Countdown (game show) Stelling was confirmed as the new host, with Oxford graduate Rachel Riley in the Vorderman role. It was announced on 24 May 2011 that Stelling would be leaving the programme, and he presented his final show on 16 December 2011. On 16 November 2011, it was announced that Nick Hewer would be taking over as host, with his first show broadcast on 9 January 2012. "Countdown" quickly established cult status within British television – an image which it maintains today, despite numerous changes of rules and personnel. The programme's audience comprises mainly students, homemakers and pensioners, owing to the "teatime"
Michael Barratt (television presenter) to the UK, he worked as a production journalist on several English regional newspapers including a period at the "Wolverhampton Express & Star". At the same time, he contributed regularly to the BBC World Service and began a freelance television reporting career, initially on the Midlands regional current affairs magazine "Scan". He became a reporter on the BBC current affairs programmes "Midlands Today", going on to present "Panorama", then "24 Hours". He was a "Nationwide" presenter from 1969 to 1977. He was also chairman of BBC Radio 4's "Gardeners' Question Time" from 1973 to 1977. He was also a presenter