Countdown in the news

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:11 pm

For those who are interested...

Some soundbites from Jeff Stelling: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... 4842451.jp

Sun hack makes up a story about Carol Vorderman: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sh ... 098007.ece

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:18 pm

Cheers for these, always amuses me how utterly wrong the tabloids manage to be about everything.

Jeff has just finished filming his first three-week block of episodes as the latest host of Channel 4's Leeds-based words and numbers quiz, Countdown.

Stretching the definition of "just"...

If you listen to the audio interview, Jeff definitely suggests that Chris Kamara might be a guest at some point. Which I think would awesome.

Lucy Gowers · Post by **Lucy Gowers** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:23 pm

Jennifer Turner wrote:For those who are interested...

Some soundbites from Jeff Stelling: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... 4842451.jp

Sun hack makes up a story about Carol Vorderman: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sh ... 098007.ece

I enjoyed 'The Curse of Carol' in The Star: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/64344

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:41 pm

The new issue of Radio Times features Jeff Stelling in the 'One Final Question' feature.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:42 pm

How the hell would "SLOBLOCK HALL" be a dig at TV chiefs anyway? I'm confused

Matthew Green · Post by **Matthew Green** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:35 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:If you listen to the audio interview, Jeff definitely suggests that Chris Kamara might be a guest at some point. Which I think would awesome.

It wouldnt just be awesome, it would be unbelievable Charlie.

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:09 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:The new issue of Radio Times features Jeff Stelling in the 'One Final Question' feature.

You beat me to it, Phil. Tried to find it online on their website to post here, but it's not up. However, did come across this, which was all I knew about JS prior to him getting the Countdown gig. http://www.radiotimes.com/content/featu ... turday/01/

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:30 pm

Edited highlights of the Radio Times piece can be found in this Press Association article, which has been widely rehashed on the web and in the press: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... iIgKNnv11g

And here's a follow-up to the Sloblock item with a quote from Carol's agent, John Miles, which seems to suggest that the story wasn't entirely made up, but that Carol probably wasn't serious about calling her house Sloblock Hall: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage ... ticle.html

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:58 pm

Cameron (her 11 year old son) gave me his address as 'Sloblock Hall'.

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:08 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:Cameron (her 11 year old son) gave me his address as 'Sloblock Hall'.

who's 11 year old son?

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:30 pm

Eoin.V.Monaghan wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:Cameron (her 11 year old son) gave me his address as 'Sloblock Hall'.
who's 11 year old son?

Um, Carol's?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:14 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Eoin.V.Monaghan wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:Cameron (her 11 year old son) gave me his address as 'Sloblock Hall'.
who's 11 year old son?
Um, Carol's?

Also I think you meant "whose".

Howard Somerset · Post by **Howard Somerset** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:08 am

googling "sloblock hall" certainly gives numerous references to Carol's home.

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:55 am

Howard Somerset wrote:googling "sloblock hall" certainly gives numerous references to Carol's home.

And all of them derived from the Sun's original story.

Meanwhile, there's a bit about Rachel Riley toward the bottom of this page: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... nsult.html

Malcolm James · Post by **Malcolm James** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:26 am

As a humble viewer with no inside knowledge I'm a bit puzzled about these 'Rachel Struggles' stories. She's only called upon to demonstrate the answer when the contestants have failed to hit the target exactly and, given the standard of contestants in the CoC, that is only likely to occur either when the solution is difficult or the target is impossible. In some ways it might have been easier for Rachel to start in normal heats with nervous contestants screwing up and lobbing her a few soft balls.

Kevin Thurlow · Post by **Kevin Thurlow** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:10 pm

The comments after the report on

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage ... ticle.html

are just like the spoof ones Private Eye does, and equally funny.

I'm a bit puzzled by the attacks on Rachel - even if the reports of problems are true, she has only just started and getting used to a new job can take a while, no matter how good you are.

Kevin

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:34 pm

Kevin Thurlow wrote:I'm a bit puzzled by the attacks on Rachel - even if the reports of problems are true, she has only just started and getting used to a new job can take a while, no matter how good you are.

Yeah, but it's a £100k job (and, let's face it, she'll be set for life from this) for what seems like not very much work. Add to this the fact few people will probably appreciate the unusualness of the CoC (and that people probably don't realise that Carol was hardly perfect) and it's not really that surprising.

