TV Weekly Special: Countdown The New Era
Last week we looked back at the former Countdown presenters, Richard Whiteley, Carol Vorderman, Des Lynam and Des O’Connor. This week we turn to the new arrivals at the long-running Channel 4 game show; Jeff Stelling and Rachel Riley.
It was all change for 2009 as, after 26 years, Countdown was revamped into a more modern-looking show with an entirely new presenting line-up.
Jeff Stelling
Just like former presenter Des Lynam Jeff has a background in sport presenting. He is the face of hugely popular Soccer Saturday on Sky television; such is his standing in the media he picked up Sports Broadcaster of the Year by the Sports Journalists’ Association for the third successive time in 2008.
Jeff started his media career at BBC Radio Tees as a sports reporter before progressing to London’s LBC as a sports presenter. Regional radio gave-way to national broadcasting when, in the 1980s, Stelling switched to BBC Radio 2’s Sport on 2 programmes.
It was from the BBC to ITV when Jeff moved mediums to television. He appeared as a sports presenter on Good Morning Britain and Channel 4 Sport. In the early 1990s, he crossed to Sky where he fronted coverage of snooker, horse racing and darts.
It was a new sports show, launching in 1994, that would make Stelling a cult figure in the world of television sport. Soccer Saturday is a live football discussion show which features a host of guest pundits, reports and score updates. The show can run for up to six hours on busy sporting days. Its success has been put down to Jeff’s presenting style and comments.
In November 2008 it was announced Stelling was to replace Des O’Connor as the main host on the Channel 4 words and numbers game.
Speaking of his new Countdown role he said: “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.”
Rachel Riley
Rachel is the new-comer to television. Just like Vorderman 26-years earlier, Riley was plucked from obscurity to become the co-host of the show; having fought off competition from around 1,000 other hopeful applicants.
Having studied at Southend High School for Girls Rachel went on to earn a 2:1 in mathematics at Oriel College before doing a Masters Degree in the subject.
The 22-year-old faced some tough auditions to land the role, including having to find answers to complex sums within the 30 time limit of the games in the programme. Applicants obviously needed ‘excellent numeracy and literacy skills’ although, rare for television productions these days, no presenting experience was required.
Commenting on her new presenting role, she said: “There’s only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it so I’m absolutely thrilled.”