Carol Vorderman and Paul O’Grady top list of who is most likely to replace Countdown host Anne Robinson

Anne Robinson has announced that she is stepping down as Countdown host - just one year after starting on the Channel 4 show. She is the first woman to present the show alone since it first aired in 1982.

Now, the search is on for the next presenter to join Mathematician Rachel Riley and lexicographer Susie Dent on the show. Bookmakers Betfair have revealed a list of odds of celebrities most likely to take over the role, and follow in the footsteps of Jeff Stelling, Nick Hewer, Richard Whiteley, Des O’Connor and Des Lynam.

Comedian and presenter Romesh Ranganathan is the bookies' favourite to host the popular Channel 4 show, with odds 2/1. He is followed by Carol Vorderman, with odds 4/1, who co-hosted the game show for 26 years from 1982 until 2008.

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Other famous names tipped to host the show include Fiona Bruce, Paul O’Grady, Jimmy Carr, Demot O’Leary, Victoria Derbyshire, and Rochelle Humes.

Betfair have also released odds predicting what 77-year-old Anne will do next. She is tipped to take part in Celebrity Bake Off in 2023 (7/1), I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here 2022 (11/1), Strictly Come Dancing 2022 (16/1) and Dancing on Ice 2023 (20/1).

Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: ”Romesh Ranganathan is the 2/1 favourite to take over presenting Countdown from Anne Robinson who’s clock has ticked down on her time on the show. Robinson is 11/1 to swap numbers and letters for snakes and spiders in I’m A Celebrity 2022 and 16/1 to take to the dancefloor on Strictly Come Dancing this year.”

Here is the full list of potential new Countdown hosts and their odds:

Betfair - Next Countdown presenter

Romesh Ranganathan - 2/1

Carol Vorderman - 4/1

Fiona Bruce - 7/1

Jermaine Jenas - 8/1

Paul O’Grady 10/1

Kate Garraway - 10/1

Colin Murray - 11/1

Jeff Stelling - 12/1

Jimmy Carr - 14/1

Dermot O’Leary - 14/1

Dara Ó Briain - 14/1

Rachel Riley - 16/1

Victoria Derbyshire - 16/1

Rochelle Humes - 16/1

Phillip Schofield 20/1

Jon Richardson - 20/1

Ben Shephard - 20/1

Betfair - Countdown specials

Show to be cancelled by 2025 - 4/1

Rachel Riley to leave show by 2025 - 5/1

Rachel Riley to leave show in 2022 - 12/1

Show to be cancelled in 2022 - 25/1

Betfair - Anne Robinson specials

To take part in Celebrity Bake Off 2023 - 7/1

To take part in I’m A Celebrity 2022 - 11/1

To take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2022 - 16/1

To take part in Dancing on Ice 2023 - 20/1