Countdown blunder: Rachel Riley’s huge mistake after replacing Carol Vorderman exposed

Countdown has been entertaining and challenging British audiences with mathematical and word tasks for nearly three decades. The popular Channel 4 gameshow was fronted by Richard Whiteley and Carol Vorderman, during its on-screen debut in 1982. She was replaced by Rachel Riley in 2009, after contract negotiations broke down with ITV Productions. At the time she claimed management had demanded she take a 90 percent pay cut and it was a “take-it-or-leave-it” offer. The move prompted her to walk away from the discussions and led her to claim she was “forced out”. Rachel would go on to become a hit with audiences and remains so to this day. But unearthed accounts reveal she made a massive error during her first ever episode, as she struggled to fill the boots of her popular predecessor.

Rachel Riley made her Countdown debut on January 12, 2009, and soon would emerge as a “jewel in the broadcasting crown” of Channel 4. 

The 22-year-old, who was a mathematics student at Oriel College, Oxford, had no presenting experience of any kind but became the face to front this popular show.

Her first ever episode saw the clash between David and James in a ‘Champion of Champions’ heat, all compéred by frontman Jeff Sterling.

For the numbers task, Rachel was instructed to pick out five small digits and a single large one, which were: 1, 3, 5, 6, 10 and 75.

The contestants were then tasked with finding a mathematical equation that would total 554 and they began the challenge.

As the second hand ticked down on their one minute timer, David frantically scribbled and James looked out at the audience with a finger on his temple.

When that all-too-familiar klaxon rang, to signal the end of the countdown, the participants looked on proudly as both of them announced that they had reached the total figure.

David relayed his workings to Rachel, only for her to make a mistake while writing the numbers down on the board.

He started with ten minus three, which equals seven. Then seven plus one, totalling eight. 

JUST IN: Dame Vera Lynn: Why VE Day hero will still be relevant in Year 3000

By the end of the show, David had won with 101 points compared to James’ 82 point total.

In a brief conclusion to the episode, host Jeff turned to Rachel to ask her if she had “enjoyed it” and how she felt about her first appearance.

The star said: “Oh it’s great and we’ve got some very, very good contestants here, so I didn’t have to do much work today, did I?”

Jeff followed up by asking: “What do your friends in Oxford University say?”

Rachel joked: “Oh they are all very excited, hopefully they have it on in the bar and will be watching every day… they better be!”

After Jeff quipped, “Don’t drink, do they, in these universities?”, she sarcastically fired back: “Oh coffee, coffee in the bar, yeah.”