A preschooler from Leicestershire has set his sights on a top television presenting role after his astonishing ability to solve complex maths puzzles captured the nation's attention. Acer Gibson, aged just four, became an internet sensation when footage of him beating Countdown contestants to the answer from his living room went viral.
From Living Room to Viral Sensation
The remarkable story began when Acer's father, entrepreneur Liam Gibson, 36, filmed his son standing in front of the television in their home in Shepshed, near Loughborough. As Channel 4 host Rachel Riley presented the show's famous numbers game, Acer calculated the solution to reach a target of 622 in a mere 15 seconds. The video of his exploits has since amassed a staggering more than 30 million views online.
His performance was so impressive that Rachel Riley herself, the maths expert who oversees the puzzles, contacted the family. She sent a special challenge for the young boy, which he reportedly solved all of within 30 seconds. Riley has openly acknowledged his talent, telling The Sunday Times: ‘I’ll have to watch my back in a few years.’
A Trajectory of Extraordinary Talent
According to his father, Acer's aptitude for numbers was evident remarkably early. By the age of one, he could count from one to 10 and back down again. At two, he could recite his parents' phone numbers, and his family began teaching him times tables using toy vegetables.
"We started with simple additions: one plus one, one plus two, and I stopped at ten and he wanted to carry on," Mr Gibson explained. The boy's trajectory continued at pace; by the age of three he was writing down the square root of numbers such as 196.
Mr Gibson, who left school at 16 to work in brick-making but had a natural flair for mental arithmetic, said he was driven to nurture Acer's gift. "I guess after never having that kind of relationship and someone to encourage this kind of passion when I was at school, I wanted to give Acer the chance to get ahead before he starts school," he stated.
Recognition from the Countdown Elite
Acer's proficiency with the Countdown numbers round only came to light two weeks ago when his father decided to film him. His talents have not gone unnoticed by the show's alumni either. Jase Cullen, a Countdown Octochamp (a player who wins eight heats), has contacted the family. He believes Acer could be a future champion and has even offered to provide age-appropriate tips for the letters game.
When asked about his future ambitions, the four-year-old's goal is clear: "Actually I want to do the numbers on the Countdown show. Yeah, I want Rachel Riley’s job." In the now-famous clip, after solving the puzzle, his beaming father is heard saying, "You clever, clever boy," and instructing him to clap in celebration—a stark contrast to the adult contestants on screen, who failed to solve the same puzzle in time.
With such a formidable start, the UK's favourite letters and numbers show may indeed have a new star in the making, though he might have to wait a few years before he's old enough to apply.
