Nick Hewer to host Countdown

Go Harvey Go

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15757855

Hmmm...

There is one big question - just how much will his other job get in the way?

Of course, things were working out fine for Jeff until the antics of Richard Keys and Andy Gray left him with more Sky Sports work to do...

Go Harvey Go

Couldn't resist bumping up this thread.

Well, Nick has occupied the host's chair for a year and a half now - longer than Des Lynam, incidentally, and set to overtake Des O'Connor too - so it appears that his other job isn't getting in the way too much.

But it also appears that the vast majority of viewers don't like him...

The reception he received when he started out didn't appear to be quite so negative - indeed, Iain Weaver's review of him on UKGameshows.com was fairly positive:

http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Weaver%27s_Week_2012-03-11

Rachel and Susie don't seem to mind him, either.

So just what has he done to turn so many viewers against him?

Channel 4 haven't helped by seemingly losing the plot completely as regards daytimes - as well as failing to properly promote the promising Five Minutes to a Fortune, and letting Deal or No Deal struggle to get one million viewers per episode and get trounced by Tipping Point, they've shunted Countdown back to 2:40 - nearly two hours earlier than when the original 30-minute, nine-round format started - and then put it back to 3:10.

Combined with this general dislike for Nick, it's resulted in viewing figures falling to as low as 150,000 - prompting the D**ly M**l, which of course has hated the show ever since Carol Vorderman left, to gleefully report axe rumours... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

As for what's been happening on the show itself? There was the 30th birthday tournament earlier this year, of course, followed by a slight re-ordering of the fifteen rounds.

The average age of the contestants seems to have increased, probably because of Nick, but the game is still being dominated by young men who spend hours practising on the computer.

But perhaps the biggest change has been as regards the Dictionary Corner guests. While veterans like Gyles Brandreth, Paul Zenon and Dr Phil Hammond have continued to appear regularly, quite a lot of new faces have turned up next to Susie: Margaret Mountford (inevitably), Richard Madeley, Julia Bradbury, Bill Turnbull, Helen Skelton and even Myleene Klass...

And with all due respect, one gets the impression that some of these new guests were booked in an attempt to arrest the aforementioned ratings slump.

What does the future hold?

Well, who knows. Channel 4, despite their aforementioned daytime plot loss, still have some faith in the show - why otherwise would they have commissioned all those 8 Out of 10 Cats specials?

And Nick, despite the negative reception, does enjoy the host's chair - and is contracted to sit in it until the end of 2014, by which time he'll have lasted as long as the near-universally-popular Jeff Stelling.

Skid X

I'm not a fan of Nick at all. He doesn't add much to the show, he just seems to mentally tick off each round like he was going through an agenda at a business meeting. Jeff Stelling seemed much more enthusiastic and engaging with the contestants (and Rachel). I didn't like his remarks when asked about rumours that Countdown might be dropped - you would never have heard Richard or Des or Des or Jeff making a comment like that.

Hewer, who took over as host of the long-running Channel 4 quiz show last year, actually made a joke to journalists when asked about rumours that the show was coming to an end.

"I've got a contract right through until 2014. So to be honest with you, I'd be sad... but I'd be in the money," he said.

http://www.digitalspy.ie/tv/news/a477551/nick-hewer-laughs-off-countdown-axe-rumours.html

The Channel 4 scheduling hasn't helped either. It was traditionally an early teatime show, it seems to have gone earlier and earlier to accommodate Deal or No Deal and other programmes.

I would look at a new Presenter, and a later timeslot. Richard Madeley maybe?

Not a big fan of Nick and I still can see the logic on any side for Jeff leaving.

The Bould Rabbit

Semi Final just started on Countdown.

Two Irish contestants battling it out.

The Bould Rabbit

Up Tipp !