Colin Murray
| Colin Murray | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Presenter | |
| First appearance | 21 December 2020 |
| Last appearance | incumbent |
| Appearances | 989 |
| Episodes with Colin Murray | |
| Guest | |
| First appearance | 9 March 2009 |
| Last appearance | 3 November 2020 |
| Appearances | 60 |
| Episodes with Colin Murray | |
Colin Murray is the current presenter of Countdown, who first appeared as a guest in Dictionary Corner. He was also a contestant in Series 2 of Celebrity Countdown.
Murray is a former BBC Radio 1 presenter. He was the presenter of Match of the Day 2 from 2010 until 2013, and EFL on Quest from 2018 to 2022. He now presents various sports events on a freelance basis for the BBC and Channel 4. He was also a presenter on Talksport before resigning in 2016, due to the takeover of the station by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
Murray hosted editions filmed during England's second and third COVID-19 lockdowns in place of Nick Hewer, the first airing on 21 December 2020. But following Hewer's announcement of retiring from the show in 2021, Murray was not chosen to take Hewer's place as main presenter and was instead replaced by Anne Robinson. Following Robinson's departure from the show in May 2022, Murray returned to host again from 14 July 2022 after Robinson's last episode in the previous day. When Murray himself contracted COVID-19 in his second filming block, substitute presenters: Les Dennis and Jenny Eclair sat in for him for eight and four shows respectively. From 31 October to 25 November 2022, Murray took a four-week break whilst the guest presenters: Floella Benjamin, Richard Coles, Trevor McDonald and Moira Stuart presented the show during November to commemorate the show's 40th anniversary.
Unlike Richard Whiteley, Jeff Stelling, Nick Hewer and Anne Robinson, Murray introduces the lexicographer and Dictionary Corner guest before the contestants since 14 July 2022.
After a six-month tenure as temporary host, it was revealed on the 11 January 2023 edition of Steph's Packed Lunch that Murray was the next full-time presenter of Countdown for the foreseeable future. His first episode as the full-time presenter was on the first episode of Series 87.
During his tenure as temporary host between 14 July 2022 and 20 January 2023, Murray eventually anointed Tom Stevenson as "The History Maker" because of Tom's achievements during his appearances between Series 86 and Championship of Champions XVI. Because of that, it eventually gave Murray the idea to give nicknames to octochamps from Series 87 onwards during his tenure as full-time presenter.
And also along with Robinson, he was the second person that was a Dictionary Corner guest before becoming a presenter.
Episodes
| # | Date | Type | Contestant 1 | Score | Contestant 2 | Presenters | Guest | Lex | Max | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C14 | 09/01/2020 | CC | Christine Ohuruogu | 31 – 65 | Colin Murray | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Jo Brand | Susie Dent | 113 | ||
