Channel 4 has announced that a series of guest hosts will join Countdown, as the daytime show celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Baroness Floella Benjamin, Sir Trevor McDonald, Reverend Richard Coles and Moira Stuart will present the channel’s longest running series, from dock10.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming these national treasures to the Countdown hotseat to mark this 40th anniversary milestone and are equally delighted to have enticed the remarkable Sir Trevor McDonald back to Salford,” said Jo Street, Head of Daytime and Features at Channel 4.
“Countdown is a much loved institution, and we couldn’t imagine Channel 4 without it. Here’s to the next 40!”
Countdown was the first show broadcast on Channel 4 when it launched 40 years ago in November 1982.
Joining Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner will be criminal barrister and broadcaster Rob Rinder, newsreader and presenter Dan Walker, maths genius and writer Bobby Seagull and actor and presenter Christopher Biggins.
“It has been a sheer pleasure working with these iconic figures to celebrate Countdown’s anniversary. This birthday means so much to all of us who love the programme, and we can’t wait for viewers to see our month-long series of very special shows,” added Peter Gwyn, Executive Producer of Countdown for Lifted Entertainment.
Lifted Entertainment is part of ITV Studios.