It doesn't need a new lease of life, Jeff is the best presenter they've ever had (Richard will always be held in great affection but in pure presenting terms I prefer Jeff).

In his favour if he's half as good as Jeff he'll be ten times as good as O'Connor. Also since I've never heard of him I can at least feel glad that some of the suggested names never got it as I definitely didn't want many of those and this guy can start with a clean slate from me.

I think he's perfect for the role.

what a stupid choice, they have totally ruined coundown.
the host really needs to be wekk known and can joke...someone like tom oconnor or gyles brandrith would have been ideal, even greggles would have been good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY1oJ...ayer_embedded#!

can see countdown being axed soon because of this choice.

As long as the gorgeous Miss Riley is still there I'll be watching!

It depends on their 'chemistry' together - I can't see her getting on that well with the guy, but who knows. Time will tell.

Brilliant choice to replace the excellent Jeff, whom I like a lot... and I think Nick will soon have a good rapport with the lovely Rachel... we just need Margaret in Dictionary Corner for perfection!

Who's Margaret? Not that I'd want Suzy to leave any more than I wanted Jeff to though I suppose you meant as a guest.

I feel that Countdown is becoming stale with Jeff. It's all sport sport sport with him and it's irritating. His jokes are worse than Richards and I for one will be glad of the change.

Nick is exceptionally witty when he has appeared on programmes such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Would I Lie To You. He's also very sharp when he has contributed to the Apprentice's companion show, You're Fired.

While he's not my first choice for host, I'm certain he'll be much more enjoyable than Jeff ever was - in my opinion (and I know many will disagree.)

Take it Sugar doesn't need Nick as his lawyer any more then.

Hopefully Nick will bring Margaret with him for Dictionary Corner, and Karren Brady can come and do the letters/numbers. Rachel can start doing sign language or something, so that she's never off screen. There can then be a steady stream of Apprentice Muppets like Stuart Baggs and Paul Torisi in the guest seat.

Nick Hewer was not a lawyer he had his own PR firm before selling it,and working for Alan Sugar.

Alright, "Take it Sugar doesn't need Nick as his PR any more then" if I must.

8 points for pedantic.

Sorry not a big fan of Nick Hewer myself.

WHO?

That was my reaction, apparently he's on the Apprentice. I prefer an "unknown" (to some of us) like this rather than a well known personality though I'd have preferred Jeff to stay.

I don't watch the Apprentice and genuinely have no idea who he is or what he'll be like.

Anyway, tidy backside on Rachel today.

Indeed, back to the real point of watching Countdown, bare legs or was she wearing stockings today ?

I really must get a HD telly.

I thought this was the thing most people watched it for nothing to do with stockingsLOL.

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

Some people watch for rude words, some people watch because they get to perv over Rachel. I watch it because I genuinely enjoy the game!

Snap! Perving over Rachel is just a bonus.

Yep, and as bonuses go, it's almost as good as they get in the City for robbing the rest of us.

Bare legs today.

Agree completely. I don't have any great dislike for Jeff as I find him an affable chap, but on Countdown it's just football, football and more football... and RR's non-stop boring height 'jokes' zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Was very surprised to hear that Nick would be the new host but I'm very much looking forward to it as he has been consistently excellent on TV and could well be so on Countdown.

Perhaps it will lift the programme and maybe even people will watch again in significant numbers. The viewing figures these days are appalling. Now if the show could only lose Little Miss Shallow then we'd be getting somewhere...

That's a bit of a statement.....can't imagine anyone more unsuited to the job. I can think of a few people who are more unsuitable than Nick Hewer. Katie Price, Kerry Katona, Gazza, Gordon Ramsay.....

I can think of Colonel Gaddafi, Steve Hawkings, Richard Whitley, Guy Fawkes, Stuart Baggs, Otis the Aardvark and Ortis Deley.

Rachel may have nice legs, but I always thought miniskirts looked ridiculous in the sixties and think they look even sillier today.
Anyway, with a beautiful face such as Rachel's, who needs to look anywhere else?