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:50 am

The Mirror interviews Jeff Stelling: http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/200 ... -21023838/

The Sun also has a piece today which tells us nothing we didn't already know, though it does have a photo I haven't seen before: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sh ... 108194.ece

And the Hartlepool Mail, for which Jeff Stelling once worked, talks to... Kate Horton! Star power, there: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Co ... 4847390.jp

Rosemary Roberts · Post by **Rosemary Roberts** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:49 am

Michael Wallace wrote: ... few people will probably appreciate the unusualness of the CoC

I haven't seen any of the CoC yet, of course, but I would have expected it to be unusual in that Rachel had very little to do: were there really doable numbers games that the champions didn't get?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:26 pm

Rosemary Roberts wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote: ... few people will probably appreciate the unusualness of the CoC
I haven't seen any of the CoC yet, of course, but I would have expected it to be unusual in that Rachel had very little to do: were there really doable numbers games that the champions didn't get?

Yep.

Ray Folwell · Post by **Ray Folwell** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:33 pm

Rosemary Roberts wrote:I would have expected it to be unusual in that Rachel had very little to do: were there really doable numbers games that the champions didn't get?

Don't forget that Rachel has to work through the contestants solution and work out out the intermediate values.
Some of these could be quite tricky.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:16 pm

Rosemary Roberts wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote: ... few people will probably appreciate the unusualness of the CoC
I haven't seen any of the CoC yet, of course, but I would have expected it to be unusual in that Rachel had very little to do: were there really doable numbers games that the champions didn't get?

Not all CofC players would necessarily be brilliant at numbers anyway. As the are more letters games, you often get players who aren't that great at numbers going far.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:06 am

Gavin Chipper wrote:As the are more letters games, you often get players who aren't that great at numbers going far.

Hello!

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:37 am

The Mirror claims an EXCLUSIVE with, er... co-host says people should watch the show. That's an EXCLUSIVE, folks! And that bizarre photo with the end of the letters board airbrushed out returns: http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/200 ... -21027182/

The Daily Mail also came up with a piece on Jeff Stelling (carried in the sports section), though it's largely a rehash of Wednesday's piece in The Mirror: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ordie.html

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:10 pm

From the Essex Echo, Rachel's family count down (do you see what they did there?) to their girl's big TV debut: http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/4033813 ... _TV_debut/

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:48 pm

Metaphorically, Jeff Stelling is Countdown's Drew Carey!

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:16 pm

Jeff Stelling inteviewed in the Northern Echo: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/featur ... New_faces/

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:15 pm

A new face? What? People who have been big fans of Soccer Saturday for years know who he is!

Anyway, allow me to share the similarities between him and Drew Carey.

Just like Drew, he initially turned down the opportunity to host his respective show but he accepted it when he was given a second chance (Jeff on Countdown, Drew on US Price is Right) and just like Drew, he is also a big British football (soccer) fan!

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:28 pm

Northern Echo wrote: “Unquestionably, there’s a core of fans who are absolutely fanatical about [Countdown]. I discovered that in the first few days of recording the show but, by and large, they’re very supportive,” [Jeff] says.

“One guy came up to me, who’d never met me before, and put his arms round me and said ‘thanks for saving our show – I’m not a football fan, I don’t know who you are’. That was quite comforting.

Come on then - which of you was it?

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:36 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Northern Echo wrote: “Unquestionably, there’s a core of fans who are absolutely fanatical about [Countdown]. I discovered that in the first few days of recording the show but, by and large, they’re very supportive,” [Jeff] says.

“One guy came up to me, who’d never met me before, and put his arms round me and said ‘thanks for saving our show – I’m not a football fan, I don’t know who you are’. That was quite comforting.
Come on then - which of you was it?

Joseph Bolas.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:15 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:
Northern Echo wrote:“One guy came up to me, who’d never met me before, and put his arms round me and said ‘thanks for saving our show – I’m not a football fan, I don’t know who you are’. That was quite comforting.
Come on then - which of you was it?
Joseph Bolas.

Nope that's not me.

Jeff has never met me before and most likely, never will.

Chris Corby · Post by **Chris Corby** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:50 am

It wasn't me either as I didn't touch him but I did have a few words with him and Rachel after the first day's filming and said to him "Don't have any doubts about taking this job because you were both absolutely amazing and Countdown for me has scaled new heights." (I only said it because I meant it). Jeff said, beaming, "I am so pleased and relieved to hear you say that, we have had such a fraught and nervous three weeks leading up to this that to hear it went well from your perspective means a lot."

