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Countdown (game show): Difference between revisions

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799:, former contestant Damian Eadie, decides which players to include, but typically the tournament includes the series winners and other note-worthy contestants. Series 33 was designated a "Supreme Championship", in which 56 of the best contestants from all the previous series returned for another knockout tournament. Series 10 champion Harvey Freeman was declared Supreme Champion after beating Allan Saldanha in the final. There are also occasional special episodes, in which past contestants return for themed matches. For example, David Acton and Kenneth Michie returned for a rematch of their Series 31 final, while brothers and former contestants Sanjay and Sandeep Mazumder played off against each other on December 20, 2004. 855:
he or she must declare this also. The words are then revealed. If either player has not written their word down, that word is revealed first - otherwise, the shorter word is shown first. Only the contestant with the longer word scores points; both score in the event of a tie. One point is scored per letter, except for nine-lettered words, which score eighteen points. If a contestant offers an invalid word then they score no points. Finally, Dictionary Corner reveals the best word they could find from the selection, aided by the production team.
831:. The contestant chooses a pile, and Vorderman reveals the top tile from that pile and places it on the board. A selection of nine tiles is generated in this way, and must contain at least three vowels and four consonants. Then, the clock is started and both contestants have thirty seconds to come up with the longest word they can make from the available letters. Each letter may be used only as often as it appears in the selection. The frequencies of the letters within each pile are weighted according to their frequency in natural 1251:'s most successful contestants have received national media coverage. Teenager Julian Fell set a record score of 146 in December 2002. More recently, fourteen-year-old Conor Travers became the youngest series champion in the show's history, gaining wide newspaper interest. At eight years old, Tanmay Dixit was one of the youngest players ever to appear on the show when he achieved two wins in March 2005. He also received press attention for his offerings in the letters round, which included 632: 228:'''''Countdown''''' is a ] ] presented by ] and ]. It was the first programme aired on ], and over fifty series have been broadcast since its debut on ] ]. With over 4,000 episodes, it is one of the longest-running game shows in the world. The programme was presented by ] for over twenty years, until his death in 2005. A celebrity guest also features in every programme, and provides a brief interlude before the first advertisement break. 270:
contestants try to solve a nine-letter anagram in the fastest time possible. During the series heats, the winning contestant returns the next day until he or she has accumulated eight wins. The best contestants are invited back for the series finals, which are decided in ] format. Contestants of exceptional skill have received national media coverage, and the programme as a whole is widely recognised and parodied within British culture.
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contestants try to solve a nine-letter anagram in the fastest time possible. During the series heats, the winning contestant returns the next day until he or she has accumulated eight wins. The best contestants are invited back for the series finals, which are decided in ] format. Contestants of exceptional skill have received national media coverage, and the programme as a whole is widely recognised and parodied within British culture.
71: 773: 620:, was appointed as one of the numbers experts after responding to an advertisement in a national newspaper which asked for a young woman who would like to become a game show hostess; unlike almost any other game show hostess of the time, however, the advertisement also made it clear that the applicants' appearance would be less important than their being a talented mathematician. 686: 1312: 1119:
A "crucial Countdown conundrum" occurs if, before the conundrum, the leading contestant is ahead by ten points or fewer. The studio lights are dimmed and the first contestant to answer correctly wins the game. If the scores are level after the conundrum, additional conundrums are used until the match
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Countdown has occupied a tea-time broadcast slot since its inception. Currently an episode lasts around 45 minutes including advertising breaks. During the normal series, the winner of each game returns for the next day's show. If a player wins eight games, they are declared an "Octochamp" and retire
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Points are awarded for the closest solution, and again both contestants score if the solutions are equally close. 10 points is given for an exact answer, 7 points for a non-exact solution up to 5 from the target, and 5 points for a solution between 6 and 10 from the target. If neither contestant can
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One contestant selects six of twenty-four shuffled tiles. The tiles are arranged into two groups: four "large numbers" (25, 50, 75 and 100) and the remainder "small numbers", which comprise two each of the numbers 1 to 10. The contestant dictates how many large numbers are in the selection; anywhere
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Contestants write down the words they have found during the round, in case they have the same one. After the thirty seconds is up, the players declare the length of their chosen word, with the player who selected the letters declaring first. If either player has not written their word down in time,
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has been one of Channel 4's most-watched programmes for over twenty years, but has never won a major television award. In its 3.30pm broadcast slot, the show draws about 1.7 million viewers every day — around half a million more than with Richard Whiteley presenting — and the Series 54
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followed significantly different rules to the current ones. Most noticeably, only eight letters were selected for each letters round. If two contestants offered a word of the same length, or an equally close solution to a numbers game, then only the contestant who made the selection for that round
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The final round of the game is the "Countdown Conundrum". A board revolves to reveal the "conundrum" - a jumbled nine-lettered word. The contestants have thirty seconds to find the word. The first contestant to buzz with the correct answer is awarded ten points, but each contestant may guess only
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A significant change in the format occurred in September 2001, when the show was expanded from nine rounds and 30 minutes to the current fifteen rounds and 45 minutes. The older format was split into two halves, each having three letters and one numbers game, with the conundrum at the end of the
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For some games, there are many ways to reach the target exactly. However not all games are solvable, and for some selections it is impossible even to get within 10. There is a tactical element in selecting how many large numbers to include. One large and five small numbers is the most popular
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The two contestants in each episode compete in three disciplines: eleven ], in which the contestants make the longest possible word from nine given letters; three ], in which the contestants must use ] to make a random target from six given numbers; and the "conundrum", a ] round in which the
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The two contestants in each episode compete in three disciplines: eleven ], in which the contestants make the longest possible word from nine given letters; three ], in which the contestants must use ] to make a random target from six given numbers; and the "conundrum", a ] round in which the
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presented by ] and ]. It was the first programme aired on ], and over fifty series have been broadcast since its debut on ] ]. With over 4,000 episodes, it is one of the longest-running game shows in the world. The programme was presented by ] for over twenty years, until his death in 2005. A
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round in which the contestants try to solve a nine-letter anagram in the fastest time possible. During the series heats, the winning contestant returns the next day until he or she has accumulated eight wins. The best contestants are invited back for the series finals, which are decided in
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has an alternative two rounds, called "duels", in which players compete to solve a mental arithmetic problem or extract two themed words. Other minor discrepancies include a different numbers scoring system (9 points for an exact solution, or 6 points for the closest inexact solution in
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status within British television - an image which it maintains today, despite numerous changes of rules and personnel. The programme's audience comprises mainly students, housewives and pensioners, due to the "teatime" broadcast slot and inclusive appeal of its format and presentation.
