Jeff Stelling confirmed as host of Countdown
Friday, November 21st, 2008
Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling has been confirmed as the next host of Countdown, Channel 4 announced today. He will be joined by maths whizz Rachel Riley, a 22-year-old Oxford graduate who will take over Carol Vorderman’s role.
Stelling is best known for his knowledge of match day statistics on the Sky Sports programme Soccer Saturday, and has been named Sports Presenter of the Year for three years running. His appointment ends months of speculation as to a replacement for the Countdown host Des O’Connor, who announced his resignation in July.
“I am delighted to be hosting Countdown and follow in the footsteps of such great broadcasters as Richard Whiteley, Des Lynam and Des O’Connor,” he said.
Riley who beat 1,000 applicants to the post, also expressed delight at landing the co-host role. “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,” she said.
Riley was tested on her maths skills and abilities in front of the camera before being offered the job. Channel 4 said that her “on-screen presence, easy going nature, coupled with fantastic maths skills meant she excelled in all rounds of the auditions.”
Stelling was originally shortlisted for the presenting job along with Alexander Armstrong, but reportedly turned it down before the screen auditions. After Armstrong pulled out at the eleventh hour, having received a contract from Channel 4, it is understood that the programme makers approached Stelling again with better terms, which he consequently accepted.
A new series of the TV quiz show presented by Stelling and Riley will kick off in January.
