Countdown's Richard Whiteley will miss his first show for 22 years when the new series start, Channel 4 confirmed today.

But the show's producers hope the 61-year-old will watch from his hospital bed at Bradford Royal Infirmary where he is recovering from a severe dose of pneumonia.

The popular presenter from Burley Woodhead, near Ilkley, has been in the hospital for the past five weeks.

It had been hoped he would be well enough to start filming for the new series.

But, although he has moved out of intensive care, he will not be fit enough in time for the new series which goes out on July 4.

Instead a host of guests will take over with co-presenter Carol Vorderman making a special announcement.

She said she was nervous about doing a show without him.

"Everyone at Countdown is thinking of Richard and wishing him a speedy recovery. I know I'll miss Richard terribly on studio days and I am nervous about hosting the show with anyone else. However, I'm really pleased that the guest presenters who are in Richard's chair are already members of the Countdown family and have been on the show many times before."

The new presenters will take their stint in Richard's chair from Monday, July 4 onwards.

They include Richard Digance, Lesley Garrett, Esther Rantzen, Barry Norman, Tim Rice, Nicholas Owen and Jennie Bond.

Adam MacDonald, head of daytime at Channel 4, said: "Countdown is a very important part of Channel 4's daytime schedule and continues to draw one of the highest shares of afternoon viewing.

"We're grateful to our guest presenters for stepping in at short notice and am sure they will do a great job of keeping Richard's chair warm for him until he returns.

"We hope Richard will be able to enjoy watching the show while he recovers, and everyone at Channel 4 wishes him well."