Sorry to hear Des O'Connor is leaving. The suggestions of who should take over include Jeremy Paxman, Trevor McDonald !! I think Tom O'Connor would be great.
Sorry to hear Des is leaving, apparently he misses doing his shows, and is making another album. He was good on Countdown quite relaxed witty and knowledgable. I do hope they get someone whom we all can warm to, Tom O'Connor would be great, Jeremy Paxman is more of a serious quizmaster. I do likeStephen Fry although he may not fit well into daytime TV.
There is also Richard Digence Richard Stilgoe Martin Jarvis who have all guested on Countdown!
I didn't know about Des, I tend to watch more in the winter..but oh no, please not Tom O'Connor (like nails down a blackboard to me). And not MacDonut either.
Not sure who I'd like to see take over, Rick Wakeman, Phillip Franks & Jo Brand are amongst my favourite guests but I'm not sure about them as hosts. I'll have a think about it.
<I'm surprised andy-h hasn't suggested some raven haired totty :o)...>
Considering Robinia's last comment, can I suggest Rob James Collier - he is leaving Corrie, he will need a job. I will then see him nearly every weekday. What a treat.
Paxman doing Countdown? Blimey, that would shake up the genteel afternoon quiz a bit.
"Six? Only SIX?? I've got seven and I wasn't even trying! Come on then, let's hear your pathetic six-letter offering. I bet you haven't even used the Z, have you? Sigh."
Hope not. 'Countdown' is an excellent programme & my family and I have watched it since the beginning. My children used to rush home from school to catch it & they are now late thirties & early forties with children of their own.
The reason for Carol Vorderman's departure raises another question - if the producers of Countdown think that 10% of her present salary would be fair payment for the job how much have they been paying her? Almost certainly a vastly excessive salary for a few mental arithmetic solutions, coupled with alleged humourous remarks (very amateurly delivered), interruptions when others are speaking and a display of dresses which Oxfam would refuse.