c4countdown

Ciaran Thompson

There are four more photos here on Suzannah Lipscomb's Twitter page: https://twitter.com/sixteenthCgirl

Interesting reddy-brown colour for the main desk. I like the more modern look of the studio as a whole.

Ciaran Thompson

I think you could argue that it might have been unsportswomanlike if they were two players who'd never met and didn't know each other's senses of humour. This isn't the case here. Perhaps yes. I did consider that they might have known each other well enough for that, but because Callum didn't seem ...

Ciaran Thompson

Great game. I did think that maybe Callum was a bit below par in a couple of rounds but Jen was very good throughout so a worthy winner regardless. Perhaps it was the sarcastic comment Jen made at the beginning about there not being enough "young geeky males" on Countdown. True, there has...

Ciaran Thompson

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ox ... e-27868836

Ciaran Thompson

I felt bad for James when he misdeclared 'ropiest' as an eight instead of a seven in R10 on today's episode. This was shared by Nick in particular, who half-suggested making an exception and allowing him to still have seven points, along with Maureen Lipman's backing. It got me thinking that there s...

Ciaran Thompson

Well here's a topic to discuss - we're coming up to the 6000th episode of Countdown, so who would we like to see in DC this time? For the 5000th in 2010, it was Des Lynam. How about having him back again, or Jeff Stelling maybe? It'll probably be filmed in July time.

Ciaran Thompson

I feel a trend has been forming in the space of one year: New CECIL, new score screens, new format, new clock, and now a completely new and different way of checking and finding words with a new laptop, with many new words added which may throw up some new rules. I like the idea of this new system ...

Ciaran Thompson

I feel a trend has been forming in the space of one year: New CECIL, new score screens, new format, new clock, and now a completely new and different way of checking and finding words with a new laptop, with many new words added which may throw up some new rules. I like the idea of this new system w...

Ciaran Thompson

First day of the new clock today, although not mentioned on screen. The lights take up more of the clock face and the hand seems bluer and slightly longer. It has a reverse motor and LED lights rather than traditional bulbs apparently. Goodbye to the old clock which kept time for 31 years from the C...

Ciaran Thompson

Incidentally, see how the hand on the Countdown clock doesn't rest on zero any more, but on about minus half a second? That's because it's old and wearing out, and wasn't designed to be transported around too much. This was fine when they were at Granada, which towards the end of its life had four ...

Ciaran Thompson

When working out a numbers game on one of the recent episodes, I found myself doing something like 7 - 9 + 5 to get a 3. You could of course say 7 - (9 - 5) but surely both are valid. You can simply rework that as 7 + 5 - 9. Yeah I know. That's yet another way which I use often, but for some reason...

Ciaran Thompson

Strangely enough I was thinking of why can't you use negative numbers too but not because of the 8 - 10 thing. I thought of it just before that episode. When working out a numbers game on one of the recent episodes, I found myself doing something like 7 - 9 + 5 to get a 3. You could of course say 7 ...

Ciaran Thompson

Well, it looks like they maybe listening a bit, because Countdown is returning to its 3:10, then 3:15 slot on the week commencing the 20th of this month. 8-) Might not be 4:15/4:30, but it's a start. :D I'm really pleased also. Channel 4 seem to be promoting and demoting Countdown at the same time,...

Ciaran Thompson

Sandi Toksvig's 1001 Things You Should Know is back soon. It returned yesterday................ Do you not watch the end credits and see it say "Next, 1001 Things You Should Know"............. :?: :? :P No I just haven't watched Countdown this week...................... I don't watch ever...

Ciaran Thompson

Sandi Toksvig's 1001 Things You Should Know is back soon and she was on the One Show today. The presenters showed pictures that had been sent in by people who had appeared on quiz shows yonks ago. Someone sent a picture of herself (annoyingly I can't remember her name) on Countdown from what appeare...

Ciaran Thompson

If the letters are shuffled face up, that could explain it. Humans can't consciously generate truly random sequences , mainly because repeated occurrences of the same thing don't look "random" enough to us. I can't be the only one who has been in the audience and seen the shuffling take p...

Ciaran Thompson

In relation to letter frequency's, the Spreading the Word book states that there are 66 consonants and 65 vowels. However, that is from 2001 and as we know, the amounts have changed, but not by that much it seems. Having 66 consonants makes sense as the maximum number of consonants that could be pic...

Ciaran Thompson

Alt Numbers solution for Round 14:
(10 - 1) x 9 = 81
81 x the other 10 = 810
810 - 7 - 2 = 801

Ciaran Thompson

Round 9: QIBLAS Nice Q word when there's no U. I like how they talked about World Maths Day a fair bit. I wonder why the date has been moved in the last few years from the original March 14th date, which was more appropiate because of pi being equal to 3.14. Probably cos there are better things to ...

