The Countdown Thread

[This is UTV]

I just feels very odd and disjointed when that just scrap an episode for no obvious reason (like if a contestant had passed away etc then that's understandable).

Even if they had to heavily edit it, say even do down to 30 mins, it's better to show 'bits' of the episode rather than nothing.

[Brekkie]

It's not that unusual - has certainly happened to Countdown and Deal before and no doubt happens to the ITV shows too, but we wouldn't know with those due to them being self contained. As you say it's usually either due to a contestant death and the family not wanting it screened, or legal issues around one of the contestants.

In this case they're lucky it has seemingly fallen as the last episode of the series filmed before the finals, so other than the rando repeat today in the narrative of the show it won't be that noticeable - and even though they pick up the current champions run a week on Monday most viewers won't notice he's won an extra game off screen.

[DE88]

Never will we have a Grand Final - or, indeed, *any* finals episode - with all three of Anne, Rachel and Susie. Who'd have thought that when Anne was appointed?

Jenny "The Vixen" Ryan will be the DC guest for Anne's final five episodes, which in a way will be appropriate - a fellow North Western redhead (although as with Kay Burley, the spot where Jenny hails from is rather further away from the sea than the spot where Anne hails from). 

Jenny will be the fourth Chaser to appear in DC after Anne (Hegerty), Shaun and Paul. Mark, meanwhile, was a contestant all the way back in 2000:

https://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_2771

[Tom]

Yes that's right about the finals as Rachel missed the Series 84 finals due to pregnancy leave and Susie missed the Series 85 finals due to having Covid. Additionally, 12 episodes to go with Anne hosting.

Also, on Wednesday it will mark 30 years since Susie's first appearance on Countdown in dictionary corner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvb_-_8unOU

[Roger Darthwell]

Yes that's right about the finals as Rachel missed the Series 84 finals due to pregnancy leave and Susie missed the Series 85 finals due to having Covid. Additionally, 12 episodes to go with Anne hosting.

Also, on Wednesday it will mark 30 years since Susie's first appearance on Countdown in dictionary corner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvb_-_8unOU

Happy 30 years on Countdown Susie Dent!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsAIgVxXeiQ

[Tom]

Don't forget it's Anne's last episode tomorrow with Colin taking over from Thursday onwards and that will be good to watch because Colin is a genuine fan of the show and clearly enjoys hosting the show (unlike his predecessor).

Also, for what it's worth a list of best hosts of Countdown in 40 years of the programme (not including the guest/one-off hosts):
1. Richard (simply the best)
2. Jeff (his natural style suited the programme)
3. Colin (he is interested in the show and always gets on well with everyone)
4. Des L (always going to be tough following on Richard in the circumstances, but I did not mind his dry wit, however communting from down south meant he never was going to be long term host)
5. Des O'C (a TV legend, but his style did not suit Countdown in my opinion)
6. Nick (the longest serving host since Richard, 9 and half years to be exact, but was bland and seemed to go through the motions most of the time)
7. Anne (a big name appointment, nothing more to be said and was never going to last long)

[Jon]

Odd to put Des Lynam above O’Conner, he was very uninterested in the game and could only make conversation with the guests about what football team they supported. O’Connor always seemed too showbiz for Countdown but at least the enthusiasm was there.

Whenever I watched Anne she always entertaining, if not slightly wooden.

I actually could see Boris Johnson being a potential host of Countdown going forward, which of course would be divisive but it would bring in the viewers. Although the after dinner speaking scene is probably going to be a lot more lucrative to a former PM.

[Tom]

I personally preferred Des Lynam over Des O, but everyone's opinion is different. Boris hosting would be interesting to say the least.

[Brekkie]

Don't forget it's Anne's last episode tomorrow with Colin taking over from Thursday onwards and that will be good to watch because Colin is a genuine fan of the show and clearly enjoys hosting the show (unlike his predecessor).

Also, for what it's worth a list of best hosts of Countdown in 40 years of the programme (not including the guest/one-off hosts):
1. Richard (simply the best)
2. Jeff (his natural style suited the programme)
3. Colin (he is interested in the show and always gets on well with everyone)
4. Des L (always going to be tough following on Richard in the circumstances, but I did not mind his dry wit, however communting from down south meant he never was going to be long term host)
5. Des O'C (a TV legend, but his style did not suit Countdown in my opinion)
6. Nick (the longest serving host since Richard, 9 and half years to be exact, but was bland and seemed to go through the motions most of the time)
7. Anne (a big name appointment, nothing more to be said and was never going to last long)

Pretty much agree with that, though might swap Nick and Des O'Connor.   It was a shame Des Lynam didn't do it for a bit longer - he was a very good replacement for Richard, but Carol's growing role during this period didn't do the show many favours - even if in reality it was just introducing the dictionary corner guest.

Jeff though for me is the best since Whiteley, maybe even better than Whiteley.   It's a shame we only got three years of him and that C4 didn't let him backtrack on his resignation as he reportedly wanted to do.   I think he might even still be with the show now had they let him continue.

[DE88]

Also, on Wednesday it will mark 30 years since Susie's first appearance on Countdown in dictionary corner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvb_-_8unOU

One can tell that the uploader of that video is American simply by looking at the title. (No disrespect intended, of course.)

