Countdown - Nick Hewer

[Euphemia]

It's early days yet but how do you rate Nick Hewer as Countdown presenter?

[Philtaz]

Not seen him presenting it yet but as craft says he was good on HIGNFY the other week, very dry and deadpan.

As Mary T says Stephen Fry would be the ultimate but I've often wondered how that other masterful wordsmith Stuart Hall would fare on such a programme, or similar.

[daisya]

I'm afraid I can't stand him on Countdown, he really doesn't seem to have any humour which you sometimes need on that programme as other presenters have had. I have tried to "like" Nick Hewer but it's like he's a school teacher, sometimes coming across as condescending...just not as we've known the programme all these years even with different personalities that have been hosts. All I can hope for is Nick gets a personality transplant or leaves...has spoilt it for me so far <sob>.

[what..the?]

'fail'

[zebo]

Still only just after lunchtime on his first day, if they've kept the schedule as 2 before lunch and 3 in the after, he does seem very wooden, but he'll need to settle into the job. I still think Alexander Armstrong would have been the best replacement after Des O'Connor.

[mandsand]

Absolutely awful. No humour, character or spontenaity - he asks one question (presumably scripted) and then is lost for a follow-up. Repeats the phrase 'well done' endlessly. No chemistry with Rachel or Suzie - who seem strangely uncomfortable with him - and unable to connect with the contestants. If Channel 4 want the series to continue, they need to dump him at the earliest opportunity. (Alexander Armstrong would have my vote, although he is very repetitive on Pointless - but he is much too intelligent (and expensive ??) for Countdown.

[mandsand]

Absolutely awful. He has no warmth, wit or spontenaity. Asks one question and then cannot think of a follow-up. Rachel and Suzie seem strangely uncomfortable with him and he does not connect with the contestants. When he thinks the camera are off him (e.g. at the end) you can see that he has no interest in what is going on.
He was OK-ish as the 'tame' businessman on Apprentice - what possessed him to think he could have a late career as a TV presenter ?
Channel 4 are doing a grave dis-service to a much-loved institution and need to re-think as soon as possible - Alexander Armstrong would be my choice, (even though he is very repetitive on Pointless) though I am sure he is too intelligent and expensive for Countdown !

[Ivorlittlein]

I agree with you,mandsand,why not Tom O, Connor or somebody with a bit of .personality.?

[MarkRae]

He needs time to make the role his own. Richard Whiteley was awful at the very beginning too...

[Caribeing]

Sorry Nick have given you a week, too boring and wooden no raport with the contestants or Rachael or Susie, only saving grace was Paul Zenon, as mentioned Alexander Armstrong would be ideal or even his "pointless" friend Richard Osman. Countdown a good game now spoiled

[Hopkirk]

Richard Whiteley was awful, full stop.

[Prudie]

I haven't seen him but surely the point of watching Countdown is to join in with the games, irrelevant of the standard of chat that goes on inbetween?

[Hopkirk]

I agree. The 'presenter' is the least important person there.

[factor-fiction]

If the presenter should be the least important person there then I suggest he should just get on with the show rather than try to entertain us with funny stories and engage in friendly banter with Rachel for several minutes at the start. I watched him today for the first time and I felt that he and Rachel seemed very uncomfortable chatting about Friday 13th and her black cat, and later on chatting about what she was planning for the weekend.

I think we need to give him a few weeks though to settle in and built rapport with his colleagues. I still think Jimmy Carr would be brilliant

I'm normally pretty good on the word round but I couldn't compete with that young male contestant today- he was good.

[cupid04]

I belong to the Richard Whiteley appreciation club and the next one that disses him will get one of my arrows up their bum!
I do not like the new presenter at all. He is far too wooden. Paul Merton,
Stephen Fry, Tom O'Connor or could channel 4 afford Hugh Grant?

[giveup]

I disagree with having Alexander Armstrong he's not much good on Pointless. says the same old thing to all the contestants. I think Bradley Walsh on The Chase has much more rapport with everyone on the show.

[djtdjt]

NO do not like the way he talks!

[jd_here]

Given him a week and a half, almost, and I'm sad to say the programme has lost all its sparkle. Bland, monotone and humourless, sorry Nick but I'm out!