Ciaran Thompson

Round 9: QIBLAS

Nice Q word when there's no U.

I like how they talked about World Maths Day a fair bit. I wonder why the date has been moved in the last few years from the original March 14th date, which was more appropiate because of pi being equal to 3.14.

Ciaran Thompson

I can't believe how tough Nick was on Rachel Moran. There were constant negative remarks from around Round 3 onwards about how she wasnt meeting yesterdays standard and then towards the end, how it was probably too late for her to catch up, accompanied with sighs and looks of disaproval etc. I like...

Ciaran Thompson

They are only sixes, but: BOOGIE in round 8 and PATTEN in round 9 I can't believe how tough Nick was on Rachel Moran. There were constant negative remarks from around Round 3 onwards about how she wasnt meeting yesterdays standard and then towards the end, how it was probably too late for her to cat...

Ciaran Thompson

David Attenborough
Melvyn Bragg
Dawn French
Jeff Stelling

Ciaran Thompson

Tacky? How dare you - I loved that show when I was younger. So do I, hence why I came across the Countdown reference - because I was watching it. But I like the tack more than anything. It did have a warmth about, along with some humour. But ITV comedies are almost always tacky with shaky sets, ove...

Ciaran Thompson

12 mins and 20 secs in to this clip from that tacky ITV comedy from the 90's - The Upper Hand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9omu2C1BFo

The programme is only worth watching because it's tacky. It's currently being shown on ITV3 lol

The theme tune is so over the top.

Ciaran Thompson

Had a text from Des Lynam, who's still a huge fan and compulsive Countdown viewer. He was resident in the presenters chair when Conor first came to our screens in 2005. He was delighted for Conor and wanted to convey his congratulations. Nice touch. Yes indeed. What would have been an even nicer to...

Ciaran Thompson

I would have liked not to see Jenny Eclair in DC for one of the most significant weeks in Countdown history - this week. She's only been on the show for five episodes before this one (despite Nick calling her a DC favourite). I don't think you can acieve DC favour that quickly. Who came up with the ...

Ciaran Thompson

I must say I am pleased. It makes sense to have two numbers game per contestant and four in total. I've always said the Mathematical content should be increased. Last year, I pestered the Countdown team for a special championship in honour of the 30 years of Countdown and they have done so. I'd like...

Ciaran Thompson

She so should have been invited back for the 30th anniversary episode

Ciaran Thompson

Isn't the obvious solution (excuse the pun) to have an extra numbers game as Gavin said? We had four games on the most recent 8 out of 10 Cats special and in the old Grand Finals. It was great that way. I've come across 5 foreign versions of Countdown including the original French one, and they all ...

Ciaran Thompson

Seen as November 2nd of this year marks Countdown's 30th Anniversary, does anyone think it might be worth contacting the Countdown office and suggesting they do a special champion of champions (CofC), but perhaps brand it specially for the 30th birthday. Don't be ridiculous, Ciaran, that'll never h...

Ciaran Thompson

Jason Larsen wrote:Yes Ciaran

Yes Jason. And on the note of sharing opinions, can I say, I love Seattle and Frasier too.

Ciaran Thompson

Since 2008, there's been a 4-week break for Countdown over August and sometimes a special episode or two thrown in as we all know. But this year they're not doing that. There appears to be episodes right up until the end of August on the online TV guides. All this is speculation of course. However,...

Ciaran Thompson

Jason Larsen wrote:It's Damian's decision because he's the Series Producer.

True, but there's no harm in sharing opinons.

Ciaran Thompson

but I think the words, "wishful" and "thinking" spring to mind on this occasion. :roll: Why? Well, there are quite a few reasons. 1. The "state of the art" studio, is surely a reference to the MediaCityUK Studios, which are new and state of the art, compared definitely...

Ciaran Thompson

James Robinson wrote:but I think the words, "wishful" and "thinking" spring to mind on this occasion.

Why?

Ciaran Thompson

Well it says on the Countdown Twitter page that they're moving to a new "state-of-the-art studio" in Salford Media Centre and that it's "exciting times" for Countdown, so presumably that means a new set. The message was posted on 6th July, with a picture of three guys moving the ...

Ciaran Thompson

They will hopefully see how much better our version of Countdown is. Funny how the Austrailan Version has the same amount of numbers rounds as us (three), yet only nine rounds in total, unlike our 15 rounds. That's the one thing I prefer about the Australian version (and all foreign versions) of Cou...

Ciaran Thompson

They might well do get complaints about having too many great players but what the production team (perhaps) don't realise is that people can still play along anyway. They know the champions are probably going to beat them so why complain. I would think they'd be far more people pleased to see the o...

Ciaran Thompson

Hello. Seen as November 2nd of this year marks Countdown's 30th Anniversary, does anyone think it might be worth contacting the Countdown office and suggesting they do a special champion of champions (CofC), but perhaps brand it specially for the 30th birthday. You could have the usual 15 episodes t...

