The Countdown Thread

[Brekkie]

Just odd to make that move now when it could have been done at Christmas. They should be good until the British Grand Prix at least assuming they don't take any of the Bank Holidays off.

[JLav25]

I believe there were occasions when Kathryn Apanowicz was a last minute stand in. I think one one occasion when the booked guest pulled out Damien Eadie (producer and former contestant who often used to do the Susie role as a stand in) did the first few recordings and didn't enjoy it so they called Kathryn in.

I don't think it's a huge coincidence that Corrie cast members appear quite regularly, and to a lesser extent the Emmerdale cast when they were in Leeds

I used to go to MediaCity semi-regularly when they still had an audience. There were at least one occasion I went where there was a change to the advertised guest, having Pasha stand in, and another time with Colin Murray running late due to an issue with the train (but arrived at 9:30, with the warm up guy saying they had asked Louise Minchin (having just finished presenting Breakfast that morning) to see if she could do it last minute, but ultimately wasn't needed.

[Steve in Pudsey]

Greg Scott's YouTube features an "episode" of Countdown he hosted to keep the audience entertained while they waited for Carol Vorderman on a delayed train.

[DE88]

Giles Coren said in recent restaurant review that Anne had asked him to come on. He did comment that the money wasn't great but did it really as a favour to Anne, as she is a friend (and you don't say no to Anne!), so it looks like she is pulling on her friends to get some new faces on the show and perhaps some bigger names than the fee can tempt.

Replying to this post a second time, as Giles will be on this coming week.  

Then none other than Sophie Ellis-Bextor the week after.    I can't imagine Anne had *that* much of a say in *her* booking... did she?  

[DE88]

Robert Rinder will be next to Susie for the Grand Final of this series. Slightly surprised he hasn't been in DC up to now, TBH.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcBKFbhj-EQ/

[Brekkie]

Well he's generally been the competition in recent years. Pretty much another sign his show is axed really.

[Cando]

Well he's generally been the competition in recent years. Pretty much another sign his show is axed really.

I doubt it, they're both Jewish and have called out antisemitism in the last few years

[Steve in Pudsey]

I think Brekkie's point was more that Rinder's ITV show was on at the same time as Countdown

[DE88]

Robert Rinder will be next to Susie for the Grand Final of this series. Slightly surprised he hasn't been in DC up to now, TBH.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcBKFbhj-EQ/

...aaaaand in fact, he *won't* be next to Susie - who'll also be absent from the semi-finals, the quarter-finals *and* the last five preliminary games of this series because of you-know-what.

So he'll be doubling up as lexicographer, as will Tanni Grey-Thompson and Jay Rayner - and as Rachel Parris, Richard Coles and Adrian Chiles did last series.

The last time an actual lexicographer filled in for Susie was all the way back in February 2008, when Alison Heard made the most recent of her 120 appearances. Needless to say, the show was quite different back then...

[wonkey_monkey]

Susie - who'll also be absent from the semi-finals, the quarter-finals *and* the last five preliminary games of this series because of you-know-what.

I-don't-know-what...

[DE88]

Susie - who'll also be absent from the semi-finals, the quarter-finals *and* the last five preliminary games of this series because of you-know-what.

I-don't-know-what...

Well, life *is* almost back to normal.

Covid's also the reason why Dr Linda Papadopoulos is only doing three days this week - so many planned contestants dropped out that three episodes were all that could be recorded on that particular day.

Robert Hardman takes Dr Linda's place tomorrow, before the aforementioned Tanni Grey-Thompson takes over from both him and Susie the Thursday after.

[Jon]

Susie - who'll also be absent from the semi-finals, the quarter-finals *and* the last five preliminary games of this series because of you-know-what.

I-don't-know-what...

Well, life *is* almost back to normal.

Covid's also the reason why Dr Linda Papadopoulos is only doing three days this week - so many planned contestants dropped out that three episodes were all that could be recorded on that particular day.

Robert Hardman takes Dr Linda's place tomorrow, before the aforementioned Tanni Grey-Thompson takes over from both him and Susie the Thursday after.

Hasn’t Susie had quite a few days off due to Covid since Robinson joined?

[DE88]

Susie - who'll also be absent from the semi-finals, the quarter-finals *and* the last five preliminary games of this series because of you-know-what.

I-don't-know-what...

Well, life *is* almost back to normal.

Covid's also the reason why Dr Linda Papadopoulos is only doing three days this week - so many planned contestants dropped out that three episodes were all that could be recorded on that particular day.

Robert Hardman takes Dr Linda's place tomorrow, before the aforementioned Tanni Grey-Thompson takes over from both him and Susie the Thursday after.

Hasn’t Susie had quite a few days off due to Covid since Robinson joined?

She missed ten episodes last July due to close-contact isolation, and another five episodes last December as she had to get a test at the time of filming (which came back negative).

This time, she'll be missing because she had the virus herself at the time.

[This is UTV]

Why is there a 'Champion of Champions' episode today with Nick Hewer?

Has Anne upset someone in the scheduled episode that should have been going out today?? Whats going on?

[Rob]

Today's game has been "withdrawn" according to the Countdown Wiki.

The current champion won that game, and will return in the next series.

https://wiki.apterous.org/Steven_Etherington