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second half. When the format was expanded to fifteen rounds, Richard Whiteley jokingly continued to refer to the three segments of the show as "halves". Under the old format, Grand Finals were specially extended shows of fourteen rounds, but now all shows follow the same format.
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has become synonymous with the role, and has now made over a thousand appearances. The celebrity guest, sometimes known as the "Dictionary Dweller", also contributes words, and provides a short interlude at the end of the first section of the show. Dwellers have included
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Gradually the tasks performed by the extra presenters were taken over by Carol Vorderman, whose role within the show is now essentially that of co-presenter. The show was briefly taken off air following Whiteley's death in June 2005, but reappeared in October 2005 with
151: 665:) and relay any longer or otherwise interesting words available. The lexicographer is aided in finding these words by the show's producers, currently Michael Wylie and Damian Eadie. Many lexicographers have appeared over the years, but since her debut in 1992, 790:
tournament, with the first seed playing the eighth seed, the second playing the seventh, and so on. The winner of this knockout, which culminates in the Grand Final, becomes the series champion. Each series lasts around six months, with about 125 episodes.
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breaks. The first two sections each contain four letters rounds and a numbers round, while the last section has three letters rounds, a numbers round and a final "Conundrum". At the end of the first two sections, Lynam poses an eight-letter anagram with a
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the number of hostesses expanded further: Cathy Hytner and Beverley Isherwood selected the letters and numbers tiles respectively, and calculations in the numbers rounds were checked by Linda Barrett or Carol Vorderman on alternate days. Vorderman, a
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2006, attracted 2.5 million viewers. Up to 2 million viewers had watched the show daily in its previous 4.15pm slot. The drop in viewers following the scheduling change, coupled with the show's perceived educational benefits, even caused
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once. Once a contestant guesses correctly or the time expires, a second board rotates to reveal the answer. Each conundrum is designed to have only one solution but if, unintentionally, the conundrum has two answers (e.g.
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Approximately every four series, a Champion of Champions tournament takes place. For this, sixteen of the best players to have appeared since the previous Championship are invited back for another knockout tournament. The
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Though the style and colour scheme of the set has changed many times, the clock has always provided the centerpiece and, like the clock music composed by Alan Hawkshaw, is an enduring and well-recognised feature of
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until the series finals. At the end of the series, the eight players with most wins (or the highest total score in the event of a tie) are invited back to compete in the series finals. They are seeded in a
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Richard Whiteley was the victim of a practical joke while presenting the show. The contestants and rounds had been planted as part of a "Gotcha!", a regular prank feature on light entertainment show
15: 906:- are valid although these too are not explicitly stated. For longer adjectives, the inflections must be stated explicitly. However, some words given in the dictionary are not permitted: 1210:
was awarded points. Also, only five points were given for an exact numbers solution, three for a solution within 5, and one point for the closer solution, no matter how far away.
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selection, despite two large numbers giving the best chance of the game being solvable exactly. Selections with zero or four large numbers are generally considered the hardest.
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winner's teapot, which is custom-made and can only be obtained by winning a game on the programme. The prize for the series winner is a leather-bound copy of the twenty-volume
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Until the end of Series 21, if the two contestants had equal scores after the first conundrum, the match was considered a draw and they both returned for the next show.
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for over twenty years, until his death in 2005. A celebrity guest also features in every programme, and provides a brief interlude before the first advertisement break.
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format. Contestants of exceptional skill have received national media coverage, and the programme as a whole is widely recognised and parodied within British culture.
165: 1266:, a series of eight games broadcast every Thursday evening over the course of eight weeks. The celebrities included future presenter Des Lynam, who defeated 2512: 2406: 2132: 769:
John Meade once commissioned Hawkshaw to revise the music for extra intensity; after hundreds of complaints from viewers, the old tune was reinstated.
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was presented by Richard Whiteley, with Cathy Hytner and Denise McFarland-Cruickshanks managing the numbers and letters rounds respectively. When
146: 93: 158: 31: 28: 1035:. Numbers can be used as many times as they appear in the selection, and need not all be used. Decimals and fractions are not allowed - only 550:- his daily appearances on both shows earned him the nickname "Twice Nightly". These shows were only broadcast in the Yorkshire area. 72: 2507: 1019:). The contestants then have thirty seconds to get as near to the target as possible by combining the six numbers selected with 142: 89: 659:
and that week's celebrity guest. The role of the lexicographer is to verify the words offered by the contestants (see
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celebrity guest also features in every programme, and provides a brief interlude before the first advertisement break.
450:. With over 4,000 episodes, it is one of the longest-running game shows in the world. The programme was presented by 111: 1015:
from none to all four. A random three-digit target is generated by an electronic machine, "CECIL" (which stands for
2422: 1629: 731: 1236:'s debut in 1982, there have been over 4,000 televised games and 54 complete series. There have also been twelve 2304: 2446: 1359: 1087:
Contestant One is closer and so reveals: 75 + 50 - 8 = 117. 117 × 7 - 3 × 2 = 813, which scores seven points.
