Colin Murray’s future at Countdown

[Philip A]

Colin Murray will continue to host Countdown at least for the foreseeable future. According to The Times, he is contracted to stay on until March 2023, after originally staying on-screen until November 2022.

Nick Hewer has tweeted he is delighted that Murray has secured the seat and that Channel 4 does listen to the fans.

[Marc Meakin]

Won't the World Cup be a distraction for him?

[Mark Deeks]

I just would have expected a heads up, that's all, didn't expect to have to be find out this way. Would have been the respectful thing to do, given howo far through the process I was.

[Callum Todd]

According to The Times, he is contracted to stay on until March 2023

#Deeks2023

[Andres Sanchez]

#Deeks2023

[Philip A]

Reliably informed he is now contracted until December 2024. Fantastic.

[Mark Deeks]

#Deeks2025

[Rhys Benjamin]

Glad to see they've had a sensible pill, finally. This news is about 2 years overdue!

[Philip A]

Reliably informed he is now contracted until December 2024. Fantastic.

This now may be an untruth as we learn who the actual presenter is this lunchtime. I only got this from a Wiki edit but couldn’t find any reliable sources.

[Mark Deeks]

#Deeks2023

[Martin Hurst]

Reliably informed he is now contracted until December 2024. Fantastic.

This now may be an untruth as we learn who the actual presenter is this lunchtime. I only got this from a Wiki edit but couldn’t find any reliable sources.

"Reliably informed" from no "reliable sources"?

[Gavin Chipper]

Nick Hewer has tweeted he is delighted that Murray has secured the seat and that Channel 4 does listen to the fans.

So you didn't see this tweet youself? Or was Nick hoodwinked as well?

[Dan Byrom]

Damien told me himself a couple of weeks ago on apto, and was happy to let me share it. 100% confirmed to stay for two more years

[Philip A]

Damien told me himself a couple of weeks ago on apto, and was happy to let me share it. 100% confirmed to stay for two more years

Sounds like the announcement on Steph’s Packed Lunch is just a ratification, then. But sounds like good news.

[Rhys Benjamin]

So… not “exclusively”, then?

[Philip A]

Yep, it’s definitely Colin Murray.

[Gavin Chipper]

Yep, it’s definitely Colin Murray.

Were you today's viewer?

[Philip A]

Yep, it’s definitely Colin Murray.

Were you today's viewer?

I was watching it live. Colin Murray wore a wig, took it off and then messed up Steph’s sofa!

[Philip A]

Apt that this was made official on Rachel Riley’s birthday.

[Marc Meakin]

Now we have Colin permanant, wouldn't it be good if the slot was moved to 3 or even 4 o'clock

[Philip A]

Now we have Colin permanant, wouldn't it be good if the slot was moved to 3 or even 4 o'clock

Might be wise to keep it out of competition against the likes of ITV 3-6 pm.

[Gavin Chipper]

Now we have Colin permanant, wouldn't it be good if the slot was moved to 3 or even 4 o'clock

I consider 4:30 to be the traditional time for 9-round Countdown and 4:15 for 15-rounders.

[Marc Meakin]

Now we have Colin permanant, wouldn't it be good if the slot was moved to 3 or even 4 o'clock

I consider 4:30 to be the traditional time for 9-round Countdown and 4:15 for 15-rounders.

Fuck it let's make Countdown an hour long.
18 rounders maybe 2 x 9 rounders as it were

[Rhys Benjamin]

Countdown could even go to 4:45 or 5:00 and go up against The Chase and Pointless. The 2:10 timeslot has *never* worked, in my view.

Furthermore I can imagine Channel 4 asking Countdown to move to 30 minutes or 1 hour, there’s very few 45-minute shows these days. But that’s another discussion.

The simple fact is Channel 4 don’t really care about the show and are just content to let it dribble along. It’s cheap to make, it fills time for them, and it would be a PR disaster if they got rid of it. Much like Doctor Who in the 80s, it’s a political prisoner: too annoying to live, too difficult to kill.

