Stelling retires, Riley quits

[Jason Larsen]

Unfortunately, Jeff Stelling will retire from Countdown at the end of Series 62 and Rachel Riley will quit.

As of Series 63, the new hosts of Countdown will be comedian Michael Barrymore and singer Victoria Beckham.

"I am getting too old to handle Countdown at the ripe old age of 54. My bones are just as brittle as the woman who had fallen and can't get up," Stelling said.

"Family has become more important to me than ever and I am tired as heck working long days on episodes of Countdown," Riley confessed.

"I am thrilled to be hosting a UK institution. With me as the host, Countdown will have what the 21st century audience needs without losing its edge."

"Maths is as easy as 123. I would much rather make international phone calls than kick my husband to the curb," Beckham said. Effective at the beginning of next year, Beckham will move all the way back to Manchester from Los Angeles in the US.

The new series of Countdown starts Monday, January 10 2011.

[Matt Morrison]

You're kidding, Jason!

[Michael Wallace]

Oh no!

[Howard Somerset]

Bad news, Jason. At least you haven't mentioned Susie. Let's hope she manages to provide some continuity when the big changes take place.

Thanks for letting us all know.

[Kirk Bevins]

Must be an April Fool as the article says the new series starts in January 2011 when Series 63 clearly starts in June 2010. I guess the reporter just got their dates mixed up. Awful news.

[Jason Larsen]

Let's see, is that right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPvv5uQndc8

No... and it's no stone cold bummer either. It is an April Fools joke!

[Howard Somerset]

Well done, Jason. Maybe you didn't quite fool everybody here.

[Ian Fitzpatrick]

You're kidding, Howard!

[Jeff Clayton]

What about the "have to do it before noon" rule?

[James Robinson]

What about the "have to do it before noon" rule?

That's a good point, because even though Jason is in America, it was still after noon when he posted it.

Bad form there, Jason.

[Douglas Wilson]

For about a milisecond when I saw the title of the thread I forgot what day it was and wasn't completely ruling out the possibility of it being true but by the time I'd opened the thread I'd remembered. Phew.

[David O'Donnell]

What about the "have to do it before noon" rule?

That's a good point, because even though Jason is in America, it was still after noon when he posted it.

Bad form there, Jason.

Wasn't your recap posted at 8:53 pm?

[James Robinson]

What about the "have to do it before noon" rule?

That's a good point, because even though Jason is in America, it was still after noon when he posted it.

Bad form there, Jason.

Wasn't your recap posted at 8:53 pm?

Yes, but I did mention beforehand that I was deliberately putting in those mistakes, so it doesn't count for me.

Well, I couldn't put it in before noon, could I, David

[David O'Donnell]

Bad form there, Jason.

Well, I couldn't put it in before noon, could I, David

Well you could cut Jason some slack couldn't you, James

[James Robinson]

Bad form there, Jason.

Well, I couldn't put it in before noon, could I, David

Well you could cut Jason some slack couldn't you, James

Yeah, he's a nice guy, I think I will.