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occupied Dictionary Corner. The game was close-fought, and decided only by the crucial Countdown conundrum
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was made, with a refined format, although it was never broadcast. A new British television channel, titled
2502: 1723: 1271: 1241: 1165: 508: 288: 1763: 742: 1687: 1668: 1613: 1482: 520:. The format was brought to Britain by Marcel Stellman, a Belgian record executive, who had watched 613: 1589: 1032: 2180: 1735: 2156: 1454: 107: 66: 1948: 724: 525: 394: 1445:
in 2001. In one episode, contestants Gino Corr and Lawrence Pearse both declared the word
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Carol Vorderman notes: 50 + 8 = 58. 7 × 2 × 58 = 812, which would have scored ten points.
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Richard Whiteley obituary on the show's audience and cult status. URL accessed 24/06/06.
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4,000. However Series 31 winner David Acton refused this prize on account of his strict
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was allowed in early shows, and more unspecified inflections were assumed to be valid.
766: 1933: 1921: 1884: 1565: 1537: 1449:. This was edited out of the programme but has since appeared on many outtakes shows. 737:
In keeping with the show's friendly nature, contestants compete not for money but the
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Contestant One chooses five consonants, then three vowels, then another consonant.
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on viewer dissatisfaction with Vorderman's expanded role - URL accessed 20/06/06.
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on Vorderman's Cambridge graduation and MENSA membership - URL accessed 08/07/06.
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purchased the format and commissioned a series of eight shows under the title
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version of the dictionaries and donating the monetary difference to charity.
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Richard Whiteley and Carol Vorderman competed in another special episode on
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has a standard letters round as its final round, so there is no analogue to
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on the change in rules regarding American spelling - URL accessed 21/06/06.
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recap of Whiteley vs. Vorderman Christmas special - URL accessed 25/06/06.
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on the frequency of each numbers games' selection - URL accessed 19/06/06.
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on the advertisement to which Vorderman responded - URL accessed 06/07/06.
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and scores eight points. Contestant One receives no points for this round.
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The two contestants in each episode compete in three disciplines: eleven
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to make a random target from six given numbers; and the "conundrum", a
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is often referenced and parodied in British culture. In the 2002 film
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The rules regarding which words are permitted have changed with time.
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The letters of the infamous round in which both contestants declared
927: 895: 625: 608: 558: 440: 432: 428: 390: 333: 2455: 1975:
game recap involving a tie-break conundrum - URL accessed 20/06/06.
1020: 750: 671: 631: 561:, was due to launch in November 1982, and bought the newly-renamed 1842:
list of special episodes and their themes - URL accessed 20/06/06.
1270:. The highest and lowest scores were posted in the same game when 486: 1426: 1054:
Contestant One requests two large numbers and four small numbers.
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Contestant One declares 813, while Contestant Two declares 815.
923: 915: 886:- are accepted though not explicitly stated in the dictionary. 828: 772: 754: 716: 655:
The other studio mainstay is Dictionary Corner, which houses a
503: 470: 443:, and over fifty series have been broadcast since its debut on 1194:) and the proportion of letters to numbers rounds (11 to 3 in 1738:, detailing his parliamentary motion - URL accessed 10/07/06. 1169:. Perhaps the biggest difference is the length of the round; 815:- the solution is revealed at the start of the next section. 617: 823:
Letter tiles are arranged face-down into two piles; one all
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was the first programme to be broadcast on the new channel.
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on Series 54 final viewing figures - URL accessed 10/07/06.
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Contestant One declares 7, while Contestant Two declares 8.
934:), and words that occur only in combination - for example, 907: 871: 867: 447: 408: 734:, requesting that the show be returned to its later time. 573:
As the countdown to a brand new channel ends, a brand new
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on analysis of the numbers game - URL accessed 20/06/06.
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and a round in which Dictionary Corner offered the word
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1997. For this game, the presenter's chair was taken by
682:, providing poems, anecdotes, puzzles and magic tricks. 2047:
showing a fourteen-round final - URL accessed 20/06/06.
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on Julian Fell's record score - URL accessed 25/06/06.
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showing a fifteen-round final - URL accessed 20/06/06.
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obituary for Richard Whiteley - URL accessed 24/06/06.
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numerous times, and another television programme, the
1336:. The programme is mentioned in an episode of British 532:, which were to be part of their current affairs show 54: 1568:
on the five-presenter system - URL accessed 24/06/06.
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teapot, the prize for any contestant who wins a game.
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showing the expanded format - URL accessed 20/06/06.
