c4countdown

Ben: Actually, you could be right. I don't remember the details, all I know is that they walked out, and I'm pretty sure someone poured water on his head, but I can't recall who! Okay, Wikipedia says "Anderson once had a glass of water poured over his head by a perturbed Richard Branson." Thanks for the correction

I thought that was Jeffrey Archer when Anderson asked him, "Is there no beginning to your talents?".

david dawson wrote:I thought that was Jeffrey Archer when Anderson asked him, "Is there no beginning to your talents?".

I do remember Anderson saying to Archer, "That's the thing about your books - once I put one down I just can't bear to pick it up again."

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Kate Horton wrote:Jon Gaunt

..... I used to vaguely know a Jon Gaunt in Coventry. Wonder who this guy is though? Then I Googled him and - it's the same one. OMG. Except he apparently now has some sort of career as a mouthy bigot ...

no comment!

Looking forward to a refreshingly new guest in the corner today now that the 'mouthy bigot' has gone.

The guests seem to come and go very quickly at the moment.

...and isn't Jerry a a bright spark, a refreshing and pleasant experience. He is relaxed and amenable.

Ian Dent wrote:The guests seem to come and go very quickly at the moment.

The guests have only been doing 4 shows each since Countdown was off for the racing.
I don't know if this is permanent or just to get back to each guest doing the 5 shows from Monday to Friday.
(I presume everyone here realises that each guest = a day's recording)

I have to agree with Brian Blessed! Cracking suggestion.

Also David Tennant, and Kate Humble. They're great ones, there.

I think I'd like to see:

Jon Richardson
Neil Hannon
James May
David O' Doherty

and if we had some form of Time Machine P.G. Wodehouse could have been amazing.

Mike Dunbar wrote:I have to agree with Brian Blessed! Cracking suggestion.

A contestant on last night's Mastermind, having pondered the general knowledge question "In Greek and Roman mythology, who was the muse of dance and lyric poetry?" for a moment and clearly not having a clue, decided to play for laughs and answered brightly "Brian Blessed". Which was nice.

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Mike Dunbar wrote:I have to agree with Brian Blessed! Cracking suggestion.

A contestant on last night's Mastermind, having pondered the general knowledge question "In Greek and Roman mythology, who was the muse of dance and lyric poetry?" for a moment and clearly not having a clue, decided to play for laughs and answered brightly "Brian Blessed". Which was nice.

It might be necessary to swap out DC's mikes for some with lower gain.

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Mike Dunbar wrote:I have to agree with Brian Blessed! Cracking suggestion.

A contestant on last night's Mastermind, having pondered the general knowledge question "In Greek and Roman mythology, who was the muse of dance and lyric poetry?" for a moment and clearly not having a clue, decided to play for laughs and answered brightly "Brian Blessed". Which was nice.

I don't want to derail this in the Blessed direction but I have to make sure everyone's seen this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPIfpp17GsY

Brian Blessed on City Hospital.

Anyway... other good guests this year. Hmm. Tim Vine would be fun. Harry Hill was another cracking suggestion earlier.

Interesting that Christine accused Countdown of not moving with the times. It would have been hard to imagine ten years ago that most of the most popular TV shows in this country star 'real people' - I quite like A Place in the Sun at the moment. Big Brother was probably the first, soon followed by Pop Idol, the X-Factor, Britain's got Talent, etc.

I'm hardly suggesting that Countdown should just drag people off the streets to be guests, but it's nice to see Jerry talking about his own life experiences with a great amount of candour. I don't particularly want to hear guests tell a joke that I first heard 15 years ago; I think Countdown's getting it right with the likes of John Sergeant and Jerry Springer (and anyone else with the initials JS).

Martin Gardner wrote:I'm hardly suggesting that Countdown should just drag people off the streets to be guests, but it's nice to see Jerry talking about his own life experiences with a great amount of candour. I don't particularly want to hear guests tell a joke that I first heard 15 years ago; I think Countdown's getting it right with the likes of John Sergeant and Jerry Springer (and anyone else with the initials JS).

Martin Jarvis hasn't been seen in almost a year, which can only be considered a step in the right direction.

I always remembered seeing Arthur Smith almost all the time.

Looks like Jeff might have used his influence for next week's guest.

Back to the full 5-day week for the guest as well by the way.

Got more great new guests for you in Series 60... They include:
Tim Vine
Martin Lewis (Money Saving Expert)
Steve Davis
Rory McGrath
John Stapleton

And a few old favourites, including:
Barry "the legend" Cryer
Gyles Brandreth (just for Charlie)
Phil Hammond (or stunt double Charlie Reams if Phil is a no-show)

Excellent, is that Steve Davis the snooker and poker player?
I bet he's got a few good anecdotes if it is.

Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:Excellent, is that Steve Davis the snooker and poker player?
I bet he's got a few good anecdotes if it is.

Yes. That Steve Davis. How cool? He was great in studio and really funny. Hope it comes across that way (w/c 11th May)

I'd like to see you in the corner, Kate.

