c4countdown

I thought I might start a thread about this, because they can be hard to catch. There was one on last week, and I think tonight as well, but I'll catch that on All4.

I've not been keeping up to date with this, but on All 4 (the Channel 4 catch-up thing) the new episodes available are series 14, episodes 2-4 (25/8/17, 1/9/17 and 15/9/17).

Since I'm the main person doing the recapping on the Apterous Wiki and I'm on the forum here there's one coming up next Friday on 19 January 2018 at 9pm!

There was also a Christmas special, which is still on All 4.

Series 16 is coming your way from 13 July 2018. From yours truly..JImmy Carr will not be hosting the first episode, Katherine Ryan will!

While you're all busy watching CoCXV, you can take a mental break by watching Series 17 from 11 January 2019 onwards!

There was a Christmas special as well, presumably still online.

Wow, am I dreaming, Catsdown has started using the ODO (At LONG, LONG last!!!), Come to think of it, maybe this is why Sean could safely go for STRAFED and GUILE.

There's a new series starting today at 9:00.

Christmas special on in a minute.

A new series started yesterday. The longest pregnancy in history has kicked back into action.

Found it quite an enjoyable episode tbh in general. Some of the players on Catsdown are definitely better than some we see on the normal show. I reckon Jon Richardson would stand a good chance of becoming an octochamp if he was on the standard variant. Other decent players I can think of are Victoria Coren Mitchell, Alan Carr, Katherine Ryan and Sean Lock (who seems a little inconsistent, but has come up with some nice words in the past)....

Their CD ability seems decent, but I've always found the show too slow-paced. A few more rounds would make the comedy feel less forced.

Paul Anderson wrote: ↑Sun Aug 02, 2020 10:48 am Their CD ability seems decent, but I've always found the show too slow-paced. A few more rounds would make the comedy feel less forced.

Inclined to agree- I think they spend too much time at the beginning talking to the players.

Aye and not enough doing just that on the real show.

Paul Anderson wrote: ↑Mon Aug 03, 2020 10:16 am Aye and not enough doing just that on the real show.

Indeed, that is something Nick isn't very good at, he is always interrupting, presumably because he thinks he has time constraints, in which case he could cut out some of his one weird anecdotes!

It looked like a pre-pregnancy Rachel in last week's episode so they might have found one that they forgot to show previously lying around the studio floor. It will be interesting to see what happens this week.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 7:10 pm It looked like a pre-pregnancy Rachel in last week's episode so they might have found one that they forgot to show previously lying around the studio floor. It will be interesting to see what happens this week.

I read some stuff online saying there was something controversial about it, hence why it was left for a while...

There's a new series just started on Thursday.

Rachel was back to being pregnant on Thursday. Also Paul Foot is a good player.

The couple of new episodes this week have been hilarious.

Also the regular players are getting better which I guess is not unexpected but still good to see.

Last Friday's episode was presumably Sean Lock's last and also filmed earlier than the others as Rachel was suddenly not (noticeably) pregnant.

By the way I thought Mr Swallow's card weighing trick (he could tell how many cards he has in his hand by how heavy it feels) was legitimate at first. He's previously done other stuff like memorising a pack of cards. But when he picked up Jon Richardson twice, once with cards in Jon's pocket and once without, and correctly said how many cards there were based on the weight difference, that was definitely bullshit and casts doubt on the original claim.

A new series started last week I think. I haven't watched the first episode yet though.

There was a Christmas special and it looks like a new series starting tonight at 9. Series 24 it seems.

Congrats for winning the best panel show at the National Comedy Awards 2023

Series 24 seems to have stalled after one episode.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 12:40 pm Series 24 seems to have stalled after one episode.

Some series do stop midway through, or delay transmission of episodes. Some recordings are shelved for more than a year or even two years. Have viewers been switching off?

So what’s the future of Catsdown, then? Still no resumption of last series and AFAIK no indication. Are they even going to make it anymore?

They filmed some last month and they’re also filming on 2nd and 8th August too so I guess there’ll be plenty more to come

Well… https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/catsdoesc ... ause-may24

Deadline adds: "Deadline understands that talent availability plays a factor in filming and Cats Does Countdown has always been ordered ad hoc but sources tell us they feel the delay is a reflection of Channel 4's continued grapple with the ongoing slowdown and attempts to further spread out its shows across the schedule."

This is gibberish.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 1:07 pm

Deadline adds: "Deadline understands that talent availability plays a factor in filming and Cats Does Countdown has always been ordered ad hoc but sources tell us they feel the delay is a reflection of Channel 4's continued grapple with the ongoing slowdown and attempts to further spread out its shows across the schedule."

This is gibberish.

Probably one of the least expensive studio shows to make

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 4:09 am

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 1:07 pm

Deadline adds: "Deadline understands that talent availability plays a factor in filming and Cats Does Countdown has always been ordered ad hoc but sources tell us they feel the delay is a reflection of Channel 4's continued grapple with the ongoing slowdown and attempts to further spread out its shows across the schedule."

This is gibberish.

Probably one of the least expensive studio shows to make

Not necessarily; audience, more lighting, prizes, flamethrowers plus a full line up of professional comedians and stunt performers. Anyway production has paused and no new episodes will be made in 2024.

Catsdown is taking a break.

I am curious ... do people like this show more than the original ? I am not a fan of the slapstick comedy, to be honest.

