Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling is to be the new host of much-loved TV quiz show Countdown.
Stelling, who became a household name following his stint on Sky's Soccer Saturday, will be joined on the programme by Oxford University-educated maths genius Rachel Riley.
The duo will front the new series of the cult quiz when it hits screens in January.
Stelling was awarded Sports Broadcaster of the Year by the Sports Journalists' Association for the third time in a row earlier this year.
Rachel Riley, 22, graduated from Oriel College, Oxford with a Masters degree in mathematics.
She fought off stiff competition from more than 1,000 applicants to step into the shoes of Countdown legend Carol Vorderman.
A spokesman for Sky Sports said: "Jeff's new role will not affect his Sky Sports commitments, which include presenting Gillette Soccer Saturday and live Carling Cup and Champions League football."
Countdown was the first show to be broadcast on Channel 4 when the station was launched in November 1982.
Vorderman and previous presenter Des O'Connor recorded their final programme earlier this month, which is due to air in December.
Cambridge graduate Vorderman has spent 26 years on the show. Former presenter O'Connor, announced he was to step down in July.
He joined the words and numbers quiz in January 2007 and helped the series celebrate its 25th birthday in November last year.
He replaced Des Lynam as the anchor, who stepped in following the death of Richard Whiteley.
Stelling, who became a household name following his stint on Sky's Soccer Saturday, will be joined on the programme by Oxford University-educated maths genius Rachel Riley.
The duo will front the new series of the cult quiz when it hits screens in January.
Stelling was awarded Sports Broadcaster of the Year by the Sports Journalists' Association for the third time in a row earlier this year.
Rachel Riley, 22, graduated from Oriel College, Oxford with a Masters degree in mathematics.
She fought off stiff competition from more than 1,000 applicants to step into the shoes of Countdown legend Carol Vorderman.
A spokesman for Sky Sports said: "Jeff's new role will not affect his Sky Sports commitments, which include presenting Gillette Soccer Saturday and live Carling Cup and Champions League football."
Countdown was the first show to be broadcast on Channel 4 when the station was launched in November 1982.
Vorderman and previous presenter Des O'Connor recorded their final programme earlier this month, which is due to air in December.
Cambridge graduate Vorderman has spent 26 years on the show. Former presenter O'Connor, announced he was to step down in July.
He joined the words and numbers quiz in January 2007 and helped the series celebrate its 25th birthday in November last year.
He replaced Des Lynam as the anchor, who stepped in following the death of Richard Whiteley.
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