Armstrong was a leading contender to take over as host of "Countdown" when Des O'Connor left in 2008, although when he hosted "Have I Got News for You" on 24 October that year, he said that he had not yet accepted the job, despite team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton making jokes about his "new role". In the event Armstrong declined the job, telling "The Independent" that he did not want to be "" as a presenter, preferring to focus on acting and comedy.