Des favourite to host Countdown

Article

TELLY favourite Des Lynam is set to be the new face of Countdown, it emerged last night.
The smooth-talking star is in line to take over from quiz king Richard Whiteley — but has to audition for the part first.

Former Match Of The Day host Des, 62, is up against comic Paul Merton, 48 — but is hot favourite.

A Channel 4 insider said: “With his easy-going style and cheeky wit, Des will be popular with the show’s audience.”

Richard, 61, died in June after a battle with pneumonia.
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Who would you rather have hosting Countdown? Register your vote in the poll above!

I think Paul Merton would not be suitable to host Countdown.

But I don't think Des is necessarily the right man for the job either.

Interesting idea, has right style and all though.

We could have done with a 'Neither' option on the poll.

Much as I love Paul Merton, I don't think he's right for Countdown. I can't see him taking it seriously enough.

Des Lynam might be better suited, but really he's a bit boring and I don't think he'd bring anything special to the programme.

I think the whole 'parlour game' nature of the show meant that Richard Whiteley was perfectly suited to it, and I think the replacement should also be someone a bit naff, but loveable. Fred Dinenage anyone?

Out of the two - definitely Des Lynam... Paul Merton is not suited to this programme. He does well on other programmes but his style is not for Countdown.

I still think the best candidate would be Giles Brandreth as he has historical links to the show.

I'd like to see Bruce Forsyth present it.

I'd put netiher.

Fred Dineage does sound good personally. Although when i opened this topic and it said Des I assumed it might be Des O'Connor. I imagine he'd be a very good person to host it.

Des is more suitable than Paul, but I think a younger presenter would be preferable - but someone in a similar style to Des (like John Inverdale!).


I think though with Des Lynam they have someone who could please the Countdown audience - but would be completly different to Richard Whitely!

Brucie is a legend . . . but not suitable for a genteel afternoon words and numbers game like Countdown . . .

I think it would be a good idea to modernise the show now after its break as I'm sure there will be rather a lot of viewers who won't watch simply becuase Richard no longer presents. Maybe if the show was modernised, with a person younger than Des, it could capture a wide variety of ages as regular viewers of the programme. Saying that I'm not too sure how it could be modernised with it being a classic show nor can I think of a presenter who would do well for the show.

Lynam counts down to new role



DES LYNAM, the former television sports anchor, is to be the new host of Countdown, the long- running Channel 4 quiz show best known for launching the career of Carol Vorderman, writes Richard Brooks.
Lynam, 63, the former linchpin of BBC sports coverage, has been chosen to succeed Richard Whiteley, who died in June after a heart operation.



With trademark moustache and wink to the camera, Lynam has built a reputation as a laid-back charmer and “housewives’ favourite”. These characteristics should help him to follow Whiteley who, with his bumbling manner and multi-coloured blazers, established Countdown’s position as a staple of daytime “comfort” television. It still regularly draws more than 1m viewers.

Lynam, who controversially moved from the BBC to ITV in 1999 to front the commercial broadcaster’s football coverage, will earn about £600,000 a year for Countdown. Even so, this is less than Vorderman, who appears as the letters and numbers expert on the show, which has been running since Channel 4 started broadcasting in 1982.

Vorderman, who is believed to earn £1m a year from Countdown, has been strongly encouraging Lynam. He had telephoned her to ask whether he should consider the show and she enthusiastically advised him to apply.



Times Online