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and is also referenced in the very first episode of
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tournaments, with the most recent in June 2006. See
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is allowable, as well as some inflections. Standard
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The game is split into three sections, separated by
1385:in a feature called "Countdown Under". Comedy show 1332:, protagonist Will Freeman is a regular viewer of 1262:In 1998, sixteen celebrities were invited to play 2307:list of game show spoofs - URL accessed 21/06/06. 1466:appeared on the set at the end of the programme. 524:and believed the show could be popular overseas. 2494: 2365:movie connections page - URL accessed 21/06/06. 2334:movie connections page - URL accessed 19/06/06. 2279:movie connections page - URL accessed 21/06/06. 2245:movie connections page - URL accessed 18/06/06. 1887:on production team aid - URL accessed 20/06/06. 1295:. Susie Dent took over Vorderman's duties, and 1875:on letter frequencies - URL accessed 20/06/06. 1632:on the production team helping with the words. 1039:may be used at any stage of the calculation. 942:. Also, only British spelling is permitted - 1683: 1681: 565:on the strength of this additional episode. 126: 2464:, round-by-round details of over 700 games. 2069:New Oxford Dictionary of English Guidelines 1944: 1942: 1856: 1854: 1852: 1850: 1848: 1664: 1662: 1433:appearing on the letters board featured on 2262:movie connections - URL accessed 21/06/06. 1924:on game equipment - URL accessed 20/06/06. 1505: 1503: 1458:. Whiteley did not uncover the joke until 1002:, which would have scored eighteen points. 2159:on Conor Travers - URL accessed 21/06/06. 2147:on Conor Travers - URL accessed 21/06/06. 2135:on Conor Travers - URL accessed 25/06/06. 2087:was deemed valid - URL accessed 20/06/06. 1912:(2005, Oxford University Press), p. xvii. 1678: 1544:'s first episode - URL accessed 26/06/06. 1289:, the host of fellow Channel 4 game show 309: 2205: 2203: 2201: 2183:on Tanmay Dixit - URL accessed 21/06/06. 2171:on Tanmay Dixit - URL accessed 25/06/06. 1939: 1899:on dictionaries - URL accessed 20/06/06. 1845: 1659: 1310: 1017:Countdown Electronic Calculator In Leeds 776:The studio before the start of the game. 771: 684: 630: 485: 1500: 1425:has also generated a number of popular 1303:which Vorderman solved in two seconds. 2495: 1750:on the prizes - URL accessed 24/06/06. 1656:, (Granada Media, 2001), p. 119 - 131. 1227: 1173:'s rounds are each 45 seconds long to 1043:get within 10, no points are awarded. 847:s in the consonant pile, but only one 439:. It was the first programme aired on 2198: 1818:"experience" - URL accessed 24/06/06. 1616:on Des Lynam as the new presenter of 1306: 811:for the viewers at home, called the 639:studio illustrating the position of: 465:, in which the contestants must use 80: 46: 2319:transcript - URL accessed 23/06/06. 176: 171: 157: 140: 133: 125: 99: 87: 13: 2295:parody - URL accessed on 21/06/06. 661: 546:was the natural choice to present 462: 458: 279: 277:Revision as of 19:10, 30 July 2006 143:Revision as of 19:10, 30 July 2006 90:Revision as of 01:54, 30 July 2006 35: 2529: 2440: 2413:incident - URL accessed 20/07/06. 2397:incident - URL accessed 21/06/06. 2381:incident - URL accessed 21/06/06. 2332:100 Greatest TV Moments from Hell 1556:(Granada Media, 2001) p. 17 - 18. 1435:100 Greatest TV Moments from Hell 938:is invalid as it is used only in 585:introducing the first episode of 296:1982 British TV series or program 2350:outtake - URL accessed 19/06/06. 1736:Jonathan Shaw's official website 1497:(Granada Media, 2001) p. 9 - 15. 1144:Contestant One buzzes, and says 1009: 818: 490:Richard "Twice Nightly" Whiteley 311: 2508:Channel 4 television programmes 2416: 2400: 2384: 2368: 2353: 2337: 2322: 2310: 2298: 2282: 2265: 2248: 2231: 2219: 2186: 2174: 2162: 2150: 2138: 2126: 2114: 2102: 2090: 2074: 2062: 2050: 2038: 2026: 2014: 1998: 1978: 1966: 1954: 1927: 1915: 1902: 1890: 1878: 1866: 1833: 1821: 1805: 1793: 1781: 1769: 1753: 1741: 1729: 1717: 1705: 1693: 1647: 1635: 1623: 1607: 1595: 1528:trivia - URL accessed 20/06/06. 283:For other meanings of the term 2111:(Granada Media, 2001), p. 220. 2099:(Granada Media, 2001), p. 133. 