Nick Hewer Is Hired As New Host of Countdown

In a totally left field and completely unpredictable choice, 67 year old Nick Hewer has been hired as the new permanent presenter of Channel 4's daytime gameshow Countdown. Lord Alan Sugar's long-term adviser and who in recent years has rose to fame on television with his dry wit, his acerbic putdowns, his unique physical ability to look knowledgeable, bemused and excitable all in one expression as Sugar's sidekick on The Apprentice, will make his first on-air appearance on January 9th. His first run of episodes will be shot next month. Hewer replaces the popular Jeff Stelling who leaves the show after finding it too difficult to film a daily quiz program along with his increasing work as a Sky Sports Presenter where he has become the main face of Champions League football in the wake of the resignation of Richard Keys, not to mention his exhaustible Soccer Saturday gig. Hewer becomes the fifth host of the show in it's 30 year history. That's almost as long as Hewer has worked with Sugar, going as far back as when his PR firm were asked to represent his computer firm Amstrad. Hewer will line-up besides the maths genius Rachel Riley and bookworm Susie Dent who remain dedicated to the show. Meanwhile, Hewer's job on The Apprentice will remain. Hewer said;

"I'm flattered to have been asked to present such an iconic programme and will work hard to justify sitting in the same seat as such great talents as Jeff Stelling, Des O'Connor and of course the great Richard Whiteley,"

No mention of Des Lynam...

"It's particularly fitting that I should be doing this now as my spelling has started to slip quite badly. I used to be able spell chrysanthemum."

Countdown executive producer Peter Gwyn said:

"I'm absolutely delighted that Nick has agreed to take the Countdown chair, and I can't wait to see him bring his unique style and humour to this iconic format. With Nick at the helm and our 30th birthday next year, we've got some very exciting times ahead for Countdown viewers."

I can't wait to see Nick chewing on his pen, laidback in his chair whilst the hapless Countdown contestants try and do their sums and rack their brains for long-winded words, only to then be putdown as badly as a teacher disappointed by his students efforts when they can only come up with a six letter word!