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Countdown is a British game show involving word and mathematical tasks that began airing in November 1982. It is broadcast on Channel 4 and is currently presented by Colin Murray, assisted by Rachel Riley with lexicographer Susie Dent.
Tom Read Wilson hosts the game show in which brave contestants compete to win cash and the hairstyle of their dreams. The losers will head home without the money...
Apr 4, 2010 · Broadcast on Friday 26th March 2010 - Part 1 Of 4 - Jeff Stelling & Rachel Riley host this milestone of an episode of the classic gameshow.
- 10 min
- 274.3K
- countdowngoofs
Countdown: With Susie Dent, Carol Vorderman, Richard Whiteley, Rachel Riley. The long-running words and numbers game.
- (1.5K)
- 1982-11-02
- Game-Show
- 45
- Synopsis
- Key Moments
- Catchphrases
- Inventor
- Theme Music
- Trivia
- Champions
- Merchandise
- How to Apply
"I'll have a consonant, a vowel, another vowel, a consonant, another consonant. Another consonant, a vowel, a consonant and a final consonant please." That might sound boring to you, but since Channel 4's launch this show, and for the length of their runs Fifteen-to-One and/or Deal or No Deal, propped up Channel 4's afternoon schedule and still dra...
If someone discovers a nine-letter word in one of the normal letters games, they receive 18 points (i.e. double 9) for it. And the set flashes, which is nice. One famous out-take came from a 1991 Champion Of Champions semi-final between Gino Corr and Lawrence Pearse, which contained an 'interesting' word claimed by both players (seven letters, begi...
"There's nine in the frame, let's get on with the game." "Please reveal today's Countdown Conundrum!" "A consonant, please, Carol!" "Let's go ferr'et" (a reference to an infamous out-take, much repeated on It'll Be Alright on the Night, where Richard Whiteley- in his more usual role as a news reader for Yorkshire TV - had his finger bitten by a fer...
Based on the French show, Des Chiffres et Des Lettres (Digits and Letters), devised by Armond Jammot. The programme has been running on French television since 1972. We can't understand why, because it's slow and boring.
Composed by Alan Hawkshaw, who - natch - also composed the think music. Apparently, he gets a royalty every time the clock is started. As of 2008, this has happened over 27,000 times.
Broadcast info
Countdown was the first programme ever broadcast on Channel 4, and Richard Whiteley was the first face to be seen. Richard's first words at the start of the very first episode of Countdown were: "Hello, hello - good evening and as the countdown to a brand new channel ends, a brand new Countdown begins.'' The first voice on the new channel, however, was that of continuity announcer Paul Coia - little did any of us know that he would also host a slightly less-successful word game on weekday aft...
Contestants
Contestants have ranged in years from 8 (Tanmay Dixit, James Squires) to 89 (Geoffrey Green). The youngest champion is 14-year-old Conor Travers, winner of series 54. Episodes from series 64 have not allowed those under 16 to take part. Occasionally, people who were child contestants get accepted back for another go as adults. One such contestant was Junaid Mubeen, who lost on his first appearance as a 14-year-old in 1998, before becoming series champion ten years later. Multiple winner Mark...
Notable words
The aforementioned Tanmay Dixit is famous, nay infamous, for offering FARTED and FANNIES during the first of his three appearances on the programme. In 2001, Bruno Murray offered ORGASMED out of the selection ADIRGOMES, to which Carol, for once, lost it a bit: "Yes! Yes! It is allowed." Richard concluded, "That's the first orgasm we've had on this show in 18 years." On 22 January 2008, one letters selection came out as SRETNACED. The remarkable thing about that selection is that it actually s...
Regular Series Series 33 was a Supreme Championship. 30th Birthday Championship 2013Conor Travers Champion of Champions 1-4: Mark Nyman (runner-up, series 3) 5-8: Clive Freedman (semi-finalist, series 7) 9-12: Harvey Freeman (champion, series 10) 13-16: Nic Brown (champion, series 14) 17-20: Tim Morrissey (semi-finalist, series 17) 21-24: Wayne Sum...
Old Countdown board game New Countdown board game Official Countdown Dictionary Listing of all allowable Countdown words Countdown Puzzle Book also Countdown Puzzle Book 2 Countdown Puzzle Mountain Puzzle book Countdown: Spreading The Wordby Michael Wylie and Damain Eadie (book)
The application form is now on the Channel 4 website. Alternatively, you can get a form sent to you by e-mailing countdown@channel4.com For audience tickets, call 0161 9520408 or email shantelle.gaston-hird@itv.com. Application details are provided as a service to readers, but please note that all contestant enquiries should be directed to the name...
Countdown is a British game show involving word and arithmetic tasks. It is currently broadcast on Channel 4 and is now presented by Colin Murray, assisted by Rachel Riley, doing the maths and letters, Susie Dent, in dictionary corner.
Countdown is a British game show on Channel 4. It began on 2 November 1982 as the first programme to air on Channel 4. It is currently presented by Colin Murray and Rachel Riley with etymologist Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner alongside a celebrity guest.
