Countdown celebrates its 40th anniversary with celebrity guests at MediaCity’s dock10

The TV quiz show, Countdown, is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary by welcoming a host of celebrities to MediaCity’s dock10.

Baroness Floella Benjamin, Sir Trevor McDonald, Reverend Richard Coles and Moira Stuart are just some of the names announced to be welcomed into the presenters chair for a month long run of special episodes.

The guest presenters will each take on a weeklong hosting stint, joining lexicographer Susie Dent and Rachel Riley on the show.

Countdown is Channel 4’s longest running show, first ever broadcast when the station was launched 40 years ago, in November 1982. The show has since become one of the longest running quiz shows worldwide.

Filmed at dock10 studios, the 40th anniversary episodes of Countdown are airing next month. In November, 40 years to the day that Channel 4 started broadcasting, Paul Coia, the first Channel 4 continuity announcer who introduced Channel 4’s first ever programme – Countdown – will return to introduce the show once again.

Jo Street, Head of Daytime and Features at Channel 4: “We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming these national treasures to the Countdown hotseat to mark this 40th anniversary milestone and are equally delighted to have enticed the remarkable Sir Trevor McDonald back to Salford.

“Countdown is a much loved institution, and we couldn’t imagine Channel 4 without it. Here’s to the next 40!”

It is not the first time Sir Trevor has hosted the show. He returns to the Salford studio after anchoring the Black to Front Project episode in September 2021.

Joining Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner will be criminal barrister and broadcaster Rob Rinder, newsreader and presenter Dan Walker, maths genius and writer Bobby Seagull and actor and presenter Christopher Biggins.

Peter Gwyn, Executive Producer of Countdown for Lifted Entertainment followed: “It has been a sheer pleasure working with these iconic figures to celebrate Countdown’s anniversary.

“This birthday means so much to all of us who love the programme, and we can’t wait for viewers to see our month-long series of very special shows.”

Countdown’s 40th anniversary episodes will air throughout November.