1583: 1571: 1559: 1547: 1531: 1515: 1488: 1476: 858:Any word which appears in the 839:. For example, there are many 358: 1: 2193:Countdown: Spreading the Word 2109:Countdown: Spreading The Word 2097:Countdown: Spreading The Word 2023:(Granada Media, 2001), p. 18. 2021:Countdown: Spreading The Word 1961:Countdown: Spreading the Word 1861:Countdown: Spreading the Word 1828:Countdown: Spreading The Word 1800:Countdown: Spreading The Word 1788:Countdown: Spreading the Word 1778:(Granada Media, 2001) p. 147. 1776:Countdown: Spreading the Word 1702:(Granada Media, 2001), p. 74. 1654:Countdown: Spreading The Word 1554:Countdown: Spreading the Word 1510:Countdown: Spreading the Word 1495:Countdown: Spreading the Word 1469: 1185:'s Conundrum finale. However 1071:Randomly generated target is: 595: 275: 231: 224: 2477:The c4countdown Yahoo! group 2195:(Granada Media, 2001) p. 34. 2083:series final recap in which 1963:(Granada Media, 2001) p. 26. 1910:Oxford Dictionary of English 1863:(Granada Media, 2001) p. 24. 1830:(Granada Media, 2001), p220. 1802:(Granada Media, 2001) p. 87. 1790:(Granada Media, 2001) p. 33. 1512:(Granada Media, 2001) p. 20. 1154: 1102: 860:Oxford Dictionary of English 697: 235:'''''Countdown''''' is a ] ] 18:Browse history interactively 7: 2009:Des Chiffres et des Lettres 1989:Des Chiffres et des Lettres 1272:Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall 1242:List of Countdown Champions 1166:Des Chiffres et des Lettres 1116:) then either is accepted. 509:Des Chiffres et des Lettres 10: 2534: 2458:, results from every game. 1995:) - URL accessed 07/07/06. 1347:The Old Grey Whistle Theft 1163:are derived from those of 494: 481: 289:Countdown (disambiguation) 1764:Oxford English Dictionary 1148:, which scores 10 points. 990:, but Contestant Two has 946:and inflections, such as 780: 743:Oxford English Dictionary 730:to table a motion in the 431:, currently presented by 401: 386: 381: 373: 368: 357: 347: 329: 319: 308: 301: 187: 184: 139: 86: 2433:- URL accessed 21/06/06. 2216:- URL accessed 25/06/06. 2011:- URL accessed 07/07/06. 1766:- URL accessed 24/06/06. 1675:establishing cult status 1620:- URL accessed 20/06/06. 835:, in the same manner as 645:3 - the celebrity guest; 2425:Community webchat with 1132:Conundrum is revealed: 998:Dictionary Corner note 986:Contestant One reveals 753:, instead opting for a 616:graduate and member of 312:File:Countdown logo.jpg 85: 1415:— an anagram of 1320: 894:forms of monosyllabic 777: 694: 652: 579: 538:. As the presenter of 491: 2489:, numbers game solver 1762:on the leather-bound 1395:in a sketch entitled 1314: 1238:Champion of Champions 775: 688: 634: 607:was commissioned for 571: 489: 2462:The Countdown Corral 2363:TV's Finest Failures 1934:Countdown Statistics 1873:The Countdown Corral 1443:TV's Finest Failures 705:quickly established 641:1 - Carol Vorderman; 526:Yorkshire Television 2487:Crossword Tools.com 2214:Celebrity Countdown 1714:on viewing figures. 1644:on lexicographers]. 1264:Celebrity Countdown 1228:Notable contestants 662:Letters round rules 649:5 - the challenger; 514:Numbers and Letters 203:| imdb_id = 0138228 196:| imdb_id = 0138228 2518:TV word game shows 2503:British game shows 2456:The Countdown Page 2226:The Countdown Page 2210:The Countdown Page 2121:The Countdown Page 2081:The Countdown Page 2057:The Countdown Page 2045:The Countdown Page 2033:The Countdown Page 1973:The Countdown Page 1897:The Countdown Page 1840:The Countdown Page 1812:The Countdown Page 1700:Spreading the Word 1642:The Countdown Page 1590:Scotland on Sunday 1455:Noel's House Party 1391:further lampooned 1321: 1307:In popular culture 1287:William G. Stewart 1063:75, 50, 2, 3, 8, 7 944:American spellings 778: 767:Executive producer 695: 653: 601:Calendar Countdown 548:Calendar Countdown 530:Calendar Countdown 492: 155: 97: 2468:UK Gameshows page 2429:, explaining his 2317:Countdown to Hell 2005:New Improved Head 1712:DailyRecord.co.uk 1602:Independent.co.uk 1397:Countdown to Hell 1219:American spelling 1136:C H I N A L U N G 974:D N G H R O U E Y 647:4 - the champion; 417: 416: 395:Granada Yorkshire 348:Country of origin 274: 141: 88: 68: 2525: 2434: 2427:Richard Whiteley 2420: 2414: 2404: 2398: 2388: 2382: 2372: 2366: 2357: 2351: 2341: 2335: 2326: 2320: 2314: 2308: 2302: 2296: 2286: 2280: 2269: 2263: 2252: 2246: 2235: 2229: 2223: 2217: 2207: 2196: 2190: 2184: 2178: 2172: 2166: 2160: 2154: 2148: 