I was also told by a member of the production team that Jeff did more work and research for the show than both of the previous hosts put together.

You will see that like Soccer Saturday, Jeff has stats about the contestants. He actually knows their names and achievements in the show; we'll have to start a new thread for immediate reactions to the first show from 4.15pm onwards, but I will be astonished if the overall impression form this forum and other viewers is not highly favourable.

tonywarren · Post by **tonywarren** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:00 pm

Nor me, but I did get a hug from Rachel,
and I did thank Jeff for doing such a brilliant job. After all if host and hostess are great, then the shows future is assured.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:38 pm

Good!

But Chris, how did you meet Jeff?

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:46 am

From yesterday, the Sunday Mercury has a piece with some quotes from Jeff Stelling: http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainm ... -22664348/

On to today, and The Independent has a big long interview with Jeff Stelling: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media ... 00780.html

While the Guardian puts the Countdown relaunch in context: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/ja ... -countdown

Lucy Gowers · Post by **Lucy Gowers** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:10 am

"It may be Des O'Connor's 77th birthday, but today all eyes will be on Jeff Stelling, the perma-tanned entertainer's tikka-tinged replacement as the host of Countdown..."

From The Guardian's Rumour Mill column. Apparently they're doing a minute by minute report at 3.25pm today.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009 ... in-arsenal

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:14 pm

The BBC asks "what makes a good daytime game show?" - though they clearly haven't noticed that Going For Gold's been revived recently... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7824167.stm

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:27 pm

How ironic that today is Des O'Connor's 77th birthday!

Of course, those articles make sense and they inject a little bit of humor into us as well!

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:59 pm

First reaction comes in... this one is a Press Association piece which is has been picked up by just about everyone, but the first obscure regional churn outlet pulled from the hat o'news is the Flintshire Evening leader... http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/latest-e ... 4867361.jp

And as for what the Daily Mail made of it all... well, it's the Daily Mail... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... ement.html

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:32 pm

Jennifer Turner wrote:And as for what the Daily Mail made of it all... well, it's the Daily Mail... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... ement.html

Awesome stuff from the Mail - "Her first ever numbers game went without a hitch as the contestants were asked to make the number 503 - from a selection including 50, 100 and 3."

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:52 pm

The Daily Fascist gets a bit too graphic:

"When asked how she was feeling Miss Riley gushed"

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:57 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:
Jennifer Turner wrote:And as for what the Daily Mail made of it all... well, it's the Daily Mail... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... ement.html
Awesome stuff from the Mail - "Her first ever numbers game went without a hitch as the contestants were asked to make the number 503 - from a selection including 50, 100 and 3."

You can't help but feel they weren't entirely neutrally-minded when writing that article.

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:24 pm

The Mirror has some voxpops, though their hack seems terribly confused by the whole thing. Apparently the show is recorded at Leeds University, and Stelling provided a "bombardment of football puns" (well, I suppose "pilgrims' progress" qualifies as a pun). And just how do you hang up a marker pen anyway?: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-storie ... -21036380/

Meanwhile, The Telegraph also reviews the show, and at least their TV Features Editor knows the difference between a reference and a pun: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/michael_de ... d_stelling

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:54 pm

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:26 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7824167.stm

One of the comments:

The French had Des Chiffres & Des Lettres, we had Des Lynam & Des O'Connor. Has to be more than coincidence.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:53 pm

What, do they think Desmond is a French name?

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:56 pm

Manchester freesheet "Metro" is staffed by idiots, says person on internet: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.htm ... page_id=34

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:02 pm

Jennifer Turner wrote:Manchester freesheet "Metro" is staffed by idiots, says person on internet: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.htm ... page_id=34

Haha, cheers for this Jennifer, definitely the worst Countdown article I've ever seen.

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:04 pm

That's not the best omen for the new series, is it?

Rosemary Roberts · Post by **Rosemary Roberts** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:22 pm

It's possible that I misheard, but I thought it was the candidate's mistake rather than Rachel's for not specifically saying whether to add or subtract the 6. At this point in the numbers game her job is to write down what she is told - she ought not to be thinking for him/her* or working ahead as Carol sometimes did.

* him/her: see how careful I'm being, guys!

Jason Larsen · Post by **Jason Larsen** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:42 pm

What a relief!

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:16 am

Before the new stuff, a note that the Daily Mail's piece from yesterday has been heavily re-written, to the extent that the original writer's name has been removed from it. It still includes the "100, 50 and 3" blunder, though: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... Fiona.html

Overnight reviews, then...

