NORTH comedy actor Alexander Armstrong is being tipped to become the new presenter of Countdown. Armstrong, who was born in Rothbury, Northumberland, and lived in County Durham, would replace current host Des O'Connor on the popular game show.

The future of Channel 4 show Countdown has been thrown into doubt after the businessman who owns the rights to the quiz threatened to pull the plug. Over the weekend, presenter Carol Vorderman claimed she quit because she was told to take or leave a 90% pay cut.

Television presenter Carol Vorderman has spoken of her shock at being forced out of the programme that she loved. The maths genius, who lives in Portishead, quit Countdown after 26 years after TV bosses told her to take or leave a 90 per cent pay cut and gave her just 48 hours to decide.

COUNTDOWN presenter Carol Vorderman will be a "true professional" when she returns to filming despite the bitter row which prompted her to quit, her manager said. Vorderman announced on Friday that she was leaving the show and claimed it was because she was told to take a 90% pay cut.

BOOKIES believe Carol Vorderman's exit from Countdown could spell the end of the long-running show. Vorderman, who quit in a row over cash, has been with the show since it launched on Channel 4 in November 1982. It was the very first programme seen on the new channel.