2142: 2136: 2130: 2124: 2118: 2112: 2106: 2100: 2094: 2088: 2078: 2072: 2066: 2060: 2054: 2048: 2042: 2036: 2030: 2024: 2018: 2012: 2002: 1996: 1982: 1976: 1970: 1964: 1958: 1952: 1946: 1937: 1931: 1925: 1919: 1913: 1906: 1900: 1894: 1888: 1882: 1876: 1870: 1864: 1858: 1843: 1837: 1831: 1825: 1819: 1809: 1803: 1797: 1791: 1785: 1779: 1773: 1767: 1757: 1751: 1745: 1739: 1733: 1727: 1721: 1715: 1709: 1703: 1697: 1691: 1685: 1676: 1666: 1657: 1651: 1645: 1639: 1633: 1627: 1621: 1611: 1605: 1599: 1593: 1587: 1581: 1575: 1569: 1563: 1557: 1551: 1545: 1535: 1529: 1519: 1513: 1507: 1498: 1492: 1486: 1480: 1405:Richard Whiteley 1137: 1077: 1064: 975: 583:Richard Whiteley 544:Richard Whiteley 502:is based on the 452:Richard Whiteley 382:Original release 360: 315: 313: 299: 298: 174: 169: 154: 149: 131: 128: 120: 115: 96: 69: 60: 59: 57: 52: 50: 42: 39: 21: 19: 2533: 2532: 2528: 2527: 2526: 2524: 2523: 2522: 2493: 2492: 2443: 2438: 2437: 2421: 2417: 2407:Telegraph.co.uk 2405: 2401: 2389: 2385: 2373: 2369: 2358: 2354: 2342: 2338: 2327: 2323: 2315: 2311: 2303: 2299: 2287: 2283: 2270: 2266: 2253: 2249: 2236: 2232: 2224: 2220: 2208: 2199: 2191: 2187: 2179: 2175: 2167: 2163: 2155: 2151: 2145:The Independent 2143: 2139: 2131: 2127: 2119: 2115: 2107: 2103: 2095: 2091: 2079: 2075: 2067: 2063: 2055: 2051: 2043: 2039: 2031: 2027: 2019: 2015: 2003: 1999: 1985:cybercl.free.fr 1983: 1979: 1971: 1967: 1959: 1955: 1949:Crossword Tools 1947: 1940: 1932: 1928: 1920: 1916: 1907: 1903: 1895: 1891: 1883: 1879: 1871: 1867: 1859: 1846: 1838: 1834: 1826: 1822: 1810: 1806: 1798: 1794: 1786: 1782: 1774: 1770: 1758: 1754: 1746: 1742: 1734: 1730: 1724:UKGameshows.com 1722: 1718: 1710: 1706: 1698: 1694: 1686: 1679: 1667: 1660: 1652: 1648: 1640: 1636: 1628: 1624: 1612: 1608: 1600: 1596: 1588: 1584: 1576: 1572: 1564: 1560: 1552: 1548: 1536: 1532: 1520: 1516: 1508: 1501: 1493: 1489: 1481: 1477: 1472: 1409:Gyles Brandreth 1309: 1230: 1157: 1139: 1135: 1129: 1105: 1092: 1088: 1084: 1075: 1072: 1066: 1062: 1059: 1055: 1012: 1003: 995: 983: 977: 973: 967: 963: 954:, are invalid. 898:- for example, 874:- for example, 821: 783: 700: 680:Geoffrey Durham 650: 648: 646: 644: 643:2 - Susie Dent; 642: 640: 635:Diagram of the 598: 592: 590: 522:Des Chiffres... 497: 484: 437:Carol Vorderman 412: 340: 338:Carol Vorderman 336: 297: 271: 263: 253: 248: 241: 238: 229: 220: 213: 204: 197: 180: 175: 173:No edit summary 172: 170: 163: 161: 156: 150: 145: 137: 135:← Previous edit 132: 129: 124: 123: 122: 118: 105: 103: 98: 92: 84: 83: 82: 81: 79: 78: 77: 76: 75: 74: 65: 61: 55: 53: 48: 45: 43: 40: 38:Content deleted 37: 34: 29:← Previous edit 26: 25: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 2531: 2521: 2520: 2515: 2510: 2505: 2491: 2490: 2484: 2474: 2465: 2459: 2453: 2442: 2441:External links 2439: 2436: 2435: 2415: 2399: 2383: 2367: 2352: 2336: 2321: 2309: 2297: 2281: 2276:Little Britain 2264: 2247: 2230: 2218: 2197: 2185: 2173: 2161: 2149: 2137: 2125: 2113: 2101: 2089: 2073: 2061: 2049: 2037: 2025: 2013: 1997: 1977: 1965: 1953: 1938: 1926: 1914: 1901: 1889: 1877: 1865: 1844: 1832: 1820: 1814:Julian Fell's 1804: 1792: 1780: 1768: 1752: 1748:Nebagram.co.uk 1740: 1728: 1716: 1704: 1692: 1677: 1658: 1646: 1634: 1622: 1606: 1594: 1582: 1570: 1558: 1546: 1530: 1514: 1499: 1487: 1474: 1473: 1471: 1468: 1388:Fry and Laurie 1352:Little Britain 1308: 1305: 1292:Fifteen To One 1229: 1226: 1156: 1153: 1152: 1151: 1150: 1149: 1142: 1141: 1140: 1104: 1101: 1096: 1095: 1094: 1093: 1089: 1085: 1081: 1080: 1079: 1069: 1068: 1067: 1056: 1029:multiplication 1011: 1008: 1007: 1006: 1005: 1004: 996: 984: 980: 979: 978: 970:Selection is: 968: 820: 817: 813:Teatime Teaser 782: 779: 715:final, on the 699: 696: 628:as presenter. 597: 594: 580: 553:An additional 516:), created by 496: 493: 483: 480: 463:numbers rounds 459:letters rounds 415: 414: 403: 399: 398: 388: 384: 383: 379: 378: 375: 371: 370: 366: 365: 362: 355: 354: 349: 345: 344: 331: 327: 326: 321: 317: 316: 306: 305: 295: 294: 293: 278: 273: 272: 268: 266: 264: 260: 258: 255: 254: 251: 249: 246: 243: 242: 236: 234: 232: 230: 227: 225: 222: 221: 218: 216: 214: 211: 209: 206: 205: 202: 200: 198: 195: 193: 190: 189: 186: 182: 181: 159: 138: 117: 116: 101: 70: 64: 62: 44: 36: 27: 23: 22: 14: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 2530: 2519: 2516: 2514: 2511: 2509: 2506: 2504: 2501: 2500: 2498: 2488: 2485: 