Speaking of America, I wonder if any copies of the 1990 Guber-Peters pilot are lying around? I'd *definitely* like to see Woody Harrelson trying to make a word out of OMETHINGS, or whatever, while Alan Hawkshaw's music plays:

http://www.usgameshows.net/x.php?show=Countdown1990

[Johnr]

Don't forget it's Anne's last episode tomorrow with Colin taking over from Thursday onwards and that will be good to watch because Colin is a genuine fan of the show and clearly enjoys hosting the show (unlike his predecessor).

Also, for what it's worth a list of best hosts of Countdown in 40 years of the programme (not including the guest/one-off hosts):
1. Richard (simply the best)
2. Jeff (his natural style suited the programme)
3. Colin (he is interested in the show and always gets on well with everyone)
4. Des L (always going to be tough following on Richard in the circumstances, but I did not mind his dry wit, however communting from down south meant he never was going to be long term host)
5. Des O'C (a TV legend, but his style did not suit Countdown in my opinion)
6. Nick (the longest serving host since Richard, 9 and half years to be exact, but was bland and seemed to go through the motions most of the time)
7. Anne (a big name appointment, nothing more to be said and was never going to last long)

Pretty much agree with that, though might swap Nick and Des O'Connor.   It was a shame Des Lynam didn't do it for a bit longer - he was a very good replacement for Richard, but Carol's growing role during this period didn't do the show many favours - even if in reality it was just introducing the dictionary corner guest.

Jeff though for me is the best since Whiteley, maybe even better than Whiteley.   It's a shame we only got three years of him and that C4 didn't let him backtrack on his resignation as he reportedly wanted to do.   I think he might even still be with the show now had they let him continue.

I would broadly agree with that, Des L was just an unfourtunate set of circumstances really, he had to follow Richard, travel quite a distance and then had probably an even more intense filming schedule than the other hosts on top as they decided to have Saturday episodes for a brief period (probably to compliment the Saturday Deal Or No Deal)

He was actually a fantastic sport (I'll get my coat...) when he appeared again in Dictionary Corner for the 5000th episode with Jeff!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1L8uBzW6hQ

[JAS84]

Speaking of America, I wonder if any copies of the 1990 Guber-Peters pilot are lying around? I'd *definitely* like to see Woody Harrelson trying to make a word out of OMETHINGS, or whatever, while Alan Hawkshaw's music plays:

http://www.usgameshows.net/x.php?show=Countdown1990

Well, that page isn't researched well enough. It says Channel 4's Countdown started in 1983, when it's famously the first show aired on the channel in 1982.

[Brekkie]

I would broadly agree with that, Des L was just an unfourtunate set of circumstances really, he had to follow Richard, travel quite a distance and then had probably an even more intense filming schedule than the other hosts on top as they decided to have Saturday episodes for a brief period (probably to compliment the Saturday Deal Or No Deal)

He was actually a fantastic sport (I'll get my coat...) when he appeared again in Dictionary Corner for the 5000th episode with Jeff!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1L8uBzW6hQ

Didn't realise he'd returned as a guest - the wit and warmth that has been lacking for a year fully on show there.   Wonder if Colin will get the button back to start the clock.

[XIII]

Odd to put Des Lynam above O’Conner, he was very uninterested in the game and could only make conversation with the guests about what football team they supported. O’Connor always seemed too showbiz for Countdown but at least the enthusiasm was there.

Whenever I watched Anne she always entertaining, if not slightly wooden.

I actually could see Boris Johnson being a potential host of Countdown going forward, which of course would be divisive but it would bring in the viewers. Although the after dinner speaking scene is probably going to be a lot more lucrative to a former PM.

Boris will be swanning over America to make big dosh although I think IAC is calling.

[Flux]

Don't forget it's Anne's last episode tomorrow with Colin taking over from Thursday onwards and that will be good to watch because Colin is a genuine fan of the show and clearly enjoys hosting the show (unlike his predecessor).

Also, for what it's worth a list of best hosts of Countdown in 40 years of the programme (not including the guest/one-off hosts):
1. Richard (simply the best)
2. Jeff (his natural style suited the programme)
3. Colin (he is interested in the show and always gets on well with everyone)
4. Des L (always going to be tough following on Richard in the circumstances, but I did not mind his dry wit, however communting from down south meant he never was going to be long term host)
5. Des O'C (a TV legend, but his style did not suit Countdown in my opinion)
6. Nick (the longest serving host since Richard, 9 and half years to be exact, but was bland and seemed to go through the motions most of the time)
7. Anne (a big name appointment, nothing more to be said and was never going to last long)

Pretty much agree with that, though might swap Nick and Des O'Connor.   It was a shame Des Lynam didn't do it for a bit longer - he was a very good replacement for Richard, but Carol's growing role during this period didn't do the show many favours - even if in reality it was just introducing the dictionary corner guest.

Jeff though for me is the best since Whiteley, maybe even better than Whiteley.   It's a shame we only got three years of him and that C4 didn't let him backtrack on his resignation as he reportedly wanted to do.   I think he might even still be with the show now had they let him continue.

Agreed on Stelling. I think he might have been in it for the long haul had he not left when he did. I think he was a brilliant appointment, helped by the overall refresh of the show at the time with Rachel Riley also joining and the set update. He has a habit of announcing retirements and then changing his mind...