Dr Tom Crawford Temporarily Joins Countdown

Rachel Riley is temporarily stepping away from her role as the number expert on Channel 4's Countdown to work on another project, with mathematician Dr. Tom Crawford filling in during her absence. Dr. Crawford is known for his YouTube channel 'Tom Rocks Maths,' where he shares engaging and accessible mathematics content. He is an Applied Mathematics lecturer at Cambridge and holds various academic positions at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Dr. Crawford, a friend of Riley, has been preparing for the show since December and will appear alongside long-time lexicographer Susie Dent and host Colin Murray for the next three weeks. Dr. Crawford is recognized for his unique teaching approach, including his 'Equations Stripped' series and 15 math-themed tattoos. Rachel Riley, who has been a part of Countdown since 2009, was awarded an MBE for her contributions to Holocaust education.