New episodes from 19th July.

Philip A wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 8:17 am New episodes from 19th July.

Which is tonight!

At least they’ve brought back the audience in full.

Last Friday's edition was criticised by fans for it being a old episode shelved for over 2 years, as it had no visible audience and featured Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon in place of then-pregnant Rachel Riley. So it looked as if it was a repeat, but is wasn't.

Watching the 24th Jan episode... sorry, I know it's only Catsdown but PENISROTA is a bs conundrum. What if Big Zuu had whipped ISOPTERAN out of the bag, what then?!

Steve Hyde wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:02 am Watching the 24th Jan episode... sorry, I know it's only Catsdown but PENISROTA is a bs conundrum. What if Big Zuu had whipped ISOPTERAN out of the bag, what then?!

They probably would have accepted it, like House of Games does when there are two answers.

Oh dear, the 7th Feb episode consolidated to just 647,000 viewers. That must be the lowest ratings ever for Catsdown. The show’s ran out of steam.

What's a normal figure? Also 7th Feb was a "best bits" which are generally a bit shite.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 11:28 pm What's a normal figure? Also 7th Feb was a "best bits" which are generally a bit shite.

1 million, normally. But yes, clip episodes are boring.

New series will be recorded in March 2025 with a big studio audience. Hopefully they’ll be released in under 12 months this time.

New series starts 25th July. https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/datesconfirmed-1925july25

Anyone watch the new episode? I don't think the contestant audition process is quite as rigorous as for regular Countdown

Watched it now. I agree. But things should improve assuming Jon Richardson returns.

Steve Hyde wrote: ↑Sun Jul 27, 2025 11:16 pm Anyone watch the new episode? I don't think the contestant audition process is quite as rigorous as for regular Countdown

One can only wonder if the staff just looks for those who are available on the day of filming...

Ryan Lam wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 1:45 am

Steve Hyde wrote: ↑Sun Jul 27, 2025 11:16 pm Anyone watch the new episode? I don't think the contestant audition process is quite as rigorous as for regular Countdown

One can only wonder if the staff just looks for those who are available on the day of filming...

Catsdown’s not really about comedians being good at Countdown. It’s more for comedic effect, as a way of giving Countdown wider appeal. It’s deliberately silly and it’s not really aimed at the likes of us.

Also, to comment on another post: I think it’s just guest captains now. Jon Richardson divorced last year and has since been focusing on other projects, so he won’t be on Catsdown as often as he used to (he’s not back next week).

At least the show is now more current, because these episodes were recorded this year. In 2024 they paused production.

Philip A wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 7:11 am Also, to comment on another post: I think it’s just guest captains now. Jon Richardson divorced last year and has since been focusing on other projects, so he won’t be on Catsdown as often as he used to (he’s not back next week).

If you'd noticed, the term "Guest" was dropped already. It's a strong hint Jon may no longer be considered a regular anymore, we shall see if this continues for Christmas and next year.

First show of the current series was Channel 4’s third most watched programme of the week, apparently. Over 1 million viewers have seen it.

Ryan Lam wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 12:39 pm

Philip A wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 7:11 am Also, to comment on another post: I think it’s just guest captains now. Jon Richardson divorced last year and has since been focusing on other projects, so he won’t be on Catsdown as often as he used to (he’s not back next week).

If you'd noticed, the term "Guest" was dropped already. It's a strong hint Jon may no longer be considered a regular anymore, we shall see if this continues for Christmas and next year.

He said he was quitting comedy to do teaching I think, but hedged his bets by announcing it on April Fools' Day.

Philip A wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 1:41 pm First show of the current series was Channel 4’s third most watched programme of the week, apparently. Over 1 million viewers have seen it.

So the previous low figures were just because it was a clips show then!

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 1:47 pm

Philip A wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 1:41 pm First show of the current series was Channel 4’s third most watched programme of the week, apparently. Over 1 million viewers have seen it.

So the previous low figures were just because it was a clips show then!

Yep. Clip episodes are exactly the sort of programmes that make you switch the telly off in a matter of seconds, just like the annoying Bargain Hunt compilations.

They should be banned TBH. At least repeats are typically on at a different time slot (e.g. 10 pm).

Obviously it's merely a vehicle for sketch comedy. But I saw one of these the other day and was absolutely floored by one thing - they've done 28 series of this? 28???? Cripes.

It's a lot. But I'm not sure how many episodes each series has. You often get a few shows and then it disappears for a bit and then randomly, comes back again. Also episodes that are shown close together as part of the "same series" are sometimes clearly filmed quite a long way apart. So what I'm saying is that I don't know how they are defining series here and what's the average number of episodes per series.

Even so, that's amazing.longevity for what was only ever a gimmick.

Yeah it’s had an incredible run, and much better than the typical celebrity versions of all these quiz shows. I think what makes Catsdown a success for Channel 4 is the professional comedian line-up. I remember the 2012 pilot was originally part of Channel 4’s mash-up day of programmes (I remember Million Pound Drop mashing another show but I forget which one) and then they did another pilot, before settling on having teams of two for a full series. Cats tried Deal Or No Deal in 2013 but preferred Countdown.

Also at least you’ve got a big studio audience, which daytime Countdown no longer has, so it’s no surprise it’s more popular.

Oh, and still far funnier than Mrs Brown’s Boys.