Countdown to job as new TV quiz host

10:05am Saturday 22nd November 2008

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A NORTH-EAST born sports presenter has been unveiled as the new host of popular quiz show Countdown.

Jeff Stelling, originally from Hartlepool, has become a household name as anchorman of Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports. He will be joined on the programme by Oxford University-educated maths genius Rachel Riley.

The duo will front the new series of the quiz when it hits the screens in January.

Mr Stelling, an ardent Hartlepool United fan, was awarded sports broadcaster of the year by the Sports Journalists Association for the third successive time earlier this year.

He told The Northern Echo last night: “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.

“It is obviously something very different to anything I have done before.

“It is an exciting time for me and I am looking forward to it.

“I will still be presenting Soccer Saturday. This has been the staple of my presenting and it has been the highlight of the week. I am now hoping for six highlights of the week.”

Ms Riley, 22, graduated from Oriel College, Oxford, with a masters degree in mathematics.

She fought off stiff competition from more than 1,000 applicants to step into the shoes of Countdown legend Carol Vorderman.

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.”

Mr Stelling said: “Rachel is a very attractive lady and I think people warm to her as they get to know her. I am really looking forward to working with her. I am not a genius, but I think I could have done okay as a contestant.”

Helen Warner, head of Channel 4 Daytime, said: “I’m very excited that Jeff and Rachel will be picking up the Countdown baton from 2009.

“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.”

Countdown was the first show to be broadcast on Channel 4 when the station was launched in November 1982.

Ms Vorderman and previous presenter Des O’Connor recorded their final programme earlier this month which is due to air next month.

Cambridge graduate Ms Vorderman has spent 26 years on the show.

O’Connor joined the quiz in January last year and helped the series celebrate its 25th anniversary in November last year.

He replaced Des Lynam as the anchor, who stepped in following the death of the muchloved Richard Whiteley, who lived in East Witton, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

A spokesman for Sky Sports said: “Jeff’s new role will not affect his Sky Sports commitments, which include presenting Gillette Soccer Saturday and live Carling Cup and Champions League football.”