Countdown hunts for new host after Jeff Stelling quits

Stelling - the fourth presenter to front the station’s longest-running show since the original host Richard Whiteley died in 2005- will leave at the end of the year.

He is to concentrate on his presenting role at Sky Sports where he is to front Champions League coverage next season. He will also continue with Sky’s Soccer Saturday which has won him a committed following.

With the departure of Richard Keys and Andy Gray earlier this year following a sexism storm, he will be one of the key faces of football for the broadcaster.

Channel 4 said it has already begun discussions to find a replacement to host Countdown, along with maths whiz Rachel Riley.

“Next season because I’m doing Champions League for Sky, then I’ve actually resigned from Countdown so I’ll be finishing with that at the end of December,” he said in an interview with Tenerife radio station Oasis FM.

“You know, you’ve really got to have your priorities and my priority is football, I love it, and Soccer Saturday, so I’ve committed myself very much to that next season.”

Stelling joined the series in early 2009, replacing Des O’Connor.

Richard Whiteley launched the show from Yorkshire Television’s Leeds studios at the birth of the channel in November 1982 and continued until his abrupt death. Countdown is now recorded in Manchester.

He was replaced by Des Lynam who lasted less than two years, unhappy with the journey to Leeds for filming the daily afternoon word and maths contest.

Stelling said he would miss working with Riley, who replaced Carol Vorderman

“That’ll be really really sad. I’ve got a few moments of it yet contractually - but she’s a great girl by the way, even though she’s a Manchester United fan. She’s a genuine football fan which is great.

“We have some great times. No, I’ll miss her, but I just felt I had to really try on focus on the things that I love which are football and Soccer Saturday,” he told the station.

A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said: “Jeff will continue to present Countdown until the end of the year.

“He’s had a brilliant three years on the show and we’re sad to see him go. We’re already talking to a number of people to find a replacement.”