Des O’Connor has quit as the host of Channel 4 Countdown and will leave at the end of the current series.

Des said he was leaving so he could return to “entertainment-based TV shows”.

“It’s been wonderful hosting a programme which is part of TV folklore,” the O’Connor told The Sun.

“I’ve made a lot of new friends. Carol Vorderman has been a joy… It’s been a giggle since day one.” Read more & comment »

She’s a formidable force to be reckoned with on the tennis court, and tonight the nine times winner of Wimbledon and one of the world’s greatest ever tennis players, Martina Navratilova, takes on a game member of the public in Beat The Star.

25-year-old surgeon Rachel Hornigold from Buxted, East Sussex is warming up for her chance to beat Martina and win herself a massive £100,000.

Martina and Rachel will go head over a series of seven different games made up of physical and mental challenges right through to the downright quirky and daring. Read more & comment »

TV tyrant, Anne Robinson, has made veteran Blue Peter presenter, John Noakes, weep during a Weakest Link special.

Anne taunted John about his old dog, Shep, who also appeared on the show.

Anne asked: “Where’s Shep?, What happened to Shep? Did he die or just run away?”

John broke down, then said: “You’ve made me cry, not many people make me cry.”

A source told The Sun: “Anne annoyed John and he got very emotional. The audience didn’t seem too happy with Anne either and some even booed. Read more & comment »

Be prepared to do a double take on tonight’s Deal Or No Deal (Channel 4, 4:15pm) as The Banker stuns Noel Edmonds and the pilgrims with a Noel look-a-like, AKA Noel 2!

Midway through contestant Graham Seeley’s game, The Banker calls him backstage, much to the bemusement of everyone in the Dream Factory. Read more & comment »

An anonymous Deal Or No Deal viewer has donated an incredible £10,000 to a children’s hospital after being moved by inspirational contestant Olga Orlandini-Field’s unlucky game.

Fundraiser Olga, 32 had hoped to use her winnings to add to the £30,000 she has already raised for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Williams Syndrome Foundation after she lost her son Gianluca to the condition in 2005, but a disastrous game meant she took home just £5.

The donor was so moved by her story that they telephoned Birmingham Children’s Hospital and offered the money, stipulating that Olga must choose how the money would be spent. Read more & comment »

He’s the King of the boxing ring but take his feet off the ground and Amir Khan is a bag of nerves.

When Beat The Star host Vernon Kay explains to Amir and his opponent Dan Ivey they must climb then stand on top of a 10 metre high telegraph pole it comes a bit of a blow to Amir. “Stand on that for 30 seconds? I’d rather do 12 rounds with Mike Tyson!”.

Endeavoured to overcome his fear of heights he may have scampered up the pole but clung to the top rung for 5 minutes too terrified to move. Read more & comment »

After the runaway success of the first two series, hit game show Golden Balls is returning to ITV1 for a gripping third series featuring more twists than ever. As always, much-loved comedian Jasper Carrott OBE will preside over the game of luck, intuition and deceit.

Contestants must do whatever they can - be it lie, cheat or play it straight - to avoid being voted off in each round and make it through the final showdown. To do this, they need to convince one another that they are holding the Golden Balls containing the big bucks and not the evil killer balls which can turn pounds into pennies within seconds.

The two players who have played the most cunning game must then work together and decide which of their remaining balls to ‘Bin or Win’ to determine the prize fund up for grabs. Tension mounts, as they go head-to-head, in the nail-biting final face-off and opt whether to ‘Split or Steal’ the cash. Will they work together and go home with an equal share of the winnings, or risk the consequences and betray their rival’s trust by stealing the lot? Read more & comment »

Peter Law, age 38 from Lancashire broke his back in a motorbike accident in 2006. He was told that he would spend 18 months in hospital and never walk again. However, 3½ months later Peter walked out of hospital on crutches.

Peter will appear this evening on Channel 4’s Deal Or No Deal.

He used his crutches for the duration of his stay on the show, however for his own game, Peter wanted to take the ‘walk of wealth’ unaided which proved to be a highly emotional and inspirational moment. His walk to the crazy chair was officially the first time he had walked in front of people since his accident and was such an achievement considering the prognosis he had originally been given. Read more & comment »

Jerry Springer’s new TV show, Nothing But The Truth on Sky One could have been the cause of a marriage breakup, as a husband admitted to an affair and a night with a prostitute in front of his horrified wife.

The show requires contestants to be hooked up to a lie detector and they must answer all Gerry’s questions honestly in order to win big cash prizes.

On a recently filmed episode, Stuart Brandwood from Warrington, revealed how he went with a prostitute while on his stag do in Amsterdam 15 years ago – as appalled wife Amanda, 34, looked on. He then went on to admit to an affair he had not long before he and Amanda were married.

Stuart told The Sun yesterday: “I went to Amsterdam on my stag night. My mates decided to get some money together for a prostitute. I was very drunk.

“But now that my skeletons are out of the closet, our relationship is great. We are closer than ever and she still loves me. If we can get through this, we can get through anything.” Read more & comment »

ITV1 brings the ultimate test of self confidence and nerve to the screen with the arrival of brand new game show Duel.

Duel will see two people battle head to head against each other to win big jackpot money. But they face total elimination if they make just one error of judgement

Filmed in front of a live audience, Duel uses a simple game principle: two contestants, face to face, ten chips each, reply at the same time to the same multiple choice questions (but they do not see each others answers) and if they get the question wrong they’re eliminated. Read more & comment »