The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has sent a message to Channel 4 show 'Countdown' - confessing he wished that Carol Vorderman could have helped him with his sums when he was Chancellor.
The teatime show has been on air since Channel 4 first arrived on the broadcasting scene 25 years ago.
To celebrate its anniversary tomorrow, famous fans of the programme, presented by Des O'Connor, 75, and Vorderman, 46, have sent in their birthday wishes.
‘Countdown’ has received messages from ‘Mary Poppins’ star Dame Julie Andrews, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as stars of TV soaps ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘Coronation Street’.
The 25th anniversary show features Conor Travers, who at the age of 14 became the youngest contestant to win the grand final of the veteran TV quiz last year.
It will be preceded on Channel 4 by a replay of the first ever Countdown programme, which went out on November 2 1982, with then host Richard Whiteley.
British PM Gordon Brown tells viewers in a video message filmed from Number 10 Downing Street that he could have done with the help of number-cruncher Vorderman when he was Chancellor. He says: "I want to congratulate Countdown on reaching 25 years on air. It's done more than any other programme to make counting and spelling fun and popular and is really good exercise for the mind.
"I want to congratulate Des - who's a great host - and Carol, especially, who's been there from the start. I wish she could have helped on some of my budgets when I was Chancellor - I might have got the sums right more often!"
He adds: "We also remember today all the people no longer with us that gave viewers such joy down the years. The late, great Richard Whiteley, and some of the guests of Dictionary Corner - Kenneth Williams, Brian Johnson, Derek Nimmo, Ned Sherrin and many others. We miss them all. But Countdown goes on, stronger than ever. So congratulations and good luck for the next 25 years."
Sir Alex confesses: "I have probably watched a few of those programmes and I actually do quite well at it by the way. But that is only on a part-time basis. I wouldn't like to be sitting in that studio doing it. Anyway, congratulations - a fantastic achievement."
Dame Julie says: "Countdown has helped my spelling and math enormously."
Vorderman says: "When I heard the PM's message I thought it was hysterical. I have suggested to the producer that I am in charge of all future Countdown programme budgets as 'official Countdown Chancellor' with a sign on my dressing room door. It took him three seconds to say 'No way - get back to your letters board'."
Des Lynam followed in Whiteley's footsteps before quitting the show after 18 months because of the commute from his home in Sussex to the Countdown studio in Leeds.