Sam Wollaston in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/ ... -nights-tv

Andrew Billen in The Times (three stars out of five): http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 504833.ece

Gerard Gilbert in The Independent (also three out of five): http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-enter ... 32011.html

Short review from the Daily Record: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/comment/ne ... -21037276/

Simon Edge in the Daily Express: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/796 ... -Countdown

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:23 am

Rosemary Roberts wrote:It's possible that I misheard, but I thought it was the candidate's mistake rather than Rachel's for not specifically saying whether to add or subtract the 6. At this point in the numbers game her job is to write down what she is told - she ought not to be thinking for him/her* or working ahead as Carol sometimes did.

Indeed. Having reached 560, David said "...and you've got the 6 left over" - he didn't specify what should be done with it. Rachel in her impractical stilettos was by this point having to bend down so far to write that she couldn't glance up at CECIL to remind herself that the target was 554.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:30 am

Jennifer Turner wrote:Overnight reviews, then...

Sam Wollaston in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/ ... -nights-tv

He pinched my anagram!

Does Sam lurk on this board by any chance?

Presumably [Rachel's] job is to attract the lairy lecher, which, incidentally, is an anagram of her name

Lucy Gowers · Post by **Lucy Gowers** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:21 am

I've just seen the overnights. The viewing figure is 1.26m. Does anyone know how this compares to the Lynam/O'Connor debuts?

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:04 pm

1.26 million? With all the publicity, I expected it to break 2m. Des the First's debut got 1.8m including timeshift; Des the Second's debut didn't make the C4 weekly top 30 (neither will Jeff Stelling's, it appears) so BARB doesn't provide a figure for that but it was below 2.18m.

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:19 pm

An opinion piece in the Mirror, bizarre not just for its stereotyping and "alternative" mathematics, but also for the fact that a piece so slight somehow requires an "additional reporting" credit: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-spor ... -21037291/

A better piece from the Yorkshire Post, though the tacked-on facts at the end are a bit out-of-date: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/features ... 4868901.jp

Lucy Gowers · Post by **Lucy Gowers** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:24 pm

Jennifer Turner wrote:1.26 million? With all the publicity, I expected it to break 2m. Des the First's debut got 1.8m including timeshift; Des the Second's debut didn't make the C4 weekly top 30 (neither will Jeff Stelling's, it appears) so BARB doesn't provide a figure for that but it was below 2.18m.

Thanks Jennifer. Surprised that Des I only got 1.8, given his "housewives' favourite" status and the fact that the show had been off air for some months.

He must have been getting well over 2m by Spring 2006 (thanks to the exploits of Conor Travers and the fact that the tabs were running a story a day about the Des/Carol double-act) as I recall Des II being blamed in the papers for "losing" 1m viewers when the show was getting 1.4m in 2007.

Apparently 1.5m watched Alan Titchmarsh yesterday. Why??

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:00 pm

Lucy Gowers wrote:Surprised that Des I only got 1.8, given his "housewives' favourite" status and the fact that the show had been off air for some months.

He must have been getting well over 2m by Spring 2006 (thanks to the exploits of Conor Travers and the fact that the tabs were running a story a day about the Des/Carol double-act) as I recall Des II being blamed in the papers for "losing" 1m viewers when the show was getting 1.4m in 2007.

Apparently not - 2 million would have got Countdown comfortably into the Top 30 throughout that period, but it wasn't showing up on any sort of regular basis, if at all. None of the episodes in the finals week of June 2006 managed the 1.72 million required to make the C4 top thirty that week.

I was amazed to learn that the 2008 average was only 1 million, I had imagined it was about 1.5m. I'm usually the voice of doom on Countdown's ratings, but even I hadn't realised they were quite that low. It certainly puts the recent upheavals in context.

Apparently 1.5m watched Alan Titchmarsh yesterday. Why??

Ah, such are the mysteries of life.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:44 pm

Jennifer Turner wrote:An opinion piece in the Mirror, bizarre not just for its stereotyping and "alternative" mathematics, but also for the fact that a piece so slight somehow requires an "additional reporting" credit: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-spor ... -21037291/

By "alternative mathematics" do you by any chance mean "Riley is earning £100,000 a year, which is £500,000 less than the £800k earned by her predecessor Carol Vorderman"? I'm liking all these 'articles' demonstrating that the people writing them could maybe do with watching a bit more of the show.