One from the top ... flight

Stop the clock! The first Premier League footballer is about to appear on Channel 4's Countdown , reports the Daily Express. It's John T... no it's not, it's Clarke Carlisle, and he plays for Burnley. He is more accustomed to playing 90 minutes than 30 seconds, but the good news is he has already been crowned Britain's Brainiest Footballer. Insert your own joke here about not much competition. Anyway, how did he do? "I don't think I disgraced myself," he says. Sounds encouraging.