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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Carol Vorderman quits Countdown | Carol Vorderman quits Countdown |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Presenter Carol Vorderman, 47, has announced she is to step down from presenting the Channel 4 television game show Countdown. | Presenter Carol Vorderman, 47, has announced she is to step down from presenting the Channel 4 television game show Countdown. |
| She started work on the quiz show when it began in 1982, alongside host Richard Whiteley. | She started work on the quiz show when it began in 1982, alongside host Richard Whiteley. |
| When Whiteley died in 2005, she continued to co-present with Des Lynam, who was later replaced by Des O'Connor. | When Whiteley died in 2005, she continued to co-present with Des Lynam, who was later replaced by Des O'Connor. |
| Vorderman's announcement comes after O'Connor said on Wednesday that he is also quitting the programme. | Vorderman's announcement comes after O'Connor said on Wednesday that he is also quitting the programme. |
| Countdown was the first programme seen on Channel 4. | |
| The network's director of television Kevin Lygo said he was "extremely sorry to see Carol leave". | |
| Countdown has been such a huge part of her life for so long John Miles,Vorderman's manager | |
| "She was the first woman on Channel 4 and has made an enormous contribution to the success of Countdown over the last 25 years," he said. | |
| "We hope to work with her again on other projects." | |
| Nearly 5,000 episodes of the quiz show - a mixture of word games and mathematical problems - has run for more than 25 years. | Nearly 5,000 episodes of the quiz show - a mixture of word games and mathematical problems - has run for more than 25 years. |
| End of an era | |
| With a high IQ as well as degrees in engineering, Vorderman was seen as a natural to calculate complicated mathematical problems on the programme. | With a high IQ as well as degrees in engineering, Vorderman was seen as a natural to calculate complicated mathematical problems on the programme. |
| In a statement, Vorderman's manager John Miles said she considered quitting the show when Whiteley died but eventually agreed to continue. | In a statement, Vorderman's manager John Miles said she considered quitting the show when Whiteley died but eventually agreed to continue. |
| He said: "Countdown has been such a huge part of her life for so long. | He said: "Countdown has been such a huge part of her life for so long. |
| "Carol wants to thank all of the crew, the thousands of contestants who have played the game and the millions of Countdown viewers for whom she has the greatest respect. | "Carol wants to thank all of the crew, the thousands of contestants who have played the game and the millions of Countdown viewers for whom she has the greatest respect. |
| "She is extremely sad." | "She is extremely sad." |
| Another Countdown regular, lexicographer Susie Dent, said the news was "devastating" for the show. | Another Countdown regular, lexicographer Susie Dent, said the news was "devastating" for the show. |
| "It's the end of an era for Countdown, and it's the end of an era for me - Carol has been my colleague, my mentor, and my friend for over 15 years," she added. | "It's the end of an era for Countdown, and it's the end of an era for me - Carol has been my colleague, my mentor, and my friend for over 15 years," she added. |
| "She and Richard together made one of the strongest and enduring shows television has ever seen, and also built one of the closest teams." | "She and Richard together made one of the strongest and enduring shows television has ever seen, and also built one of the closest teams." |