First Des leaves and now Carol :(

 

Carol Vorderman quits 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.

 

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.

 

Countdown was the first programme seen on Channel 4.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7526290.stm

 

I need cheering up now :(

Countdown meltdown as Carol Vorderman quits in row over pay

 

Carol Vorderman has quit Countdown after more than 25 years in a shock announcement tonight.

 

The 47-year-old presenter, who has been on the show since it began in 1982, has walked away from the programme amid claims of a pay dispute.

 

She had been struggling to agree a new contract with the broadcaster as it tried to slash costs on the show by cutting wages of its on-screen talent.

 

It is emerged that she may have been forced to take a pay cut had she agreed to a new deal with producers of the programme.

 

Her departure comes just days after Des O'Connor also revealed he was leaving the show later this year after less than two years as frontman.

 

While he said he was leaving the show as he was keen to return to live performing the pay crunch on the show is also believed to have been a factor.

 

An insider said Vorderman's decison to leave was about more than just the pay deal.

 

The source said: "They were still in the middle of negotiations when she announced she was leaving last night.

 

 

'She has chosen the moment to leave and it is entirely her own decision.

 

'I think there are lots of things behind her decision. Since Richard Whiteley died things have never been the same. We had Des Lynam and he only lasted 18 months.

 

'I know there was talk of her taking the chair when he left but that didn't come off. This Des is now going as well.

 

'I also think there is the whole thing of having to travel up to Leeds which takes its toll on her spending time with her children. So I think to be told the new deal was going to be tough as well made her think 'right I'm going to leave now'. It was the right moment now.'

 

Vorderman is believed to be one of the best paid women on TV. She was negotiating the pay deal with Granada.

 

 

John Whiston, Director of ITV Productions, who make the show under the Granada name for Channel 4 said: 'This is truly the end of an era and we shall be enormously sad to see Carol leaving the show as she has been at the heart and soul of Countdown for nearly 26 glorious years.

 

 

'She has played a major part in the success of this much loved programme and her fans have loved her cheery presence at the numbers board along with her amazing mathematical skills.

 

'The whole team will miss her very much and we all wish her well in the future."

 

 

Damian Eadie series producer of Countdown for 12 years said: "The whole team are like one large family, and she’s been the figurehead for us all – there is a pun there that I know both her and Richard Whiteley would enjoy!

 

 

The uncertainty over the future of the show comes as it was revealed that Rory Bremner is most likely to take over from Des O'Connor as the new presenter.

 

Channel 4 is understood to have made 'discreet enquiries' about award winning comedian Bremner's availability in the coming months.

 

He is the now favourite ahead of presenters like Aled Jones, Michael Aspel and Gyles Brandreth.

 

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1038696/Countdown-meltdown-Carol-Vorderman-quits-row-pay.html

Strangely I don't see Rory doing it

 

They should get Stephen Fry :)

LMAO at her hair in the last photo, she looks like a canary.

 

I know all the males love her, but I find her annoying. Still, Countdown won't be the same without her doing the maths on that board thingy.

The show should have been retired with Richard Whiteley. Hasn't been the same since.;)

I heard the news earlier on channel 4. Devestated obviously,

they should end the show now, I hate to say it.

I love countdown, but it was bad enough it continuing without Richard Whitely.

but Carol is irriplaceable.

 

I love Carol, but she can't survive on car insurance ads! :laugh3:

whatever will she do!?

Countdown should be put to bed at the end of the current series, as having one of the 2 presenters leave is okay, but for both to leave will mean when the series returns it won't feel like Countdown anymore.

Bringing in Des "false laugh" O'Connor was the final nail in the coffin.

Everything he's touched in recent years has died a death.:dozey:

I hope he doesn't go touching himself! :o

 

oh you know...

The show should have been retired with Richard Whiteley. Hasn't been the same since.;)

 

Whiteley was a legend! I agree they should have called it a day when he passed away.