to thank all of the crew, the thousands of contestants who have played the game and the millions of viewers for whom she has the greatest respect. She is extremely sad.”