Vowel play

So Helen Warner, the C4 commissioning editor, had to decide whether or not to drop the whole thing. But ITV Productions, who actually make the show, found a Sky sports chap, Jeff Stelling, who does a nice line in Typex teeth, and chose the most glamorous maths graduate (one of 100 who applied) and now 15 episodes of the show are in the can.

The first one aired this afternoon, giving Andrew Sachs a chance to earn a crust in Dictionary Corner before his Coronation Street debut. Actually, as an aside, the Street better watch it or it will soon be rivalling Summer Wine as a rest home for near-geriatric thespians. I remember Russ Abbot when he was a drummer ...

Anyway, happy birthday Helen Warner. She's 40 tomorrow (Tues) and the best present she can be hoping for are good figures for the new Countdown.

Rachel Riley, the cut-price Vorderman, is certainly a very attractive young woman. She needs to have terrific legs to cope with the strain of those heels, for a start, and Stelling seems to have the Richard Whiteley wooden delivery off pat.

Will it survive and prosper? Well, it seems terribly archaic and cosy - but it has done for the past 26 years. Riley will no doubt do well after the stint in Celebrity Big Brother or whatever when it comes her way, and Stelling is apparently an award-winning sports chap, so no problem for him.

The verdict of a cultural commentator? One vowel and three consonants - ARCP.