Jon Corby wrote:I'd like to see you in the corner, Kate.

the Naughty Corner?

Mike Dunbar wrote:
I think I'd like to see:

Jon Richardson
Neil Hannon
James May
David O' Doherty

Is that The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon? If so, brilliant idea! I second the motion! As for the list of guests, it sounds like there are good couple of weeks for Dictionary Corner ahead.

Kate Horton wrote:Got more great new guests for you in Series 60... They include:
Tim Vine
Martin Lewis (Money Saving Expert)
Steve Davis
Rory McGrath
John Stapleton
Barry Cryer
Dr Phil

Excellent!

Kate Horton wrote:Gyles Brandreth

Not so excellent!

Kate Horton wrote:

Jon Corby wrote:I'd like to see you in the corner, Kate.

the Naughty Corner?

A Muller Fruit Corner. Mmm. But not a Biopot.

Kate Horton wrote:Steve Davis

Interesting.

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Kate Horton wrote:Steve Davis

Interesting.

I went to see the recording of this, and Steve Davis was pretty much the funniest DC guest I've ever seen.

Ben Hunter wrote:

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Kate Horton wrote:Steve Davis

Interesting.

I went to see the recording of this, and Steve Davis was pretty much the funniest DC guest I've ever seen.

Great, I've seen him on Question of Sport and he was very funny on there. I gather Tim Henman is quite a joker too.

Ben Hunter wrote:

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Kate Horton wrote:Steve Davis

Interesting.

I went to see the recording of this, and Steve Davis was pretty much the funniest DC guest I've ever seen.

Same.

Hannah O wrote:

Mike Dunbar wrote:
I think I'd like to see:

Jon Richardson
Neil Hannon
James May
David O' Doherty

Is that The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon? If so, brilliant idea! I second the motion! As for the list of guests, it sounds like there are good couple of weeks for Dictionary Corner ahead.

It definitely is!!

I imagine he could tell a fair few stories, some of which could appeal to the Father Ted fan in me!

Well I've just seen a hilarious video of him on SMTV in the nineties dressed up as a "stripping vicar".

As you might have read I was on the show when Tim Vine was the guest and he was absolutely fantastic, although before the second recording he managed to trip up on the little board on the floor, which I assume is where the wires are hidden. You know what I mean if you've been a contestant on the show recently.

P.S. I can't wait to see Steve Davis & Rory McGrath on the show!

Kate Horton wrote:Tim Vine

Awesome! Thanks Kate. I can't wait to see this.

Can't wait to see Steve Davis in action, one of the best sports pundits around as well as being the perfect gentleman.

Tim Vine this week..Would he be a relation of Jeremy Vine?
Martin Lewis.. They'll never shut him up..and at least we will hear him Jeremy Vine is always trying to get him to stop shouting.

I'm very disappointed with most of the DC guests there's been since Jeff took over. Maybe Carole V got all the old favourites together (Except Dr. Phil) and made them sign some sort of treaty not to come back?

Looks like old Jeff's getting his way with his old sporting mates turning up more & more often as well!

DC is getting to be a very boring place indeed!

Jennifer McElroy wrote:Tim Vine this week..Would he be a relation of Jeremy Vine?

He is indeed Jeremy's younger brother. They also have a sister, actress and painter Sonya Vine.

David Lloyd was an excellent guest. Jerry Springer was good as well.

The bloke from G4 was dull as a dustbin though.

Ian Dent wrote:The bloke from G4 was dull as a dustbin though.

He was featured on Hell's Kitchen last night as well, and came across as quite the cunt.

Ian Dent wrote:The bloke from G4 was dull as a dustbin though.

I'm sure there are plenty of binmen who'd argue the side of the dustbin.

Tim Vine has plenty of quick gags, and he seems to be popular.
But I'm afraid I think he is beginning to grind me down.

Ralph Gillions wrote:Tim Vine has plenty of quick gags, and he seems to be popular.
But I'm afraid I think he is beginning to grind me down.

A lot of what he says makes me laugh out loud, but the audience doesn't seem to appreciate him very much. Yesterday he wasn't even getting groans.

Rosemary Roberts wrote:

Ralph Gillions wrote:Tim Vine has plenty of quick gags, and he seems to be popular.
But I'm afraid I think he is beginning to grind me down.

A lot of what he says makes me laugh out loud, but the audience doesn't seem to appreciate him very much. Yesterday he wasn't even getting groans.

The groans are reserved for Jeff's jokes!

Rosemary Roberts wrote:

Ralph Gillions wrote:Tim Vine has plenty of quick gags, and he seems to be popular.
But I'm afraid I think he is beginning to grind me down.

A lot of what he says makes me laugh out loud, but the audience doesn't seem to appreciate him very much. Yesterday he wasn't even getting groans.

