Yahoo News Countdown star Rachel Riley confirms "provisional" July return date for filming
Countdown star Rachel Riley has confirmed that the gameshow will 'provisionally' return to filming in July.
Like virtually every other TV show and movie, Countdown halted production in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
But the maths expert has now revealed that she and host Nick Hewer are gearing up for a return, minus a live studio audience.
Related: Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev delight viewers as baby Maven Aria makes her Countdown debut
"There is a provisional date for July," Riley told The Mirror. "When we go back we won't have any audience unfortunately. But like the rest of the country we are just going to play it by ear.
"When we are in the studio, we should be able to socially distance as there is the space. The space in the studio is okay, we can mic ourselves up."
She added: "Nick is 76 so he has got to be a little bit careful."
Related: Countdown leaves fans in hysterics after spelling very NSFW word
Hewer said that he would happily return to his hosting position on the show, adding that people his age know they need to be responsible in protecting themselves from the virus.
"I will go back happily to the studio if not cautiously – I will keep my distance. But nothing will stop Countdown," he said.
"You can trust over-70s to be responsible, they know their vulnerability."
Countdown airs on Channel 4.
The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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