Countdown Experiences

All discussion relevant to Countdown that is not too spoilerific. New members: come here first to introduce yourself. We don't bite, or at least rarely.
Post Reply
David Williams
Kiloposter
Posts: 1256
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:57 pm

Countdown Experiences

Post by David Williams »

Although they could be a bit same-y I used to enjoy reading these on Mike Brown's website, and it would be interesting to hear what it's like these days. I know I was a little disappointed with my day at the 30th birthday championship. No bar, which I knew about, but also no photos - in fact I never even got to speak to Nick or Rachel. Maybe it was because it was the first day in Salford, maybe they thought it was unnecessary as we'd all been before, maybe I was just miserable because I was eviscerated by Chris Davies. But it would be good to hear what it's like now they are back to normal.

Incidentally, isn't the new letters/numbers format so much better than the old one.
User avatar
Graeme Cole
Series 65 Champion
Posts: 2024
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:59 pm

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Graeme Cole »

David Williams wrote:Although they could be a bit same-y I used to enjoy reading these on Mike Brown's website, and it would be interesting to hear what it's like these days. I know I was a little disappointed with my day at the 30th birthday championship. No bar, which I knew about, but also no photos - in fact I never even got to speak to Nick or Rachel. Maybe it was because it was the first day in Salford, maybe they thought it was unnecessary as we'd all been before, maybe I was just miserable because I was eviscerated by Chris Davies. But it would be good to hear what it's like now they are back to normal.
I'd definitely like to see some more entries on the Experiences page. I vaguely remember coming across Mike Brown's website years before I applied for the show - it must have been about ten years ago. The Experiences page was a good and interesting read. Then when I was preparing to apply I happened across the page again. The contestants' own descriptions of their experiences were very useful to me - it spelled out what to expect at every stage, from application to audition to recording. However, the most recent article on there is Kirk's from 2009, and a few things have changed even since I was on in 2011, so there isn't really any equivalent for prospective contestants nowadays searching the web to find out more about the process.

I'm sure Mike mentioned after CoHud last year that there were more experiences waiting to be published, unless I've misremembered that. Let's all lobby Mike to put them online. :-)
David Williams wrote:Incidentally, isn't the new letters/numbers format so much better than the old one.
Yes.
Dan McColm
Series 71 Champion
Posts: 255
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:23 am

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Dan McColm »

You're not imagining it Graeme, Mike definitely said there were some unpublished experiences.
User avatar
Charlie Reams
Site Admin
Posts: 9494
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
Location: Cambridge
Contact:

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Charlie Reams »

I too would really like some more of these. I remember finding them quite inspiring when I was a newbie, and it's quite nice to know what to expect when you get to the studio and stuff. Get on it, recent contestants!
Zarte Siempre
Series 78 Champion
Posts: 1344
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:56 pm
Location: Dadford, Buckinghamshire

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Zarte Siempre »

Charlie Reams wrote:Get on it, recent contestants!
Can't be arsed.
Possibly the first contestant to accelerate with a mic clipped...
User avatar
Ben Wilson
Legend
Posts: 4539
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:05 pm
Location: North Hykeham

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Ben Wilson »

I've actually done an update to my experiences following the 30th birthday championships and have been intending to email it to Mike for a while now, but seeing as my experience is the only one to have been split up into 5 parts, I need to be reassured that I haven't waffled on enough already.

(Yes, I deliberately typed this post in the most waffly way possible.)
Jack Worsley
Series 66 Champion
Posts: 979
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:32 pm
Location: Blackpool

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Jack Worsley »

If Mike's prepared to publish some more, I'll more than happily do one myself. I enjoyed reading them a while back too and would love to read some more.

Ben, I've read all five parts of your experience and I'd still like to read some more, so it's certainly not too waffly. :P
David Williams
Kiloposter
Posts: 1256
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:57 pm

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by David Williams »

Charlie Reams wrote:I too would really like some more of these.
Jack Worsley wrote:I'll more than happily do one myself.
I hope Mike Brown wouldn't mind too much if a new 'Countdown - Experiences' section appeared on the C4C site. There seems to be the makings of it.
Eoin Monaghan
Kiloposter
Posts: 1462
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:33 pm

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Eoin Monaghan »

I did actually intend to do one of these over the summer... but forgot. :oops:
Dave Preece
Devotee
Posts: 621
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Dave Preece »

Zarte Siempre wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:Get on it, recent contestants!
Can't be arsed.
LOL!
Jack Worsley
Series 66 Champion
Posts: 979
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:32 pm
Location: Blackpool

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Jack Worsley »

I've contacted Mike and he's happy to add some more when he gets some free time, most likely next month. Who's up for writing one then?
Gavin Chipper
Post-apocalypse
Posts: 13194
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Jack Worsley wrote:I've contacted Mike and he's happy to add some more when he gets some free time, most likely next month. Who's up for writing one then?
I'm quite happy to write one but I've never been on Countdown.
User avatar
Jennifer Steadman
Kiloposter
Posts: 1245
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 10:34 pm
Location: Kent
Contact:

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Jennifer Steadman »

Meeeeeeee meeeeeeee meeeeeeeeee
"There's leaders, and there's followers, but I'd rather be a dick than a swallower" - Aristotle
User avatar
Ben Wilson
Legend
Posts: 4539
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:05 pm
Location: North Hykeham

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Ben Wilson »

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Jack Worsley wrote:I've contacted Mike and he's happy to add some more when he gets some free time, most likely next month. Who's up for writing one then?
I'm quite happy to write one but I've never been on Countdown.
There's an easy way to fix that...
User avatar
Ben Wilson
Legend
Posts: 4539
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:05 pm
Location: North Hykeham

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Ben Wilson »

In all seriousness though, it'd be good to see experience reports from people who appeared on the show after first coming to co-events or appearing on apterous. As stated above there haven't been any experiences from contestants more recent than 2009, and it'd be really interesting to compare the different ways people have arrived on the scebne (for want of a better of putting it) since that time.

Also, it'd be good to finally read Mike's own experience, which is something like 11 years overdue at this point.
Jack Worsley
Series 66 Champion
Posts: 979
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:32 pm
Location: Blackpool

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Jack Worsley »

Ben Wilson wrote: Also, it'd be good to finally read Mike's own experience, which is something like 11 years overdue at this point.
+1
David Williams
Kiloposter
Posts: 1256
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:57 pm

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by David Williams »

Bump.
User avatar
L'oisleatch McGraw
Devotee
Posts: 930
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2015 2:46 am
Location: Waterford
Contact:

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by L'oisleatch McGraw »

Fascinating!
I just spent some time reading through the "experiences" page.
Kirk's was great.

It's been 8 years since an update...
Perhaps if the appetite is there, it might make sense to just start a thread here (or use this one), for people to share stories?
:arrow: :arrow: :arrow: S:778-ochamp
User avatar
Euan Slatter
Acolyte
Posts: 141
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2016 5:06 pm
Location: Portishead, NORTH SOMERSET

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Euan Slatter »

I won a school 3 round numbers game once. BEAST. MODE. ACTIVATED.
COUNTDOWN or THE TUBE? Which is better? There's only one way to find out....

Call it a draw :)

Robins Till I Die
Elliott Mellor
Devotee
Posts: 921
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2016 12:42 pm

Re: Countdown Experiences

Post by Elliott Mellor »

Just gonna bump this thread, as I'd also love to see some more added here. I've read through them and they're very fascinating. Does Mike still linger anymore?
Post Reply