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Fun Facts
Since 1982, the Countdown clock music has played over
27,000 times...
Carol Vorderman has chosen over 70,000 letters for the contestants, and the word 'conundrum' has featured as the Conundrum on at least one occasion. Here are some more Countdown facts:
27,000 times...
Carol Vorderman has chosen over 70,000 letters for the contestants, and the word 'conundrum' has featured as the Conundrum on at least one occasion. Here are some more Countdown facts:
Harvey Freeman was the ultimate Countdowner – undefeated after nineteen games.
One of the most extraordinary 9-letter words ever was myoglobin – a red protein which stores oxygen in muscle cells – which Scotsman Michael Calder got in the first round of his series final (he went on to become the champion).
James Squires was only eight years old when he became a Countdown winner and Bertha Bourne was 87 when she had her moment of glory in 1993.
Some of today's contestants weren't even born when the first Countdown was broadcast; and its producer, Michael Wylie, began his Countdown career as a contestant in the very first series when he lost in the final. He became producer in 1995.
Carol Vorderman once sang in a group called Dawn Chorus and the Blue Tits alongside radio DJ Liz Kershaw.
Countdown was honoured in July 2004 with a House of Commons reception in recognition of the series' contribution to promoting literacy and numeracy.
Countdown was voted Channel 4's Best Show of All Time by viewers in a 2003 poll published in the Radio Times.
Almost every day that Countdown is on, a lady called Viv rings up to tell the team, round by round, the words she got and how she solved the numbers.
One of the most extraordinary 9-letter words ever was myoglobin – a red protein which stores oxygen in muscle cells – which Scotsman Michael Calder got in the first round of his series final (he went on to become the champion).
James Squires was only eight years old when he became a Countdown winner and Bertha Bourne was 87 when she had her moment of glory in 1993.
Some of today's contestants weren't even born when the first Countdown was broadcast; and its producer, Michael Wylie, began his Countdown career as a contestant in the very first series when he lost in the final. He became producer in 1995.
Carol Vorderman once sang in a group called Dawn Chorus and the Blue Tits alongside radio DJ Liz Kershaw.
Countdown was honoured in July 2004 with a House of Commons reception in recognition of the series' contribution to promoting literacy and numeracy.
Countdown was voted Channel 4's Best Show of All Time by viewers in a 2003 poll published in the Radio Times.
Almost every day that Countdown is on, a lady called Viv rings up to tell the team, round by round, the words she got and how she solved the numbers.
