Countdown to continue without Whiteley

Countdown is set to return with a new presenter, Carol Vorderman said today.

The future of the Channel 4 show was in doubt following the death of Richard Whiteley last month.

TV bosses had considered a series of guest presenters in a similar style to Have I Got News For You?

But Vorderman said one host will take over from Whiteley, who occupied the presenter's chair for 23 years.

Viewers have inundated the station with calls pleading for the programme to continue.

"We are going to carry on, probably with one presenter," she told the Press Association.

"The switchboard at Channel 4 has been inundated over the last few weeks we have been off air asking when Countdown is coming back.

"By and large, 95% of our viewers have said they do want it to come back."

Vorderman, who was left devastated by Whiteley's death, admitted: "It is still all quite sensitive and we are not even trying new people until September.

"It will be very odd for me. Obviously the person I want to do the show with is Richard."

Maths whizz Vorderman is currently topping the non-fiction book charts with her Sudoku guide.

How To Do Sudoku has sold more than 200,000 copies since its release on June 20.

She said: "It's great to see a numbers book at the top of the charts, as it reflects the differing tastes of people's reading habits. These days, people can get as much enjoyment from a puzzle as from fiction.

"I have become completely obsessed and a bit of a saddo. I play with my 13-year-old daughter and we have competitions. Children are even doing Sudoku in school before their lessons.

"It involves simple logic and in that way it's a lot like Countdown."

Vorderman recently presented a Sudoku show on TV and hopes it will become a series.