The first programme on Channel 4, Countdown has been appealing to wordsmiths and number-crunchers since 1982.

Since then, the 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.

Some more Countdown facts:

1. ‘Richard’ is not really ‘Richard Whiteley's first name - it's John.

2. The youngest contestant to appear was 8-year-old James Squire, in 1992, and the oldest contestant was 87 year old Bertha Bourne, in 1994.

If you have any comments about the programme please email countdown@channel4.com