A new challenge for Carol

Carol Vordeman is famous as being television's quickest thinker when it comes to maths. She rarely fails to solve even the hardest numbers games on Channel 4's Countdown in the allotted 30 seconds.

But now Vorderman may have met her match in a computer programme designed to make maths accessible to the masses.

Dr Graham Hutton, of Nottingham University, says his programme not only comes up with the necessary total in an instant, it also shows every possible solution under the sun.

Dr Hutton said: "Everyone knows about Countdown and a lot of schools use the numbers game to get kids into maths," he said. "I think it's a great show, many game shows don't have any particular academic merit. I have to admit I don't always get the answers right myself when I watch the show."

Vorderman said of the computer programme: "It's a nice idea. But thankfully the bosses of Countdown don't want to do away with me and would prefer to keep it human against human!"

How the computer programme would handle a makeover show, or dressing up for an awards ceremony remains to be seen.