[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

[Magic]

OMG! Noo!
I am so sad, the end of an era.

[Spike]

I think the show will be axed now
It can't go on without Carol

[Rory]

Nooooooo! Carol is Countdown. It can't go on without her!

Does anyone else agree that Carol looks a lot better as she ages? It's weird.

[Fom]

This show cant continue without her, ever since the presenter died carol is the only thing that kept the good old countdown vibe. Now she is gone there is nothing to keep it going, stopped watching this ages ago anyway haha. SO boring. haha.

[jonsep]

carols hot

[Lauren]

Also, as smart as Susie Dent is - she CLEARLY has a word generator!

[Arneldo]

It's officially black Friday. Carol, why?!

[Rory]

Originally posted by Lauren
Also, as smart as Susie Dent is - she CLEARLY has a word generator!

I agree! She comes up with ridiculous words.

She has to use http://www.wineverygame.com/

[Chrizzle]

Don't watch this- but without Carol its not Countdown.
I used to watch it all the time, and she and Richard Whitely were great. Without him it was bad, without her its gonna be terrible.

[Fom]

Me and my family used to be so baffled when she could work out the most difficult math puzzles in seconds. For once she really deserved her fame and glory, unlike some other people in the world.

[Tom]

I was always dead good at the maths puzzles

I was dead proud of myself once as well, I managed to get a 5 letter word

I think they should just get 2 new people in. I'm not a fan of the show but I fear they'll revamp it and try to aim it at students ...

They just need a woman with brains and a half decent male host and the show will go on.

[Tom]

More stuff emerges ...

Countdown presenter Carol Vorderman quit the show after she was told to take or leave a 90% pay cut, her manager has claimed.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...er-90-pay-cut-

[lou1se35]

carol vordemen is selfish n greedy. she does adverisments n gets paid for them too, wots her prob. i wont miss her. should bring back the original lady, cant remember her name at mo but carol aint got clue. perhaps if she was stuck in the real world then shed have something to complain about. the only one i will miss is des, but got to say he n des lynam havent filled richards shoes.

[Callum]

I read her interview in the NOTW and it was really sad. Apparently they slashed her pay by 90% and said to her "We were fine without Richard (the original countdown host) and we'll be fine without you." I think the show will lose a lot of viewers when she goes.

[Tom]

Originally posted by lou1se35
carol vordemen is selfish n greedy. she does adverisments n gets paid for them too, wots her prob. i wont miss her. should bring back the original lady, cant remember her name at mo but carol aint got clue. perhaps if she was stuck in the real world then shed have something to complain about. the only one i will miss is des, but got to say he n des lynam havent filled richards shoes.

Carol was the original one ... there were just a couple of them at first. Refusing a 90% pay cut is not greedy at all IMO, I don't think anyone would accept that. Its ITV Production's problem in the first place for offering her so much.