Chat Ed : Welcome to this afternoon's COUNTDOWN chat with Richard Whiteley! And here he is!
Richard Whiteley : Hello everybody! Here I am, just having, like you, watched Countdown and I'm ready, sitting here relaxed and happy waiting for whatever you would like to throw at me :)
FireGoddess : Hello Richard!
Carla : Yay, Richard Whiteley is a sex god!
Philginge : Richard... How many times has Carol turned you down ?
Richard Whiteley laughs
Richard Whiteley : We've done over 3,500 shows together so I think you can draw your own conclusions. But to be fair I think she likes me as a Father figure really, I don't think she sees me as a sex object although I think she's fairly mistaken!
von : 'mr whiteley?... whats your favourite word?'
Richard Whiteley : My favourite word is the word “moonset”. We had it on the show once and no one had ever heard of it. Just as you can have a sunset you can have a moonset, it's nice and romantic isn't it? It's a lovely word.
KevinBoyle : How do the two people at the side always come up with the biggest words, are there people backstage with computers, surely it cannot be those two people getting the biggest word every time?
Richard Whiteley : Occasionally they do come up with long words because they are highly intelligent. They do have an earpiece, which is connected to the 2 producers, Damian and Michael, who play the game in the gallery, so they offer those words to them. It's not cheating, but obviously if you think about it you've got to offer the best possible solution that you can otherwise it would be a pretty dull game. The job of those people is to add value with the spin that they put on the words. It's no secret, we've done it for 21 years. We could have Damian and Michael in Dictionary corner but it would be less pretty!
Viewer : If I was winning can I just select 9 consonants and laugh at my opponent?
Richard Whiteley laughs
Richard Whiteley : No you have to have a minimum of 3 vowels.
musicman : Hi Mr Whitely! Is there a word that comes up more often than any others?
FireGoddess : goalies is always on so it leotard!
Richard Whiteley : Yes and it came up this evening. It is the word leotard and it comes up time and time again probably because it does have a lot of common letters in it if you think about it. Yes goalies too!
DF : Some of the dictionary corner guests you have on are brilliant, but every now and then one is awful, like that Irish comedian chap a few weeks ago. Who have been the best and the worst ones?
Richard Whiteley chuckles
Richard Whiteley : I apologise for that! It was my idea! We thought Jason would appeal to our younger audience who like stand-up.
Carla : I missed him, must have been busy giving birth.
Richard Whiteley : Richard Digence was brilliant last time he was on, wonderful poems, he's our flavour of the month. We like people who contribute and don't just come on and sit there, you know - people who bring something to the party. We are always on the look out for new guests, so any suggestions?
Carla : Richard should wear a leotard at xmas in honour of the word
jake2003 : have you ever had any troublesome contestants, for example bad losers who lost their tempers?
Richard Whiteley : Carla - I do! You'll have to take my word for that though ; ) Only very rarely jake, we've had some disappointed losers and I think Nick was fairly disappointed today. Many people are quite relieved to have lost provided they have won a teapot.
vurtX : ozzy osbourne would be a great guest
Jules : If you had another celebrity Countdown, who would you like to see fight it out?!
Richard Whiteley laughs at vurtX, I don't think we have 2 z's in the consonant box! Alastair Campbell and Greg Dyke - that would be fun!
nick : yes or roland rat
timbo : Are you and Carol ever going to take part in the show?
Richard Whiteley : We did have a go on one Christmas Day edition and in a way Carol would always have the advantage because of the numbers game. It was very close, but she did sneak into the lead. Frankly it was very hard and I make no secret of it that I would find it very hard to be a contestant. So I take my hat off to them.
vurtX : have you ever beaten carol at the numbers game?
Nichola : Do you know that many primary schools use the numbers game in their numeracy lessons?
Richard Whiteley : Yes I have and it makes a riveting bit of TV seeing the expression on her face when I can do it and she can't!
Notata Dignum : I do that with my class, the kids love it
Richard Whiteley : Yes I do know that Nichola and we're always hearing how useful it is to teach youngsters to recognise words and numbers. A lot of Mums say that their children first began to do sums through watching Countdown and a lot of schools do play it, they make their own Countdown kits and make it a regular part of lesson. So that's terrific it shows that we do get a very young audience too.
StevePote : Have you watched the original French show and is it as dull as I've heard?
Richard Whiteley chuckles
Richard Whiteley : Yes I have watched it many times, in fact I have been on it! It is quite dull because, for a start, they don't have a celebrity or any humorous banter. They don't have a conundrum and it is, generally speaking, rather more basic, although it is very high tech. They have computer-generated letters and touch screens for working out the numbers. But I think, by and large, our version is a whole lot more fun - also we have a complete programme with a beginning and end whereas they run out of time and start again the next day. However they have been running nearly 40 years, so they must be getting something right!
!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i : If you were in charge of evolution which animal would you make extinct next?
Richard Whiteley laughs
Richard Whiteley : The lesser-spotted leotard! Hahahaha!
Quasi : richard, do you think you will ever be able to do anything but countdown? you have been doing it so long now that I doubt people would try you in any other format of programme
Max : Can you imagine yourself doing something else apart from countdown
Richard Whiteley : Well, I have appeared in many other programmes and I'm doing a series of holiday films for the BBC at the moment. But quite frankly I am associated with Countdown as the host, as you say, and I think it has become sort of 'my' show and I'm very happy with that. There are other shows I could do and who knows, probably will.
