TV host and former Coronation Street star Les Dennis will be temporarily stepping in to present Channel 4's iconic daytime game show Countdown, he has confirmed. The 68-year-old revealed the news to his 120k Twitter followers on Sunday, July 24 saying it is an "honour".
The actor and comedian, who is well-known for hosting Family Fortunes from the late eighties through to the early noughties, has said he will be hosting the Channel 4 programme from August 4 to August 15. It follows The Weakest Link host Anne Robinson stepping down from the role in May, after just a year in the post, replacing Nick Hewer in 2021, The Mirror reports.
BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Colin Murray has since taken on the role of stand-in host until the end of the year joining Countdown regulars Susie Dent and Rachel Riley. But in a brief stint next month, former soap star Les, who played Michael Rodwell in ITV's Coronation Street, will be taking over the reigns.
In a post on his Twitter page on Sunday, Les wrote: "From 4th August until 15th I shall be hosting the iconic @C4Countdown. It is such an honour. Hope you enjoy."
In a statement announcing her departure back in May, Anne, who was the programme's sixth host and presented 265 episodes, said: "I've had a blast hosting this wonderful show. And I stayed longer than I signed up for. Now it is time for an older woman to take the reins. I hope too I've encouraged TV bosses to realise that not all women at the wrong end of their seventies are in care homes playing bingo and watching conjuring tricks.
"In fact the genius of Countdown is that it's a brilliant way to keep the brain exercised," She continued: "I run 5k most days of week. And I can now do an anagram at twice the speed I could this time last year. But I have grandchildren, a large garden and a home in New York, all deserving more of my attention."
Countdown was the very first programme broadcast by Channel 4. Countdown airs weekdays on Channel 4 and All 4 from 2.10pm.
