Who took over from Richard Whiteley as presenter on the British game show "Countdown"?

"Countdown" is a British game show involving word and number tasks. It is broadcast on Channel 4 and currently presented by Anne Robinson, assisted by Rachel Riley, with resident lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and 83 series have been broadcast since its debut on 2 November 1982.

The programme was presented by Richard Whiteley for almost 23 years, until his death in June 2005. It was then presented by Des Lynam until the end of 2006, Des O'Connor until the end of 2008, Jeff Stelling until the end of 2011 and Nick Hewer until mid 2021. The series has been presented by Anne Robinson, its first female presenter, since the beginning of series 84 in 2021.

Desmond Michael Lynam (born 17 September 1942) is an Irish-born television and radio presenter. In a broadcasting career spanning more than forty years, he has hosted television coverage of many of the world's major sporting events, presenting "Grandstand", "Match of the Day", Wimbledon, the Grand National, "Sportsnight", the World Cup and Olympic Games.