This might warrant its own thread, but the audiences for Countdown are, by and large, frankly shit. They rarely respond to anything off their own backs and only applaud when instructed to do so, or laugh when they think they should following the punchline of the Dictionary Corner guest's anecdote (and even that isn't a given). Sure, any off-the-cuff "jokes", such as they are, offered by the contestants (or anyone else) aren't going to be particularly LOL funny, it's only Countdown after all, but fucking laugh at them nonetheless even if only out of politeness. You're the audience, it's your job. You haven't paid to get in, play your part. Wankers.

Edit to add that Tim Vine is fucking brilliant.

Jon Corby wrote: Edit to add that Tim Vine is fucking brilliant.

Have to agree with that Jon - He is one of the few DC guests to make me LOL on a regular basis.

I also liked David Lloyd although the audience didn't have a clue what he was on about at times. As a cricket lover he hit the spot for me.

Also agree about the G4 blokey being dull as a dustbin - One for the grannies there.

I am also looking forward to Steve Davis. It is rather difficult for anyone who remembers Steve grinding his opponents into the dust in the 80's without a flicker of emotion, to imagine him as the fun-loving joker that he has become as a snooker pundit. After today's performance on the table he should stick to DC. Shame to see such a great ex champ being trounced so badly.

Allan Harmer wrote:It is rather difficult for anyone who remembers Steve grinding his opponents into the dust in the 80's without a flicker of emotion, to imagine him as the fun-loving joker that he has become as a snooker pundit. After today's performance on the table he should stick to DC. Shame to see such a great ex champ being trounced so badly.

Arse. I've been waiting hours to watch that on the snooker highlights show. Thought I was safe avoiding the snooker thread.

EDIT: don't worry - they didn't even bother showing the highlights on the standard program, so he must have been truly awful. Shame.

Allan Harmer wrote:Also agree about the G4 blokey being dull as a dustbin - One for the grannies there.

Nope, afraid not. Not even grannies who admire handsome young men with brilliant singing voices. My dustbin definitely has the edge.

Allan Harmer wrote:I am also looking forward to Steve Davis. It is rather difficult for anyone who remembers Steve grinding his opponents into the dust in the 80's without a flicker of emotion, to imagine him as the fun-loving joker that he has become as a snooker pundit. After today's performance on the table he should stick to DC. Shame to see such a great ex champ being trounced so badly.

To look on the bright side, he is going to be a great deal better in DC than (say) Ronnie O' Sullivan would be. And I would take either of them over my dustbin any day.

Great, Steve Davis was one of the people I'd mentioned that I would like to see as a guest.

Allan Harmer wrote:I also liked David Lloyd although the audience didn't have a clue what he was on about at times. As a cricket lover he hit the spot for me.

Yeah, I should've mentioned David as well really. I'm not a huge cricket fan (in fact I'm not even a small cricket fan) but I thoroughly enjoyed him.

Jon Corby wrote:

Allan Harmer wrote:I also liked David Lloyd although the audience didn't have a clue what he was on about at times. As a cricket lover he hit the spot for me.

Yeah, I should've mentioned David as well really. I'm not a huge cricket fan (in fact I'm not even a small cricket fan) but I thoroughly enjoyed him.

Ditto. I find pretty much all team-based sport incredibly tedious, but David was a thoroughly entertaining guest and I hope he'll be back. The Flintstones gag is an old one but he timed it brilliantly.

I still think Graeme Garden would be excellent.

John Tuttle wrote:I still think Graeme Garden would be excellent.

...and I agree.

Both as a fan of them and also because I think they'd be good, I wouldn't mind seeing Michael McIntyre or David Mitchell on the show. I reckon McIntyre would be hilarious, if only paired with the rather more reserved (but lovely) Susie.

Maybe this guy should be in dictionary corner - he knows more anecdotes about famous stars and the movies than anyone else in the world, and LOVES to talk about them! http://www.harryfielder.co.uk/

Having seen his performance on HIGNFY, what about having Rolf Harris on

For what it's worth -
Rolf Harris would be alright.
Harry Fielder might be too much of a name-dropper (and we already have Barry Norman to do that.)
I would have to give it a miss if Michael McIntyre came on with his annoying, fake and affected voice.

I'd love for the greggles, Greg Scott, to make a long awaited return to the Countdown set!

morbo!

From today's Metro:

"Steve Jones* has admitted his lust for Countdown girl Rachel Riley - so bosses have offered him the chance to appear in Dictionary Corner . . ."


*This is not the Steve Jones who used to be a TV presenter and quiz show host famous for his colourful glasses who appeared in DC before, but the Channel 4 youth presenter of a young, Welsh, good-looking, celebrity-dating persuasion.

Derek Hazell wrote:From today's Metro:

"Steve Jones* has admitted his lust for Countdown girl Rachel Riley - so bosses have offered him the chance to appear in Dictionary Corner . . ."


*This is not the Steve Jones who used to be a TV presenter and quiz show host famous for his colourful glasses who appeared in DC before, but the Channel 4 youth presenter of a young, Welsh, good-looking, celebrity-dating persuasion.

.... who shagged Pamela Anderson.