Countdown begins for Carol's replacement

Ever since Richard Whiteley's untimely demise several years ago, the producers of Countdown may well have just built a revolving door into the Countdown studios, such has been the rapid turnaround of personnel on the Channel 4 show.

Indeed, after more than two decades of constancy, Whiteley's boots have been filled first by the silver fox of sport, Des Lynam, who then promptly left to be replaced by his namesake Des O'Connor.

All through this upheaval, however, the nation's students, housewives and pensioners could be comforted by the fact that, while the face behind the bad puns may change, Carol Vorderman – who after a few ropey years at the start has grown to be both the brains and the beauty of Countdown – would always be there for them.

That is until now, as the Cambridge-educated mathematician has confirmed that she has quit for pastures new after unsuccessfully wrangling with producers in a bid to stop them cutting her salary to a reported £900,000 a year.

The conundrum now, then, is who will step up to the whiteboard and take on Carol's role as the country's favourite number cruncher?

Well, according to the bookies, the smart money is on former Hearsay star turned Jill-of-all-trades Myleene Klass, and even the briefest of glances at her CV would justify her position as the firm favourite for the position.

Not for nothing is the 30-year-old the face and figure of a high street swimwear range and, as for brains, she too studied at Cambridge, while her current employment on Classic FM as well as the BBC's current talent show 'Last Choir Standing' showcases her presenting pedigree.

As a spokesman for bookmaker William Hill noted: "Carol will be a very hard act to follow as a number cruncher but Myleene is attracting the smart money."

Joining her on the rumoured shortlist are TV veterans Anthea Turner, Ulrika Jonnson, Natasha Kaplinsky and even Angela Rippon, surely all of whom would have to give the chance of working just 40 days a year for a healthy salary more than a second thought.

While the show's bosses have yet to put out any signals regarding the successors of both Ms Voderman as well as Mr O'Connor – who was due to depart at the end of his contract anyway – what does seem clear is that a main male presenter, joined on the set by a pretty face – albeit one with some sharp brains behind it – looks set to remain as the format of the future.

More than 25-years since it graced the nation's screens, therefore, Countdown is in many ways still stuck in the 1980s and, agree with it or not, it seems most of its fans will like it to stay that way.