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Post by ManicKangaroo on Nov 22, 2008 9:43:37 GMT 1
 Sports broadcaster Jeff Stelling is to be the new Countdown host when the show begins a fresh series in January. He will be joined by Rachel Riley, an Oxford graduate who replaces Carole Vorderman as the long-running quiz show's resident mathematician. Stelling became a cult figure following his stint on Soccer Saturday on Sky. He said yesterday that he was delighted to join the Channel 4 programme and follow in the footsteps of previous hosts Richard Whiteley, Des Lynam and Des O'Connor. Earlier this year, he was named sports broadcaster of the year by journalists for the third successive time. He will continue to present Sky's Gillette Soccer Saturday and live Carling Cup and Champions League football. Riley, 22, who went to Oriel College, was chosen from more than 1,000 applicants by auditions in which they conducted an interview and solved problems. The final choice was from a shortlist of six who took a screen test solving numerical conundrums. She said: "There's only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it so I'm absolutely thrilled." Cambridge graduate Vorderman and presenter O'Connor recorded their final programme earlier this month, and it is due to air in December. Countdown was the first show broadcast on Channel 4 when it was launched in November 1982. Vorderman has spent 26 years on it, while O'Connor joined in January 2007, replacing Lynam, who stepped in as anchor following the death of Whiteley. |
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Post by Panda on Nov 22, 2008 11:15:54 GMT 1
Jeff Stelling's a terrific choice. He'll do a great job.
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Post by -Big Dan- on Nov 22, 2008 11:39:11 GMT 1
To be honest, I quickly got bored of Des O'Connor. He always seemed as though he couldn't be bothered.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Nov 22, 2008 13:26:40 GMT 1
Jeff Stelling will make Countdown worth watching again.
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Post by Panda on Nov 22, 2008 13:31:03 GMT 1
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Becca
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Post by Becca on Nov 22, 2008 14:24:25 GMT 1
awwww no more Carol?  |
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Smurfie
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Post by Smurfie on Nov 22, 2008 14:53:12 GMT 1
Oh, I like Jeff Stelling, what a great choice!!
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Post by o on Nov 22, 2008 17:12:18 GMT 1
Surprising, but good choice!
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Kev
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Post by Kev on Nov 22, 2008 21:18:52 GMT 1
Jeff Stelling is gonna do a great job!
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Paddy
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Post by Paddy on Nov 22, 2008 21:43:20 GMT 1
Jeff Stelling is a very good presenter, but it is making the countdown job a little stereotypical now; football related presenters! Hopefully he'll bring life back to a slightly old format...I haven't watched countdown for a while. Also the Reily? girl. She doesn't look 22! Although I like her quote about it being the only cool maths job, at least shes down to earth  |
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Post by S1m on Nov 23, 2008 12:47:12 GMT 1
I'd actually never heard of him. Is Sky Sports all he's famous for? Seems an odd choice if he's not been a terrestrial star too. Maybe the student audience of Countdown will like him but your average oldie won't have a clue, unlike Des Lynham for example.
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Post by suedehead on Nov 23, 2008 12:55:28 GMT 1
But most of us had never heard of Richard Whitely before Countdown.
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Post by S1m on Nov 23, 2008 13:47:36 GMT 1
The show was new, it didn't matter back then. My point is, they've previously chosen very bankable dependable replacements with a legion of fans and a certain persona about them that has endeared them to the British public. I'm not saying Jeff doesn't have those, I'm saying I don't *know* that he has those.
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frag
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Post by frag on Nov 23, 2008 16:38:12 GMT 1
The show was new, it didn't matter back then. My point is, they've previously chosen very bankable dependable replacements with a legion of fans and a certain persona about them that has endeared them to the British public. I'm not saying Jeff doesn't have those, I'm saying I don't *know* that he has those. It seems like a smart move to me. Jeff does have a strong student following because of Soccer Saturday, and so if anyone's going to watch countdown just because of the host, it's students that have been playing Soccer Saturday drinking games (they exist, and some of them sound lethal) and are now either still students, or unemployed. The retired viewers will watch Countdown regardless of the host because that's what they've always done. I'm not a bit surprised that Carol's replacement is a vaguely photogenic girl. I wonder if I can beat her at the numbers game?  |
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frag
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Post by frag on Nov 23, 2008 16:38:48 GMT 1
awwww no more Carol? Has your head been in the sand? |
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Post by suedehead on Nov 23, 2008 16:52:52 GMT 1
The show was new, it didn't matter back then. My point is, they've previously chosen very bankable dependable replacements with a legion of fans and a certain persona about them that has endeared them to the British public. I'm not saying Jeff doesn't have those, I'm saying I don't *know* that he has those. It seems like a smart move to me. Jeff does have a strong student following because of Soccer Saturday, and so if anyone's going to watch countdown just because of the host, it's students that have been playing Soccer Saturday drinking games (they exist, and some of them sound lethal) and are now either still students, or unemployed. The retired viewers will watch Countdown regardless of the host because that's what they've always done. I'm not a bit surprised that Carol's replacement is a vaguely photogenic girl. I wonder if I can beat her at the numbers game? As you haven't said anything, I assume she went to a different college from you. |
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Post by Panda on Nov 23, 2008 17:04:05 GMT 1
The show was new, it didn't matter back then. My point is, they've previously chosen very bankable dependable replacements with a legion of fans and a certain persona about them that has endeared them to the British public. I'm not saying Jeff doesn't have those, I'm saying I don't *know* that he has those. But neither of them were very good on Countdown. There'll be plenty of oldies who know who Jeff Stelling is. They do have Freeview boxes, you know... |
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Nov 23, 2008 17:37:52 GMT 1
Thats the first time i've seen that. Brilliant!  Agree with others, Stelling's a good choice even if i was surprised at the appointment... |
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frag
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Post by frag on Nov 24, 2008 15:58:17 GMT 1
As you haven't said anything, I assume she went to a different college from you. Yeah, she was at Oriel (which was actually the first college I looked around, but I'm not a rower so didn't go there ). She was in my year, so must have been to many of the same lectures (or at least the exams...). I don't recognise her at all, so she must have done different courses last year. I'll have to ask my other maths friends if they recognise her. |
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Post by S1m on Nov 24, 2008 19:03:09 GMT 1
The show was new, it didn't matter back then. My point is, they've previously chosen very bankable dependable replacements with a legion of fans and a certain persona about them that has endeared them to the British public. I'm not saying Jeff doesn't have those, I'm saying I don't *know* that he has those. But neither of them were very good on Countdown. There'll be plenty of oldies who know who Jeff Stelling is. They do have Freeview boxes, you know... *I* have a freeview box. That doesn't mean I've ever watched Sky blinking Sports! |
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