Presenter quits Countdown

Stelling to leave show after less than three years...

09:31 25 May 2011

Countdown presenter Jeff Stelling is to leave the show after less than three years hosting it, it has been announced.

The presenter told a radio station in Tenerife that he has resigned from the popular quiz show to concentrate on his Sky Sports presenting duties.

A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said Stelling would continue to front the programme until the end of the year.

She also added that discussions about who would replace him were already underway.

Stelling told Oasis FM on the island:

"You've really got to have your priorities and my priority is football, I love it, and Soccer Saturday, so I've committed myself very much to that next season."

Countdown was the first programme to be broadcast when Channel 4 launched in November 1982.

It was originally fronted by Richard Whitely, until his death in 2005, and Carol Vorderman, who spent 26 years on the show.

Stelling joined the series in 2009 and was the fourth person to present the show.