Nick Hewer will replace Jeff Stelling as the host of Countdown, Channel 4 has announced.

Nick, who is best known as Lord Alan Sugar’s advisor on the BBC’s Apprentice will join numbers whizz Rachel Riley and words expert Susie Dent when the Countdown team starts recording the new series at the end of the year.

The 67-year-old is thought to have beaten off competition from Sue Barker, Liza Tarbuck, Terry Wogan, Aled Jones and Rory Bremner to land the daytime TV job.

Nick said: “I’m flattered to have been asked to present such an iconic programme and will work hard to justify sitting in the same seat as such great talents as Jeff Stelling, Des O’Connor and of course the great Richard Whiteley. It’s particularly fitting that I should be doing this now as my spelling has started to slip quite badly. I used to be able spell chrysanthemum.”

Countdown Executive Producer, Peter Gwyn, added: “I’m absolutely delighted that Nick has agreed to take the Countdown chair, and I can’t wait to see him bring his unique style and humour to this iconic format. With Nick at the helm and our 30th birthday next year, we’ve got some very exciting times ahead for Countdown viewers.”

Viewers can see him presenting every weekday at 3.10pm from Monday 9th January 2012.