Jasper : Have you ever suspected someone might be cheating...those teapots are quite appealing!
Viewer : Have you ever caught anyone cheating (coughs from the audience and all that)?
Richard Whiteley : We've often wondered if it's possible to cheat and I can't really think of a way that they can because there are no questions and it's all so spontaneous. We do get a lot of coughs from the audience but that represents old ladies trying to stay awake :) Some of the audience by the way (and this is a real exclusive!) are often sick in the studio and we have to provide sick bags. It's true!
timbo : Richard who in your opinion is the greatest countdown contestant ever?
Richard Whiteley : The greatest ever is Julian Fell, without doubt. He won the last series in December, he smashed all known records, including getting 4 nine letter words in one game and he is only 18.
FireGoddess : IS it true that you make all the old grannies run around changing seats and cardigans so it looks like you have a different audience in when filming blocks of shows?
Richard Whiteley : Yes that is true but only on the first two rows. Mind you they like because it's gives them a bit of exercise otherwise they get terribly numb bums. By the way in the evenings we have a lot younger audience, lots of students who are up for a good time. You are all welcome to come along, tickets are available from Countdown Tickets, Yorkshire TV, Leeds, LS3 1JS - there is a 2 year waiting list for bus trips, but for those of you who can make it there yourselves you will have a better chance! Or you can ring Paula in the Countdown office on 0113 222 8455.
Carla : Is there a bar?
Carla : Perhaps the old ladies go for free beer
FireGoddess : free beer?
nick : susie dent is so lovely
Oi E NO! : Are you ever going to do a Travelling Countdown, you could visit unis and such
Richard Whiteley : They get a cup of tea for which they are very grateful!
paul taylor : and a biscuit?
Richard Whiteley : Yes, I have thought of that and if people thought it was a good idea I would very much like to do it, would you come along and what time of day would you like it?
FireGoddess : I would so defintely go to travelling countdown!
DF : Aside from the famous one with Gyles Brandreth, are there often rude words that you have to edit out?
Viewer : Does anybody check the cards to minimise the chance of Carol selecting vulgar terms?
Paul-IQ164 : What happens if a contestant finds a long, and acceptable word, but one that is unsuitable for afternoon broadcast?
Richard Whiteley : I know what you're thinking DF, but we let a few in these days, we let the W word go the other day when Christine Hamilton was on. Arse gets through a few times, but we've never actually had the c word or the f word, incredible though that sounds.
Dean : yeah but noone wants a 4 letter word
Richard Whiteley : We will often allow it Paul, e.g. there is a word for lesbians, I can't remember what it is now, but we put it up and we just don't define what it means. Can I ask you guys a question?
Dean : yes
Katie : Yup
Carla : Go ahead
Richard Whiteley : What do you think about the transmission time of Countdown? Is 4:15pm good or would you prefer another time?
Katie : 4.15 is too early
Katie : I'm still at work then
steve : prefer earlier time
Carla : I like the time. I have a cup of tea after getting home from picking the kids up.
Jules : Love it - I sit down with my cup of tea for the first time in the day!
FireGoddess : 4:15 is excellent i get to watch it before i have to make dinner!
Dean : I have to have it recorded, which suits me as I can fast forward the stair lift adverts
Viewer : I'd prefer if it was later - can't work the vid :(
Oi E NO! : get a late night countdown going, instead of some of that other rubbish C4 puts on :)
Richard Whiteley : If it went to an hour earlier what would you think?
Carla : NOOO
ianpowl : too early
Carla : People are picking kids up from school then!
Richard Whiteley : Do you like three quarters of an hour or is that too long?
FireGoddess : Kids wont be able to see it if it is on too early
Katie : That’s fine Richard
timbo : Just right
Carla : I like the longer show
Richard Whiteley : OK, good :)
FireGoddess : the more Countdown there is the better!
Chat Ed : Our half hour with Richard Whiteley is almost up, so last few questions now...
musicman : Do you have a favourite moment/outtake from the show over the years?
Richard Whiteley : The favourite really was when I was Gotcha'd by Noel Edmonds. I was blind to that fact that it was going on - I had no idea until the final conundrum what was happening so I thought that was really funny. There were 9 rounds and 9 gags which just had me completely fooled.
!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i : whats your favourite joke?
Richard Whiteley laughs
Richard Whiteley : Nice of you to acknowledge that I can actually tell a joke! OK…3 dales farmers in a pub at the end of a long day supping their pints, puffing their pipes and sitting there in long silences. From the other end of the village the lowing of a herd of cows can be heard. “Those will be old Ned Thacker's cows”, said one farmer … silence... Eventually...”Nay, they aren't Ned's cows they be old Joe Wainwright's cows” Silence....Eventually the third farmer drains his pint, slams it on the table in the pub and says “Well I'm going home I haven't come here for a ruddy argument!” How's that?
Carla : You get more groans than a porn actor!
Richard Whiteley laughs
Dean : A man walks into a bar and says 'ouch'!
Chat Ed : That's it! Thanks for coming and talking to us Richard Whiteley!
Jules : Have a nice evening Richard - will be watching tomorrow!
timbo : Thanks Rich!!!
Katie : *hugs Richard*
Carla : Byeeeeee Richard sex god
FireGoddess : Goodbye Richard you are a GOD among men!
Web_Wizard : Love to Carol!
Richard Whiteley : Thanks to all and see you tomorrow!
Richard Whiteley leaves the room