2483:message board 2482: 2478: 2475: 2473: 2469: 2466: 2463: 2460: 2457: 2454: 2451: 2449: 2445: 2444: 2432: 2428: 2424: 2419: 2412: 2408: 2403: 2396: 2392: 2387: 2380: 2376: 2371: 2364: 2361: 2356: 2349: 2345: 2340: 2333: 2330: 2325: 2318: 2313: 2306: 2305:UK Game Shows 2301: 2294: 2290: 2285: 2278: 2277: 2273: 2268: 2261: 2260: 2256: 2251: 2244: 2243: 2239: 2234: 2227: 2222: 2215: 2211: 2206: 2204: 2202: 2194: 2189: 2182: 2177: 2170: 2165: 2158: 2153: 2146: 2141: 2134: 2129: 2122: 2117: 2110: 2105: 2098: 2093: 2086: 2082: 2077: 2070: 2065: 2058: 2053: 2046: 2041: 2034: 2029: 2022: 2017: 2010: 2006: 2001: 1994: 1990: 1986: 1981: 1974: 1969: 1962: 1957: 1950: 1945: 1943: 1935: 1930: 1923: 1922:UK Game Shows 1918: 1911: 1905: 1898: 1893: 1886: 1885:UK Game Shows 1881: 1874: 1869: 1862: 1857: 1855: 1853: 1851: 1849: 1841: 1836: 1829: 1824: 1817: 1813: 1808: 1801: 1796: 1789: 1784: 1777: 1772: 1765: 1761: 1756: 1749: 1744: 1737: 1732: 1725: 1720: 1713: 1708: 1701: 1696: 1689: 1684: 1682: 1674: 1670: 1665: 1663: 1655: 1650: 1643: 1638: 1631: 1626: 1619: 1615: 1610: 1603: 1598: 1591: 1586: 1579: 1574: 1567: 1566:UK Game Shows 1562: 1555: 1550: 1543: 1539: 1538:UK Game Shows 1534: 1527: 1523: 1518: 1511: 1506: 1504: 1496: 1491: 1484: 1479: 1475: 1467: 1465: 1461: 1457: 1456: 1450: 1448: 1444: 1440: 1436: 1432: 1428: 1424: 1420: 1418: 1414: 1411:got the word 1410: 1406: 1402: 1398: 1394: 1390: 1389: 1384: 1380: 1379: 1378:Big Breakfast 1374: 1370: 1369: 1364: 1361: 1358: 1354: 1353: 1348: 1344: 1343: 1339: 1335: 1331: 1330: 1325: 1318: 1313: 1304: 1302: 1298: 1294: 1293: 1288: 1284: 1283:Christmas Day 1279: 1277: 1276:Jilly Goolden 1273: 1269: 1265: 1260: 1258: 1254: 1250: 1245: 1243: 1239: 1235: 1225: 1222: 1220: 1215: 1211: 1208: 1207:pilot episode 1203: 1201: 1197: 1193: 1188: 1184: 1180: 1177:'s 30. Also, 1176: 1172: 1168: 1167: 1162: 1159:The rules of 1147: 1143: 1134: 1133: 1131: 1130: 1128: 1127: 1123: 1122: 1121: 1117: 1115: 1111: 1100: 1090: 1086: 1082: 1074: 1073: 1070: 1061: 1060: 1058:Selection is: 1057: 1053: 1052: 1051: 1050: 1046: 1045: 1044: 1040: 1038: 1034: 1030: 1026: 1022: 1018: 1010:Numbers round 1001: 997: 993: 989: 985: 981: 972: 971: 969: 965: 964: 962: 961: 957: 956: 955: 953: 949: 945: 941: 940:mistle thrush 937: 933: 929: 925: 921: 917: 913: 909: 905: 901: 897: 893: 889: 885: 881: 877: 873: 869: 865: 861: 856: 852: 850: 846: 842: 838: 834: 830: 826: 819:Letters round 816: 814: 810: 805: 800: 798: 792: 789: 774: 770: 768: 764: 758: 756: 752: 748: 744: 740: 735: 733: 732:UK Parliament 729: 728:Jonathan Shaw 726: 723: 718: 713: 708: 704: 692: 687: 683: 681: 677: 676:Martin Jarvis 673: 668: 664: 663: 658: 657:lexicographer 651:6 - Des Lynam 638: 633: 629: 627: 621: 619: 615: 610: 606: 602: 593: 588: 584: 578: 576: 570: 568: 564: 560: 556: 555:pilot episode 551: 549: 545: 541: 537: 536: 531: 527: 523: 519: 518:Armand Jammot 515: 511: 510: 505: 501: 488: 479: 477: 472: 468: 464: 460: 455: 453: 449: 446: 442: 438: 434: 430: 427: 423: 422: 410: 407: 404: 400: 396: 393:(produced by 392: 389: 385: 380: 376: 372: 367: 363: 356: 353: 350: 346: 343: 339: 335: 332: 328: 325: 324:Armand Jammot 322: 318: 314: 307: 304: 300: 292: 290: 286: 281: 280: 276: 267: 265: 259: 257: 256: 252: 250: 247: 245: 244: 233: 226: 223: 217: 215: 210: 208: 207: 201: 199: 194: 192: 191: 183: 179: 167: 162: 153: 148: 144: 136: 113: 109: 104: 95: 91: 73: 58: 51: 41:Content added 33: 30: 20: 2480: 2479:, a popular 2471: 2450:at Channel 4 2447: 2430: 2418: 2410: 2402: 2394: 2386: 2378: 2377:clip of the 2370: 2362: 2355: 2347: 2339: 2331: 2324: 2312: 2300: 2292: 2284: 2274: 2267: 2257: 2250: 2240: 2233: 2221: 2213: 2192: 2188: 2176: 2164: 2157:The Guardian 2152: 2140: 2128: 2116: 2108: 2104: 2096: 2092: 2084: 2076: 2064: 2052: 2040: 2028: 2020: 2016: 2008: 2000: 1988: 1980: 1968: 1960: 1956: 1929: 1917: 1909: 1904: 1892: 1880: 1868: 1860: 1835: 1827: 1823: 1815: 1807: 1799: 1795: 1787: 1783: 1775: 1771: 1760:Amazon.co.uk 1755: 1743: 1731: 1719: 1707: 1699: 1695: 1672: 1669:Scotsman.com 1653: 1649: 1637: 1630:Channel4.com 1625: 1617: 1609: 1597: 1585: 1573: 1561: 1553: 1549: 1541: 1533: 1525: 1517: 1509: 1494: 1490: 1478: 1464:Noel Edmonds 1459: 1453: 1451: 1446: 1442: 1441:featured in 1438: 1434: 1430: 1422: 1421: 1416: 1412: 1396: 1392: 1386: 1382: 1376: 1372: 1368:Dead Ringers 1366: 1350: 1346: 1340: 1333: 1327: 1323: 1322: 1316: 1300: 1290: 1280: 1263: 1261: 1256: 1252: 1248: 1246: 1237: 1233: 1231: 1223: 1216: 1212: 1204: 1199: 1198:, 8 to 4 in 1195: 1191: 1186: 1182: 1178: 1174: 1170: 1164: 1160: 1158: 1145: 1125: 1124: 1120:is decided. 