[Lauren]

After this recent thread: http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/foru....php?tid=90198

This story emerges:

Carol Vorderman has quit Countdown after more than 25 years in a shock announcement tonight.

The 47-year-old presenter, who has been on the show since it began in 1982, has walked away from the programme amid claims of a pay dispute.

She had been struggling to agree a new contract with the broadcaster as it tried to slash costs on the show by cutting wages of its on-screen talent.

It is emerged that she may have been forced to take a pay cut had she agreed to a new deal with producers of the programme.

Her departure comes just days after Des O'Connor also revealed he was leaving the show later this year after less than two years as frontman.

While he said he was leaving the show as he was keen to return to live performing the pay crunch on the show is also believed to have been a factor.
Countdown

An insider said Vorderman's decison to leave was about more than just the pay deal.

The source said: "They were still in the middle of negotiations when she announced she was leaving last night.

'She has chosen the moment to leave and it is entirely her own decision.

'I think there are lots of things behind her decision. Since Richard Whiteley died things have never been the same. We had Des Lynam and he only lasted 18 months.

'I know there was talk of her taking the chair when he left but that didn't come off. This Des is now going as well.

'I also think there is the whole thing of having to travel up to Leeds which takes its toll on her spending time with her children. So I think to be told the new deal was going to be tough as well made her think 'right I'm going to leave now'. It was the right moment now.'

The uncertainty over the future of the show comes as it was revealed that Rory Bremner is most likely to take over from Des O'Connor as the new presenter.

Channel 4 is understood to have made 'discreet enquiries' about award winning comedian Bremner's availability in the coming months.

He is the now favourite ahead of presenters like Aled Jones, Michael Aspel and Gyles Brandreth.

Source: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/tvshow...s-row-pay.html