Sir Trevor McDonald and Floella Benjamin to host Countdown for 40th anniversary special

Virgin Radio

27 Oct 2022, 09:11

Sir Trevor McDonald and Floella Benjamin are set to guest host Countdown as the show celebrates its 40th anniversary.

It was the first show to air on Channel 4 when it launched back in November 1982 and to this day, is the channel’s longest-running series.

As part of celebrations for this milestone, four presenters will be taking on a week-long hosting stint of the quiz show alongside lexicographer Susie Dent and mathematician Rachel Riley.

Benjamin will be the first to fill the Countdown seat starting the week of 31st October, with TV personality and Judge Rob Rinder joining Dent as the guest in dictionary corner. Following her will be celebrity vicar, Reverend Richard Coles, with BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker appearing alongside Dent.

Sir Trevor will be returning to host the show on the week beginning 14th November. It will be his second time in the host seat after he helmed the show in September 2021 as part of Channel 4’s Black to Front project, in which they hosted a day of flagship shows with Black talent or contributors leading the way.

Joining McDonald for his stint on Countdown will be University Challenge star Bobby Seagull in dictionary corner.

Closing the celebrations for a week as host will be broadcaster Moira Stuart from 21st November with Christopher Biggins.

The series will also be marking the Channel 4 anniversary on 2nd November by bringing back the programmer's first continuity announce, Paul Coia, who will introduce the show once again- just as he did with the first ever episode.

Jo Street, head of daytime and features at Channel 4, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming these national treasures to the Countdown hot seat to mark this 40th-anniversary milestone and are equally delighted to have enticed the remarkable Sir Trevor McDonald back to Salford.

“Countdown is a much loved institution and we couldn’t imagine Channel 4 without it. Here’s to the next 40!”

This comes after Susie Dent celebrated her 30th year on Countdown earlier this month.