Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling has been unveiled as the new host of the Channel 4 quiz show.

The dad-of-three, who has become a household name following his Soccer Saturday show, will be joined on the programme by Oxford University-educated maths genius Rachel Riley.

The duo will front the new series of the cult quiz when it hits the screens in January.

Jeff, whose mum lives in Catcote Road, is a regular visitor to the town and opened a new children's centre at his old Rift House Primary School, in June.

The presenter, who is well known for promoting Hartlepool United, was awarded Sports Broadcaster of the Year by the Sports Journalists' Association for the third successive time earlier this year.

The 52-year-old, who started his career as a young reporter with the Mail before moving into television, said: "I am delighted to be hosting Countdown and follow in the footsteps of such great broadcasters as Richard Whiteley, Des Lynam and Des O'Connor."

Jeff will continue to present Soccer Saturday.

Rachel Riley, 22, graduated from Oriel College, Oxford with a Masters Degree in Mathematics.

She fought off stiff competition from more than 1,000 applicants to step into the shoes of Countdown legend Carol Vorderman.

During the auditions, Riley and other applicants had to conduct an interview and were tested on their maths skills.

Riley said: "This is the best graduate job in the world. There's only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it, so I'm absolutely thrilled."

Helen Warner, who is Head of Channel 4 Daytime, said: "I'm very excited that Jeff and Rachel will be picking up the Countdown baton from 2009.

"They make a great team and I feel certain that our much-loved words and numbers game will go from strength to strength with them at the helm."

Countdown was the first show to be broadcast on Channel 4 when the station was launched in November 1982.

Vorderman, who has spent 26 years on the show, and previous presenter Des O'Connor recorded their final programme earlier this month which is due to air in December.

O'Connor replaced Des Lynam as the anchor, who stepped in following the death of the much-loved Richard Whiteley.