CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF COUNTDOWN

That this House congratulates the Channel 4 television programme Countdown for having been continuously broadcast in the UK for 30 years; recognises Marcel Stellman for bringing the show to UK audiences; notes the contribution of Nick Hewer, Susie Dent and Rachel Riley, its many staff, including producers and former presenters Carol Vorderman and the late Richard Whiteley, who have made the show so successful over three decades;further notes the social impact of Countdown; and further recognises its educational merit in helping people of all ages in the UK and in a number of other countries where it is now broadcast to practise and improve their numeracy and literacy skills in a competitive but friendly way.