New countdown host

Did he not have a First Class honours degree from Oxford? He edited the student magazine I think.

He did edit Varsity. Check Himoff-- the Memoirs of a Matinee Idle (sic), his autobiog.

I used the words "I always thought...", thus making it clear that it is merely my personal opinion, rather than being stated as if an "irrefutable fact". I never met the man. It's how he came-across on screen that seemed dumb to me. I'm sure many other people will have regarded Mr Whitely differently to I. So, don't jump down my throat.

Granted, on reflection my use of the word "thick" didn't best convey what I was actually trying to get at



Is it not the case that people who get degrees can do academically wonderful things, like nuclear physics or something, but have no "common sense"? My mate Becky calls them "Oxbridge Brains", she says "they can tell you the meaning of life, but can't tie their shoelaces".

I don't automatically dislike "Oxbridge Brains" (Stephen Fry is one, but I very much like him), but for me personally there was nothing "charming" about Richard Whitely's dippiness - it made for cringe-worthy viewing.

I think your friend Becky needs to get out more

Not all people who are academics have no common sense. Admittedly there are a few who have no common-sense, but there are plenty who have got it! I know someone who got a first at Oxford, and can he tie his shoelaces perfectly well thank you He worked as mechanic at a garage when he was a student, so he can't be that impractical.

I think a lot of Richard Whiteley's "dippiness" was a bluff I think-- his daft sense of humour. I get the impression from those who have met him, that he was a lot sharper than people gave him credit for. He was a serious TV journalist for many years, so he must have had some common-sense.

Personally I feel he had a lot more charisma than Des Lynam could ever muster.

Presumably they avoid showing too many audience shots as it would highlight the fact the audience is the same over 'many days', and more to the point people might start spotting that audience members move around within the programme. When an audience member is thrown a conundrum, whilst they answer as live at first, at the end of the recording they go back and refilm just that answering part with them swapping seats to be sat with concealed microphone and perfectly in camera frame near the front.



From what the warm-up guy informed us back in September, they did get shifted round to smaller studios in favour of other bigger productions. Despite that, at the last big filming session (Lynam's last it transpires) they'd just gone back into a slightly bigger studio. Seems they inherited the My Parents Are Aliens studio once it was cancelled, and had had to rather quickly pull in more people to fill up an additional bunch of spare seats in the bigger studio (though not 100% successful, as there were still spaces at the back).

Des O'Connor has been confirmed as the next host of TV quiz Countdown, the longest-running programme on Channel 4.

BBC NEWS O'Connor to be new Countdown host

Sorry, if already mentioned, but when will he start filming, and when will it start airing?

Des Lynam finishes with the final on 22nd December, with Des O'Conner taking over on 2nd January - with dictionary corner guest Tom O'Conner!

Presumably Des Lynam's final episode as host was filmed months ago, and before his decision to quit???

If so, then it'll be a bit strange when his final episode airs, to have no "farewell" in it. Maybe they'll film some new closing links with Des and Carol, cleverly edited into the existing episode, so that there is an element of "farewell"???

I always used to get these two mixed up as a kid

No. In an episode last week, Carol was talking about a plant that a viewer sent in because the petals looked like Des. She said to him it will be something to remember us by when you leave us at Christmas, although no more was said. So expect a farewell.

So, it's Des' last Countdown tonight; he might not be remembered as a great Countdown host, but I think he's gone a good job taking over in difficult circmstances.