1118: 1113: 1109: 1106: 1097: 1048: 1047: 1041: 1016: 1013: 999: 991: 987: 959: 958: 951: 947: 939: 935: 931: 919: 911: 908:proper nouns 903: 899: 883: 879: 875: 857: 853: 848: 844: 840: 827:, the other 822: 812: 809:cryptic clue 801: 793: 784: 762: 759: 738: 736: 711: 702: 701: 690: 660: 654: 636: 622: 604: 600: 599: 591: 586: 574: 572: 566: 562: 552: 547: 539: 533: 529: 521: 513: 507: 499: 498: 456: 420: 419: 418: 374:Running time 302: 284: 282: 2242:About a Boy 2169:Daily Mail 1460:House Party 1381:, parodied 1371:, parodies 1363:sketch show 1355:from 2003. 1329:About a Boy 1247:Several of 1025:subtraction 892:superlative 888:Comparative 864:inflections 804:advertising 361:of episodes 237:, currently 178:Next edit → 160:84.68.16.57 102:ZeroJanvier 32:Next edit → 2497:Categories 2259:Father Ted 2133:Daily Mail 1470:References 1462:presenter 1360:impression 1342:Father Ted 1297:Mark Nyman 1268:Sian Lloyd 916:hyphenated 896:adjectives 825:consonants 667:Susie Dent 596:Presenters 506:game show 467:arithmetic 445:2 November 406:2 November 377:45 minutes 369:Production 342:Susie Dent 320:Created by 2513:Countdown 2481:Countdown 2472:Countdown 2448:Countdown 2423:Channel 4 2348:Countdown 2293:Countdown 2085:dominater 2007:rules of 1987:rules of 1816:Countdown 1688:BBC.co.uk 1673:Countdown 1618:Countdown 1614:BBC.co.uk 1542:Countdown 1526:Countdown 1483:BBC.co.uk 1423:Countdown 1393:Countdown 1383:Countdown 1373:Countdown 1345:entitled 1334:Countdown 1324:Countdown 1301:mistletoe 1274:defeated 1249:Countdown 1234:Countdown 1196:Countdown 1183:Countdown 1175:Countdown 1161:Countdown 1155:Evolution 1146:launching 1114:ORCHESTRA 1110:CARTHORSE 1103:Conundrum 1000:greyhound 928:mass noun 920:re-embark 912:Kurdistan 763:Countdown 739:Countdown 712:Countdown 703:Countdown 698:Character 691:Countdown 637:Countdown 626:Des Lynam 614:Cambridge 609:Channel 4 605:Countdown 587:Countdown 575:Countdown 567:Countdown 563:Countdown 559:Channel 4 500:Countdown 441:Channel 4 433:Des Lynam 429:game show 421:Countdown 391:Channel 4 334:Des Lynam 303:Countdown 285:countdown 2379:gobshite 2346:clip of 2291:clip of 1522:IMDB.com 1439:gobshite 1427:outtakes 1417:bollocks 1413:sloblock 1407:, while 1126:Example: 1049:Example: 1037:integers 1033:division 1021:addition 992:hydrogen 960:Example: 952:signaled 932:mankinds 922:), some 904:greatest 884:escaping 837:Scrabble 797:producer 788:knockout 751:veganism 745:, worth 672:Jo Brand 540:Calendar 535:Calendar 476:knockout 330:Starring 188:Line 15: 185:Line 15: 112:contribs 56:Wikitext 2431:Gotcha! 2411:wankers 2409:on the 2395:wankers 2393:on the 2375:YouTube 2344:YouTube 2289:YouTube 2181:Sky.com 1447:wankers 1403:played 1317:wankers 1253:fannies 988:younger 924:plurals 918:words ( 900:greater 880:escaped 876:escapes 833:English 577:begins. 495:Origins 482:History 426:British 413:present 411: – 402:Release 387:Network 130:fix fr: 2391:Snopes 1993:French 1338:sitcom 1278:47-9. 1257:farted 1232:Since 948:flavor 936:mistle 843:s and 829:vowels 781:Format 755:CD-ROM 722:Labour 717:26 May 504:French 471:buzzer 364:4,000+ 287:, see 67:Inline 49:Visual 1200:DCedL 1192:DCedL 1187:DCedL 1179:DCedL 1171:DCedL 872:verbs 868:nouns 618:MENSA 424:is a 121:edits 2470:for 2360:IMDB 2329:IMDB 2272:IMDB 2255:IMDB 2238:IMDB 1991:(in 1908:The 1578:IMDB 1431:fart 1255:and 1205:The 1112:and 1031:and 950:and 902:and 890:and 882:and 870:and 707:cult 678:and 448:1982 435:and 409:1982 166:talk 152:undo 147:edit 108:talk 94:edit 2212:on 1671:on 1540:on 1524:on 1401:Fry 1357:BBC 1202:). 1076:812 926:of 914:), 866:of 747:GB£ 359:No. 219:}} 212:}} 119:776 2499:: 2200:^ 1941:^ 1847:^ 1680:^ 1661:^ 1502:^ 1419:. 1399:. 1365:, 1259:. 1244:. 1027:, 1023:, 878:, 851:. 765:. 725:MP 689:A 674:, 581:— 542:, 352:UK 110:| 2452:. 1319:. 1138:. 1078:. 1065:. 976:. 930:( 910:( 849:Q 845:R 841:N 589:. 512:( 397:) 291:. 168:) 164:( 127:m 114:) 106:(

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Countdown (disambiguation)
File:Countdown logo.jpg
Armand Jammot
Des Lynam
Carol Vorderman
Susie Dent
UK
Channel 4
Granada Yorkshire
2 November
1982
British

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