
Countdown (1982)
Countdown is a British game show involving word and number puzzles. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on Channel 4. It is presented by Nick Hewer, assisted by Rachel Riley, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and 67 series have been broadcast since its debut on 2 November 1982. With over 5,000 episodes, Countdown is one of the longest-running game shows in the world, along with the original French version, Des chiffres et des lettres, which has been running on French television continuously since 1965. Countdown was initially recorded at The Leeds Studios for 27 years, before moving to Granada Studios in 2009, and then over to MediaCityUK in Salford Quays in 2013. The programme was presented by Richard Whiteley for over 20 years, until his death in June 2005. It was then presented by Des Lynam until the end of 2006, Des O'Connor until the end of 2008, and Jeff Stelling until the end of 2011. The current presenter is Nick Hewer. Carol Vorderman, the show's co-host, who had been on the programme since it began, left the show in December 2008, at the same time as O'Connor. She was replaced by Rachel Riley. A celebrity guest features in every programme, and provides a brief interlude before the first advertisement break. The two contestants in each episode compete in three disciplines: eleven letters rounds, in which the contestants attempt to make the longest word possible from nine randomly chosen letters; three numbers rounds, in which the contestants must use arithmetic to reach a random target number from six other numbers; and the conundrum, a buzzer round in which the contestants compete to solve a nine-letter anagram. During the series heats, the winning contestant returns the next day until he or she loses or has accumulated eight wins. The best contestants are invited back for the series finals, which are decided in knockout format. Contestants of exceptional skill have received national media coverage, and the programme as a whole is widely recognised and parodied within British culture.
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Episode 1 - Episode 1588
Release Date: 1995-01-02 -
Episode 2 - Episode 1589
Release Date: 1995-01-03 -
Episode 3 - Episode 1590
Release Date: 1995-01-04 -
Episode 4 - Episode 1591
Release Date: 1995-01-05 -
Episode 5 - Episode 1592
Release Date: 1995-01-06 -
Episode 6 - Episode 1593
Release Date: 1995-01-09 -
Episode 7 - Episode 1594
Release Date: 1995-01-10 -
Episode 8 - Episode 1595
Release Date: 1995-01-11 -
Episode 9 - Episode 1596
Release Date: 1995-01-12 -
Episode 10 - Episode 1597
Release Date: 1995-01-13 -
Episode 11 - Episode 1598
Release Date: 1995-01-16 -
Episode 12 - Episode 1599
Release Date: 1995-01-17 -
Episode 13 - Episode 1600
Release Date: 1995-01-18 -
Episode 14 - Episode 1601
Release Date: 1995-01-19 -
Episode 15 - Episode 1602
Release Date: 1995-01-20 -
Episode 16 - Episode 1603
Release Date: 1995-01-23 -
Episode 17 - Episode 1604
Release Date: 1995-01-24 -
Episode 18 - Episode 1605
Release Date: 1995-01-25 -
Episode 19 - Episode 1606
Release Date: 1995-01-26 -
Episode 20 - Episode 1607
Release Date: 1995-01-27 -
Episode 21 - Episode 1608
Release Date: 1995-01-30 -
Episode 22 - Episode 1609
Release Date: 1995-01-31 -
Episode 23 - Episode 1610
Release Date: 1995-02-01 -
Episode 24 - Episode 1611
Release Date: 1995-02-02 -
Episode 25 - Episode 1612
Release Date: 1995-02-03 -
Episode 26 - Episode 1613
Release Date: 1995-02-06 -
Episode 27 - Episode 1614
Release Date: 1995-02-07 -
Episode 28 - Episode 1615
Release Date: 1995-02-08 -
Episode 29 - Episode 1616
Release Date: 1995-02-09 -
Episode 30 - Episode 1617
Release Date: 1995-02-10 -
Episode 31 - Episode 1618
Release Date: 1995-02-13 -
Episode 32 - Episode 1619
Release Date: 1995-02-14 -
Episode 33 - Episode 1620
Release Date: 1995-02-15 -
Episode 34 - Episode 1621
Release Date: 1995-02-16 -
Episode 35 - Episode 1622
Release Date: 1995-02-17 -
Episode 36 - Episode 1623
Release Date: 1995-02-20 -
Episode 37 - Episode 1624
Release Date: 1995-02-21 -
Episode 38 - Episode 1625
Release Date: 1995-02-22 -
Episode 39 - Episode 1626
Release Date: 1995-02-23 -
Episode 40 - Episode 1627
Release Date: 1995-02-24 -
Episode 41 - Episode 1628
Release Date: 1995-02-27 -
Episode 42 - Episode 1629
Release Date: 1995-02-28 -
Episode 43 - Episode 1630
Release Date: 1995-03-01 -
Episode 44 - Episode 1631
Release Date: 1995-03-02 -
Episode 45 - Episode 1632
Release Date: 1995-03-03 -
Episode 46 - Episode 1633
Release Date: 1995-03-06 -
Episode 47 - Episode 1634
Release Date: 1995-03-07 -
Episode 48 - Episode 1635
Release Date: 1995-03-08 -
Episode 49 - Episode 1636
Release Date: 1995-03-09 -
Episode 50 - Episode 1637
Release Date: 1995-03-12 -
Episode 51 - Episode 1638
Release Date: 1995-03-13 -
Episode 52 - Episode 1639
Release Date: 1995-03-14 -
Episode 53 - Episode 1640
Release Date: 1995-03-15 -
Episode 54 - Episode 1641
Release Date: 1995-03-16 -
Episode 55 - Episode 1642
Release Date: 1995-03-17 -
Episode 56 - Episode 1643
Release Date: 1995-03-20 -
Episode 57 - Episode 1644
Release Date: 1995-03-21 -
Episode 58 - Episode 1645
Release Date: 1995-03-22 -
Episode 59 - Episode 1646
Release Date: 1995-03-23 -
Episode 60 - Episode 1647
Release Date: 1995-03-24 -
Episode 61 - Episode 1648
Release Date: 1995-03-27 -
Episode 62 - Episode 1649
Release Date: 1995-03-28 -
Episode 63 - Episode 1650
Release Date: 1995-03-29 -
Episode 64 - Episode 1651
Release Date: 1995-03-30 -
Episode 65 - Series 29, Grand Final
Release Date: 1995-03-31