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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Sheena McStravick

Carl Frampton jokes "I'm not sharpest tool in box but I didn't let myself down" ahead of Countdown screening

Carl Frampton will this week step into a very different type of corner than the one he is used to in the boxing ring, as he takes his seat in Dictionary Corner on TV quiz show Countdown.

The Jackal is taking on the new role this week as the special guest in Dictionary Corner for the Channel 4 daytime show alongside lexicographer, Susie Dent.

Frampton was asked to appear on the show by current stand-in host and fellow Northern Irishman Colin Murray, who is in the hot seat after Anne Robinson stepped down from the role earlier this year.

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Speaking to Belfast Live, Frampton said he needed a little reassurance from Colin before he accepted the invite, as he didn't want to 'embarrass' himself.

"I like Colin, he's dead on and I knew he was doing and he mentioned about maybe getting me on but that sort of stuff isn't really my cup of tea, but I've watched Countdown and I know what it's about but I wouldn't be the sharpest tool in the box and I didn't want to go on and do something to embarrass myself.

"But Colin assured me it would be fine and that Susie Dent would be there and would help me out," he said.

The Tiger's Bay man said he enjoyed his time on the show and the entire team on the show made him feel at home.

"It was a great experience, I've done things in TV studios before and there was no audience so maybe that helped, but it wasn't nerve-wracking or anything, and the fact that I was confident I was going to be helped along made things a wee bit easier for me.

"It was a great day, you do five shows and get them all done in one day, so I'm looking forward to seeing what it actually comes out like and I feel like I didn't let myself down!

"Susie [Dent] was lovely and so was Rachel Riley as well, they were all dead on the whole team, it was like a bit of a family feel around the show you could tell they all got on, it was really, really good.

"You see these people on the TV and sometimes you don't know what to expect but they were lovely, really nice people," added Carl.

Countdown host Colin Murray (Channel 4)

Despite describing himself as 'not the sharpest tool in the box', Frampton says he does try and keep his brain active and tunes into the show if he is free.

"If I was in the house at that time I would have stuck it on [the TV] because I don't mind doing wee things like that because I feel like the odd thing like that every now and again keeps your brain active, especially when you're not doing much with it.

"I'm probably equally as bad [at numbers and letters] but I'd say I'm slightly better with numbers than with letters."

With Colin hosting the show until early 2023, Frampton has backed him to get the job full-time saying he's 'very good' in the presenting role.

He said: "Colin is good at anything he puts his hand to, we see him on TV doing different bits he does baseball, he does football, he does NFL, but he's very good and he's very personable Colin and I think that he would be a fantastic host if he got the job full-time.

"And the thing is he likes the show, I knew he liked the show before he got that job and I don't why but he has told me about it and talked about it in the past and I might have laughed about it before but he genuinely likes the show and he's good at presenting it so I hope it works out for him."

Carl will be on this week's episodes of Countdown Monday-Friday at 2.10pm on Channel 4.

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