Countdowners in the news

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.
Marc Meakin
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Re: Countdowners in the news

Post by Marc Meakin »

Marc Meakin wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 10:59 pm Also was on News at 10 tonight or so I believe as I'm not home yet
My boss said he saw me on News at 10 last Night.
I was trying to find it online but I will have to download it at home unless anyone here is clever enough to upload it here 🙏
GR MSL GNDT MSS NGVWL SRND NNLYC NNCT
Philip A
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Re: Countdowners in the news

Post by Philip A »

First ever quadriplegic to appear on Countdown (contains spoilers). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9841gpmqm0o
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Martin Hurst
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Re: Countdowners in the news

Post by Martin Hurst »

Day 1 of the John Cowen court hearing:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ntion.html

(apologies for using the Daily Fail as the main link, but it is the most comprehensive report amongst many I have seen)

A couple of alternative links:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj072jg59m0o
https://news.sky.com/story/former-count ... s-13428217
Fiona T
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Re: Countdowners in the news

Post by Fiona T »

It's all done. Not a trial as such. BBC article here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj072jg59m0o

"Judge Guy Mathieson said he had ruled Cowen unfit to stand trial and told jurors to instead determine the facts of what had happened. They found he had committed assault and had been in possession of a knife in a public place."

Sentencing is 30 September.
Martin Hurst
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Re: Countdowners in the news

Post by Martin Hurst »

Series 66 contestant James Belshaw admits cheating in his audition to get on the show (not totally sure how this makes the news, but there you go!!!):

https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-ra ... -backfired
Philip A
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Re: Countdowners in the news

Post by Philip A »

Martin Hurst wrote: Fri Sep 12, 2025 12:38 am Series 66 contestant James Belshaw admits cheating in his audition to get on the show (not totally sure how this makes the news, but there you go!!!):

https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-ra ... -backfired
AFAIK they stopped phone auditions for this reason. When I did a phone audition in 2017 I have always thought since then it was flawed. Surely it’s much better to do video conferences (which I think is what they do now?) because the casting team can actually detect cheating, and you can actually see the candidate.

It’s clearly working because they rarely have contestants that make you think how they passed now. The first half of Series 92 has had no scores below 30.

I think most quiz shows ask you to film yourself, to help the casting team filter out auditionees to determine suitability for the programme.
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Conor
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Re: Countdowners in the news

Post by Conor »

Martin Hurst wrote: Fri Sep 12, 2025 12:38 am Series 66 contestant James Belshaw admits cheating in his audition to get on the show (not totally sure how this makes the news, but there you go!!!):

https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-ra ... -backfired
Nice to see he got crushed, RIP Peter Lee.
Gavin Chipper
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Re: Countdowners in the news

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Just looked him up on the wiki. Article says he was on in 2005, but it was actually 2012.
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Rhys Benjamin
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Re: Countdowners in the news

Post by Rhys Benjamin »

Martin Hurst wrote: Wed Sep 10, 2025 11:35 pm Day 1 of the John Cowen court hearing:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ntion.html

(apologies for using the Daily Fail as the main link, but it is the most comprehensive report amongst many I have seen)

A couple of alternative links:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj072jg59m0o
https://news.sky.com/story/former-count ... s-13428217
We should all be glad to see this matter has been dealt with fairly swiftly.
The forum's resident JAILBAKER, who has SPONDERED several times...
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