And here's to you, Mrs Vorderman

TV personality Carol Vorderman showing her sexy back

Last week, Carol Vorderman's perky, perfect derriere lifted the Rear of the Year title from under the royal bridesmaid's gluteus maximus, that of the much fancied, much tweeted and considerably younger Pippa Middleton.

Now the 52-year-old is stealing headlines again, this time for canoodling with a toyboy millionaire and internet tycoon, Mark Hadley, whom she met on a night out with Ultimo undie queen Michelle Mone and the X Factor vocal coach Yvie Burnett.

Hadley, at 37, could hardly be called a boy but he IS 13 years Vorderman's junior which, if it doesn't quite make her a cougar in the Madonna mould - those predatory dames who stalk men young enough to be their sons - certainly confirms the current trend for younger man, older woman.

No harm in it either. Carol, after all, is single following the break-up of her second marriage to Patrick King, while Mark Hadley is unattached.

Her kids, Katie, 20, and 14-year-old Cameron are old enough to accept that their mum is entitled to enjoy herself or, as she said: "After 30 years of television, I want to play more than I used to."

Besides, looking at photographs of Carol and her new man together, Mark, with his receding hairline, shirt hanging over his trousers and five o'clock jowls, is the one who is lucked out with the luscious Ms Vorderman.

It is he, not she, who's the cat who has bagged the cream. Whether the affair will blossom into something more permanent is anyone's guess, but Carol is in her prime and clearly having a ball.

Nor is she alone in choosing a younger playmate, any more than it's only women of fame and fortune, as well as a certain age, such as Mariah Carey and Demi Moore, who have decided that romance no longer stops at 40.

These days, it's all right to be flirty at 50, sexy at 60 and sensual at 70. And if it's with a much younger man, why not?

There is no concrete rule which says that the male must always be the older, or the richer one within a relationship.

In the 21st Century, girls aren't only doing it for themselves but earning it as well, which means they can be a lot more choosy.

Increasing numbers will no longer choose Mr Just About Okay because they're like Victorian spinsters, desperate for a man, any man.

The result, proven by a recent survey, shows that today's 50-something women are better preserved and take infinitely more care of themselves than 50-plus men.

Carol Voderman in sexy figure hugging dress

It's the latter who let themselves go and pile on the pounds, which surely means it's not surprising that many women prefer something which is much easier on the eye - and in their bedrooms - than a gent with a beer belly and a comb-over?

Don't just look at Carol. Take a look around any city street, club or pub and the evidence is pretty clear - the average middle-aged woman is tastier than the average middle-aged man.

We may not all have Carol's curves or that bottom, but considerable numbers of us are doing our best to stay, if not exactly young, then pretty damn good not just for our age but for ANY age.

Take another 50-something, Carol Middleton, mother of Pippa and the Duchess of Cambridge.

She dresses not a million miles away from her daughters, with legs to die for and a figure to match.

Here's to YOU Mrs Middleton.

But it's not just about staying trim. It's also about older women's self-confidence.

That, according to the research, is what attracts younger men.

The older woman isn't as needy or insecure as her younger sisters. She doesn't care too much about what others think about her. She'll have been round the block a few times, raised her kids and now it's her turn, as Carol V says, to have some fun. And if that means accessorising it with a toyboy, as well as a designer handbag, so be it.

Men will just have to get used to it. To be fair, some men are wising up and shaping up as they realised that old Father Time can be just as cruel as Mother Nature.

Being born with the male chromosome is no longer enough to keep, far less land yourself, a woman.

So, remember boys, getting rid of excess fat for some ladies doesn't necessarily mean taking herself off to WeightWatchers, but getting shot of a partner or husband who has allowed himself to run to seed.

You have been warned.