TV favourite Jeff Stelling returned to Countdown on Monday alongside Rachel Riley as he plans his next steps after leaving Sky.

Stelling stood down from presenting Soccer Saturday at the end of last season after more than 25 years in the role.

The 68-year-old had been a mainstay of the programme across its lengthy lifespan and first joined the show in 1994 under its previous title of Sports Saturday. 

Mail Sport reported last week how he had been placed on gardening leave by Sky and wouldn't return to our TV screens until early next year, amid interest from Amazon Prime and BBC Radio Five Live.  

During his distinguished broadcasting career, he also spent three years as presenter of Countdown - working alongside Riley - before he stepped down in 2011 to focus on his work in football.

Stelling - who has no plans to retire - originally took up the role towards the end of 2008, replacing Des O'Connor, while Riley took over from the long-serving Carol Vorderman at the same time. 

And he was spotted leaving the flagship show's studio on Monday in Manchester alongside Riley as the pair were re-united for filming.

They were both wearing bright pink and the photos indicate that Stelling may be appearing on future episodes of the show as a special guest.

Meanwhile, Sports Agenda revealed on Sunday how Simon Thomas is among the names being considered as a successor for Stelling on Soccer Saturday. 

The former Blue Peter presenter, who tragically lost his wife in 2017, is in the picture, although Sky bosses insist no decision has yet been made.

Thomas stepped away from full-time broadcast work following the sudden death of his wife Gemma six years ago just three days after she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

After 18 years in the industry, Thomas took time off work to look after his eight-year-old son, leaving Sky in the process where he was formerly a lead football presenter.

He is now freelancing for various platforms but is hoping to return to a full-time gig in the not-so-distant future.