WOWZERS! Best Countdown news ever! Jeff Stelling and Rachel Riley have been confirmed as the new presenters of Countdown. Okay, I don’t know who Rachel Riley is, but Super Jeff is the perfect Countdown host and, quite honestly, will renew my viewing in the show, as Des O’Connor was a bit too gentle for me… and Des Lynam? Well, he was a bit hopeless wasn’t he? In Jeff Stelling, we’ve got a true replacement for Richard Whitely! Of course, many of you – especially students who play the drinking game – will be aware of Stelling’s work on Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports. Jeff will take over from Des O’Connor as host of the Channel 4 quiz in January.
Related: Jeff Stelling rumoured for Countdown | Jeff Stelling Small Screen Icon
“I am delighted to be hosting Countdown and follow in the footsteps of such great broadcasters as Richard Whitely, Des Lynam and Des O’Connor,” Super Jeff told The Sun.
Riley, who replaces Carol Vorderman as co-presenter, beat 1,000 applicants for the post despite having no TV experience. She said: “This is the best graduate job in the world. There’s only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it so I’m absolutely thrilled.”
Helen Warner, head of Channel 4 daytime, commented: “They make a great team and I feel certain that our much-loved words and numbers game will go from strength to strength with them at the helm.”
YES! I can’t wait for the new team!
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And there’s a new blue set to go with the new hosts – replacing the pink and purple stripes which have had very mixed reviews during their six years in use. Fortunately, the Big Clock will still be there.