Pointless' Alexander Armstrong turned down Countdown hosting job
Alexander Armstrong has revealed he turned down the chance to host Countdown.
The Pointless host shared he was asked to take over duties from Des O'Connor when he left the show in 2008.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain's Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins, he explained: "I did turn down Countdown.
"I took it very seriously, well it's a job, I take everything seriously that I am offered.
"I felt Countdown was a very revered format and I got the sense that there wasn't going to be a lot of leeway to muck about with it and Pointless is all mucking about really."
"I wouldn't have been able to do both," he added. "Pointless was my little treat for saying no to Countdown, but it was a really tough call because they were such nice people and I love Countdown.
"But I wanted to do something that was a little bit more… basically I had kind of stopped doing comedy by then and I wanted something that would have a bit of comedy in it."
Countdown's host Anne Robinson recently left the show following a year in the presenting chair, with guest hosts including Colin Murray, Les Dennis and and Jenny Eclair filling in since.
Richard Osman at one point became the frontrunner for the Channel 4 quiz, after announcing he was quitting Pointless. However, he denied the rumours, saying the reason he had to give up a show he loved was because he didn't have enough time.
Osman did pay a sweet tribute to his co-host during the taping of their last Pointless show together.
"I just want to say how lucky I am to work with you," he told Armstrong. "I always think at the end of the interview, I must tell Xander in person, which I never do."
A number of celebrity guests will be stepping in to replace Osman when the show returns, including former Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay, The Last Leg's Alex Brooker plus Off Menu co-host (and former Taskmaster champion) Ed Gamble.
Pointless airs on BBC One.
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