'Countdown' host to quit

'Countdown' presenter Jeff Stelling is to leave the Channel 4 show after less than three years.

Stelling – the fourth presenter to front the station’s longest-running show - will leave at the end of the year.

He is to concentrate on his presenting role at Sky Sports where he is to front Champions League coverage next season. He will also continue with Sky’s Soccer Saturday which has won him a committed following.

With the departure of Richard Keys and Andy Gray earlier this year following a sexism storm, he will be one of the key faces of football for the broadcaster.

Channel 4 said it has already begun discussions to find a replacement to host 'Countdown', along with maths whiz Rachel Riley.

Stelling joined the series in early 2009, replacing Des O’Connor.

The longest serving host was Richard Whiteley who launched the show at the birth of the channel in November 1982 and continued until his abrupt death in 2005.

He was replaced by Des Lynam who lasted less than two years.