Ciaran Thompson

I can guarantee the loss of at least 1 viewer, if the proportion of Numbers Rounds in a game were to be increased beyond the current 20%. I already FFWD through the numbers games as it is. Of course, losing me as a viewer may be offset, by people who like the Numbers games and don't already watch C...

Ciaran Thompson

I interviewed 100 people. 72. I don't watch Countdown at all and won't do until they introduce an extra numbers round (10-4-1 instead of 11-3-1) Unless that was a joke, I agree. The maths side of the game has been long neglected. I find four letters games in a row quite tedious sometimes, and I kno...

Ciaran Thompson

Getting out the Bible whilst waiting around in their hotel rooms would actually be very good thing to help you succeed at Countdown, as Susie Dent would probably tell you. Its influenced the English language more than Shakespeare, and Shakespeare quoted it 1,200 times. The King James Version of the ...

Ciaran Thompson

I think its an interesting topic lol. The 14-round format, as it had 4 numbers rounds. I dont think the maths side of the game is currently emphasised enough. My format would be: Part 1. LLLN DC - TTT - Part 2. LLN Susie LLN - TTT - Part 3. LLLNC. The champ would have first pick of the letters in ea...

Ciaran Thompson

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Ben Hunter wrote:
Ciaran Thompson wrote:Surely if there was a fault or something, they should wait until its fixed.
I agree, people could have died.
I think they did - isn't that what claimed Richard Whiteley?

No it could have been due to a desperate attempt at sarcasm by a killjoy and a fanatic lol

Ciaran Thompson

I remember seeing in the Des Lynam days, in the first two rounds of an episode, the clock lights not actually coming on. It looked really odd seeing the hand going round without the trail of lights following, then in round 3 they were back on with no explanation or anything. Surely if there was a fa...

Ciaran Thompson

James Robinson wrote:
Ciaran Thompson wrote:DAMIANE

Clue = You have to come up with a lot of them to be this type of guy

(hint = its actually two words, but I have a feeling Susie will tell us it'll be one word b4 long)
That's only 7 letters, which would've been good a few years ago, but not now.

Yes, I had noticed thanx

Ciaran Thompson

DAMIANE

Clue = You have to come up with a lot of them to be this type of guy

(hint = its actually two words, but I have a feeling Susie will tell us it'll be one word b4 long)

Ciaran Thompson

I personally think its a really good idea as well, but as others have said, perhaps give the Dec champ a break by filming a few days later after their final? I agree with Kirk mix up the large numbers just for something different (like the special) and in COC do a regular 15 rounder. However I'd pos...

Ciaran Thompson

Congrats on reaching 5000 editions/ episodes Countdown! Let's hope for at least 5000 more. 8-) I did expect more fireworks though. Couldn't agree more. I think it was still a lovely show today, and a good idea having Des L back, he was great craic. Very 'apt' getting 'apterous' in R2! Great what yo...

Ciaran Thompson

Round 1: T R A I P B S E L
Cant believe no1 on the show mentioned TRAIPSE. I saw it as the letters were being put out. I mean it was practically spelt out on the board (bar the 'B') 4 every1.

Ciaran Thompson

I understood the gist of your post Ciaran. :) I don't know if there will be future specials, but if there are then the odd twist here and there is possible, but it has to be very mild. We can't rebuild parts of the set etc to make it hold 12 letters or make radical changes. As for anathema, nice wo...

Ciaran Thompson

in future specials to make the gameplay a bit more interesting A bit more interesting? Arguably two of the greatest players in the history of the game battling it out and you want to make it a bit more interesting? :? I despair. Indeed, it was a great game, the whole thing was far from uninterestin...

Ciaran Thompson

Yes, I would think so. Shame we didnt see the other two numbers, and didnt see how they would have affected the game. I do hope that the alteration of the 4 large numbers is not the only twist to the proceedings of the other specials. I'm surprised that they didnt alter the letters or conundrum tod...

Ciaran Thompson

What were the other two large numbers that we didn't see and is this the same twist for the other 3 shows or is it a different one? You would think that logically since the 2 we saw were 12 & 37, then the other two would be 62 & 87, since they're the midway points between 0-25, 25-50, 50-75...

Ciaran Thompson

Weclcome Ciaran. I like the idea of a numbers puzzle once in a while. I've often thought a "numbers conundrum" would be interesting. Presumably this would need some new electonics - something similar to "fastest finger first" on Millionaire. Most unlikely to happen on the show ,...

Ciaran Thompson

There have been debates before when people have suggested an even numbers of each round and then other people have said that there isn't such an advantage choosing the numbers, and perhaps the advantage could be with choosing the letters. But wherever the advantage lies, or if it exactly cancels ou...

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