2.1m watch Vorderman and O'Connor's final Countdown

More than two million viewers tuned in to see Carol Vorderman and Des O'Connor bow out of Countdown.

The show, which aired last Friday, peaked at 2.1 million viewers with a 20% share of the audience, a spokeswoman for the show said.

The Channel 4 quiz usually averages at 1.7 million with an 18% average share.

In a message to viewers, Vorderman, who spent 26 years on the show, said today: "I was overwhelmed last week and deeply touched by thousands of messages of support and good wishes.

"It meant a great deal. Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you, one last time, for all of the years of pleasure and counting down.

"Duh duh, duh duh, duh duh duh duh, dong."