Des Lynam quits 'Countdown'

Des Lynam has decided to quit Countdown after just 18 months in the presenter's chair.

The popular host told producers the news after growing tired of travelling 250 miles from West Sussex to Leeds for filming. Although Channel 4 offered to move the show to London next year, Lynam refused to inconvenience his colleagues.

"I didn't want to be responsible for that disruption. It would be unforgivable," he told The Mirror.

"When I was first asked to do the series, I asked if there was any chance of it being made in London. But it stayed in Leeds. Then the number of shows a year went up from 180 to more than 200. I was travelling up and down to Leeds sometimes every week.

"We do five shows in a day which everybody finds extremely tiring. It's the sort of schedule I don't want to commit myself to any more. I've decided that after a year and a half, that'll do nicely. I'm going to withdraw and save the wear and tear."