There was a familiar face in Dictionary Corner on Countdown but it was not the regular incumbent, Susie Dent.
The 57-year-old was forced to miss an episode of the Channel 4 show after she had contracted Covid-19.
In her place was Rob Rinder, 44, but while viewers were pleasantly surprised to see the TV judge poring over the dictionaries, they still lamented the absence of Susie.
Countdown host Anne Robinson told viewers that Susie was "sadly off with Covid" before addressing her replacement.
In her usual brusk manner, Anne said that she would call him Rob when he sharing anecdotes with the audience but when he was fulfilling Susie's role in Dictionary Corner, he would refer to him as Robert.
Susie had missed a show last year when she was forced out while waiting for the results of a Covid test.
In her self-deprecating manner, Susie gave a clue that she would be missing from today's show when she shared her 'word of the day' on Twitter.
She had chose the word 'hingum-tringum', which is a 19th century word meaning "barely presentable" or "just about hanging together", which could have been summing up how she felt with the symptoms of coronavirus.
There were plenty of well wishers on Twitter, who shared their love for Susie..
On wrote: "Have you now recovered from Covid Susie ? Missing you on Countdown..."
Another tweeted: "When will we see you again on Countdown Susie? Not watching unless you come back."
While a third: "My elderly mum kept asking why you are not on Countdown. I think it's sweet how she asks . I told her you were working on that 2nd album."
Susie has appeared on Countdown since 1992 and has opened up to Saga magazine about how she struggles when it comes to numbers rather than words.
Speaking about how 75 regularly appears in the maths round on the show and how it is her "mental block", Susie said: “It’s my bête noire.
"If you asked me to multiply 75 by eight I’d still take 30 seconds.
“Complete mental block.
"You’d think after 30 years I’d be all right.”
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.
