COUNTDOWN’S NUMBERS queen Carol Vorderman was given an emotional send-off yesterday after 26 years on the show.
After more than 4,750 shows and countless vowels and consonants, Vorderman is finally hanging up her chunky black marker.
The 47-year-old Cambridge graduate, who has been the show’s numbers queen since it first aired in 1982, appeared in a special half-hour tribute called One Last Consonant, Please, Carol, before taking to the studio to record her last show.
Vorderman’s tribute was hosted by Gyles Brandreth as he discussed her time on the show and played clips from the past, including her first show, which was aired on Channel 4 on November 2nd, 1982.
An emotional Vorderman paid tribute to the show’s loyal fans.
“I want to say what a complete privilege it has been to work on Countdown. It has been a privilege to meet tens and tens of thousands of you in the street and you all say how much you love Countdown.”
Vorderman said she never planned to go into television as she wanted to be an airline pilot or prime minister.
She will be replaced by 22-year-old Oxford graduate Rachel Riley, who fought off competition from more than 1,000 others, for the new series in January. Yesterday’s show also marked the end of Des O’Connor’s time in the host’s chair. He is to be replaced by Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling. – (PA)