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Post by -Big Dan- on May 25, 2011 12:03:46 GMT 1
From BBC News:
Countdown presenter Jeff Stelling is to leave after less than three years hosting the Channel 4 quiz show.
Stelling told a Tenerife radio station he had resigned from the show to concentrate on his presenting role at Sky Sports where he will front Champions League coverage next season.
A Channel 4 spokeswoman said Stelling would continue to present the long-running show until the end of the year.
She added discussions had already begun to find his replacement.
"You've really got to have your priorities and my priority is football, I love it, and Soccer Saturday, so I've committed myself very much to that next season," Stelling told Oasis FM.
The fourth person to front Countdown, Stelling joined the series in 2009 along with maths whizz Rachel Riley, replacing Des O'Connor and Carol Vorderman.
The host said he would miss working with Riley, adding: "I just felt I had to really try to focus on the things that I love."
Channel 4 said: "Jeff's had a brilliant three years on the show and we're sad to see him go."
Countdown was the first programme to be broadcast when Channel 4 launched in November 1982.
It was originally fronted by Richard Whiteley, who died in 2005, and Vorderman, who spent 26 years on the show.
Des Lynam took over as host following Whiteley's death and was then replaced by O'Connor in 2006
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Post by greendemon on May 25, 2011 12:05:43 GMT 1
 it's a shame; i think he makes a brilliant countdown host, but it's always been clear that soccer saturday is a priority for him. i wonder who they'll find to replace him... |
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Elmer
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Post by Elmer on May 25, 2011 12:17:00 GMT 1
I think they probably shoud've finished Countdown after Richard Whiteley passed away. It's not been the same since and it was his program and very iconic !
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Post by o on May 25, 2011 12:23:33 GMT 1
It's still a good prog, and that rachel riley is easy on the eye  Sad to see jeff go |
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Post by evansabove on May 25, 2011 13:29:35 GMT 1
It's never been the same since Richard & Carol left. They should let it die a natural death now
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Elmer
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Post by Elmer on May 25, 2011 13:36:06 GMT 1
rachel riley is easy on the eye ( That I have to agree with  |
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Post by bellboys on May 25, 2011 15:33:55 GMT 1
It's never been the same since Richard & Carol left. They should let it die a natural death now This. In fact, they should have actually canned it when Whiteley died. Lynam was a grumpy disaster. |
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Elmer
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Post by Elmer on May 25, 2011 15:47:08 GMT 1
Lynam was a grumpy disaster.  That is very true, and Carol looked lost without her long time sidekick !! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2011 17:37:05 GMT 1
Not a regular viewer of the show, but from what i've seen he seemed the perfect replacement for Richard Whiteley.
I thought he would last a long time but looks like it wasn't to be.
They just haven't been able to get a host run for more than a few years....perhaps it's time to axe it. I think its run its
course to be honest. Try something fresh maybe?
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Post by S1m on May 25, 2011 17:47:54 GMT 1
Can't see them wielding the axe now when it costs peanuts to make and gets steady ratings. I'm not sure why it should be axed now any more than at any other point in the last six years! Would you all have axed "Have I Got News For You" when Angus Deayton fell from grace or "Mastermind" after Magnus's exit? These shows are still popular and still work with other hosts.
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madmurray
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Post by madmurray on May 25, 2011 18:08:50 GMT 1
To be honest I never watch it now a days, but I prefer him on sky sports.
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Post by suedehead on May 25, 2011 18:32:55 GMT 1
He's been doing more football since Keys and Gray went so I suppose it's not really a bug surprise. A shame as he's been good. Des Lynam took a bit of time to grow in to the job and Des O'Connor was terrible.
As long as they don't give it to Reggie Yates.
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Paul
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Post by Paul on May 25, 2011 20:15:36 GMT 1
As long as they don't give it to Reggie Yates. "I've found a six Suzie - T - E - X - T - I - S, as in, send in your textis" |
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Post by raliverpool on May 25, 2011 20:56:10 GMT 1
I think they probably shoud've finished Countdown after Richard Whiteley passed away. It's not been the same since and it was his program and very iconic ! I'm also in this school of thought. |
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Tom
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Post by Tom on May 28, 2011 17:34:30 GMT 1
Came across this story by chance the other day, this article is better than the Yahoo one i read though. it's a shame; i think he makes a brilliant countdown host, but it's always been clear that soccer saturday is a priority for him. i wonder who they'll find to replace him... Like Mark not a regular viewer and hardly watch these days, but from what i've seen of Stelling on there he is a good host. Agree with the replacement comment, wonder where the show goes from here. I don't think that Soccer Saturday really has much to do with it personally, if it had been he probably wouldnt have combined both for so long. Its the Champions League coverage which he started presenting with the sacking of Richard Keys thats the reason behind this. Once that happened i could this was going to happen... The last few months doing both must have been absolute chaos for him! From reading his book, presenting midweek football was why he had cold feet about doing Countdown to begin with, IIRC he actually turned it down when the offer was first put to him. C4 must be cursing their luck as if Keys was still at Sky i'm sure Stelling wouldn't have decided to leave. |
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Paddy
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Post by Paddy on May 28, 2011 17:50:10 GMT 1
Wonder why a Tenerife radio station?
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Tom
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Post by Tom on May 28, 2011 18:24:42 GMT 1
Yes that seemed odd to me as well! On holiday there perhaps? But even then you would have thought he would have gone away to get away from work.
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Post by -Big Dan- on May 31, 2011 16:03:31 GMT 1
Slightly off topic, I sent an application in for this last night.
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Post by suedehead on May 31, 2011 16:14:57 GMT 1
Slightly off topic, I sent an application in for this last night. Good luck with that |
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Post by o on May 31, 2011 16:24:25 GMT 1
let us know if you get on |
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it's a shame; i think he makes a brilliant countdown host, but it's always been clear that soccer saturday is a priority for him.
That is very true, and Carol looked lost without her long time sidekick !!