There is a huge iceberg coming down the road in this situation, which is when Damian stops producing it - they’d better have a successor in place, or else it’ll suffer the fate Doctor Who did in 1989, when it was only eventually cancelled because they couldn’t find someone to succeed John Nathan-Turner as producer.

[Countdown Team]

There is a huge iceberg coming down the road in this situation, which is when Damian stops producing it - they’d better have a successor in place, or else it’ll suffer the fate Doctor Who did in 1989, when it was only eventually cancelled because they couldn’t find someone to succeed John Nathan-Turner as producer.

Fear not Rhys, there are loads of people who can do better, many of whom are on here
In all seriousness though, if i did ever leave, they'd be foolish to just replace me with an ordinary tv producer. You have to 'feel' the show, love it, know it, be one of 'us', if that makes sense. You either have the game and show coursing your veins or you don't. It's different from almost all the others things out there. I'm 53 and was toying with calling it a day at 55, so who knows. It's not a job, it's a way of life really and i'd miss it too much at the moment, but who knows?
Also, i get married in April, so i'll need to keep working to help towards the plastic surgery bills.

[Philip A]

Also, i get married in April, so i'll need to keep working to help towards the plastic surgery bills.

Good luck with the wedding!

[Fiona T]

There is a huge iceberg coming down the road in this situation, which is when Damian stops producing it - they’d better have a successor in place, or else it’ll suffer the fate Doctor Who did in 1989, when it was only eventually cancelled because they couldn’t find someone to succeed John Nathan-Turner as producer.

Fear not Rhys, there are loads of people who can do better, many of whom are on here
In all seriousness though, if i did ever leave, they'd be foolish to just replace me with an ordinary tv producer. You have to 'feel' the show, love it, know it, be one of 'us', if that makes sense. You either have the game and show coursing your veins or you don't. It's different from almost all the others things out there. I'm 53 and was toying with calling it a day at 55, so who knows. It's not a job, it's a way of life really and i'd miss it too much at the moment, but who knows?
Also, i get married in April, so i'll need to keep working to help towards the plastic surgery bills.

Oh congrats!!! Great news!

[Steve Hyde]

Also, i get married in April, so i'll need to keep working to help towards the plastic surgery bills.

Congratulations!

[Gavin Chipper]

I know we're supposed to hate each other but congratulations.

[Rhys Benjamin]

There is a huge iceberg coming down the road in this situation, which is when Damian stops producing it - they’d better have a successor in place, or else it’ll suffer the fate Doctor Who did in 1989, when it was only eventually cancelled because they couldn’t find someone to succeed John Nathan-Turner as producer.

Fear not Rhys, there are loads of people who can do better, many of whom are on here
In all seriousness though, if i did ever leave, they'd be foolish to just replace me with an ordinary tv producer. You have to 'feel' the show, love it, know it, be one of 'us', if that makes sense. You either have the game and show coursing your veins or you don't. It's different from almost all the others things out there. I'm 53 and was toying with calling it a day at 55, so who knows. It's not a job, it's a way of life really and i'd miss it too much at the moment, but who knows?
Also, i get married in April, so i'll need to keep working to help towards the plastic surgery bills.

Exactly - finding someone to produce the show after you will be tough for all the reasons you mention. (Edit: if I lose my job at the general election, I will duly write in...)

Add my congrats on the wedding.

[JackHurst]

Also, i get married in April, so i'll need to keep working to help towards the plastic surgery bills.

TTT
FACTFILE : Stare at the elevator, it makes you look better.

[Tracey Anne Mills]

Also, i get married in April, so i'll need to keep working to help towards the plastic surgery bills.

Congratulations!

Best of Luck !

[Countdown Team]

Thanks everyone

[Philip A]

Prediction: Colin Murray will be host by 2040. A fine presenter who’s getting better all the time.

[Gavin Chipper]

He's already host, so yes he made it to being host by 2040!