
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.
-
Episode 1 - Episode 2038
Release Date: 1997-06-30 -
Episode 2 - Episode 2039
Release Date: 1997-07-01 -
Episode 3 - Episode 2040
Release Date: 1997-07-02 -
Episode 4 - Episode 2041
Release Date: 1997-07-03 -
Episode 5 - Episode 2042
Release Date: 1997-07-04 -
Episode 6 - Episode 2043
Release Date: 1997-07-07 -
Episode 7 - Episode 2044
Release Date: 1997-07-08 -
Episode 8 - Episode 2045
Release Date: 1997-07-09 -
Episode 9 - Episode 2046
Release Date: 1997-07-10 -
Episode 10 - Episode 2047
Release Date: 1997-07-11 -
Episode 11 - Episode 2048
Release Date: 1997-07-14 -
Episode 12 - Episode 2049
Release Date: 1997-07-15 -
Episode 13 - Episode 2050
Release Date: 1997-07-16 -
Episode 14 - Episode 2051
Release Date: 1997-07-17 -
Episode 15 - Episode 2052
Release Date: 1997-07-18 -
Episode 16 - Episode 2053
Release Date: 1997-07-21 -
Episode 17 - Episode 2054
Release Date: 1997-07-22 -
Episode 18 - Episode 2055
Release Date: 1997-07-23 -
Episode 19 - Episode 2056
Release Date: 1997-07-24 -
Episode 20 - Episode 2057
Release Date: 1997-07-25 -
Episode 21 - Episode 2058
Release Date: 1997-07-28 -
Episode 22 - Episode 2059
Release Date: 1997-07-29 -
Episode 23 - Episode 2060
Release Date: 1997-07-30 -
Episode 24 - Episode 2061
Release Date: 1997-07-31 -
Episode 25 - Episode 2062
Release Date: 1997-08-01 -
Episode 26 - Episode 2063
Release Date: 1997-08-04 -
Episode 27 - Episode 2064
Release Date: 1997-08-05 -
Episode 28 - Episode 2065
Release Date: 1997-08-06 -
Episode 29 - Episode 2066
Release Date: 1997-08-07 -
Episode 30 - Episode 2067
Release Date: 1997-08-08 -
Episode 31 - Episode 2068
Release Date: 1997-08-11 -
Episode 32 - Episode 2069
Release Date: 1997-08-12 -
Episode 33 - Episode 2070
Release Date: 1997-08-13 -
Episode 34 - Episode 2071
Release Date: 1997-08-14 -
Episode 35 - Episode 2072
Release Date: 1997-08-15 -
Episode 36 - Episode 2073
Release Date: 1997-08-18 -
Episode 37 - Episode 2074
Release Date: 1997-08-19 -
Episode 38 - Episode 2075
Release Date: 1997-08-20 -
Episode 39 - Episode 2076
Release Date: 1997-08-21 -
Episode 40 - Episode 2077
Release Date: 1997-08-22 -
Episode 41 - Episode 2078
Release Date: 1997-08-25 -
Episode 42 - Episode 2079
Release Date: 1997-08-26 -
Episode 43 - Episode 2080
Release Date: 1997-08-27 -
Episode 44 - Episode 2081
Release Date: 1997-08-28 -
Episode 45 - Episode 2082
Release Date: 1997-08-29 -
Episode 46 - Episode 2083
Release Date: 1997-09-01 -
Episode 47 - Episode 2084
Release Date: 1997-09-02 -
Episode 48 - Episode 2085
Release Date: 1997-09-03 -
Episode 49 - Episode 2086
Release Date: 1997-09-04 -
Episode 50 - Episode 2087
Release Date: 1997-09-05 -
Episode 51 - Episode 2088
Release Date: 1997-09-08 -
Episode 52 - Episode 2089
Release Date: 1997-09-09 -
Episode 53 - Episode 2090
Release Date: 1997-09-10 -
Episode 54 - Episode 2091
Release Date: 1997-09-11 -
Episode 55 - Episode 2092
Release Date: 1997-09-12 -
Episode 56 - Episode 2093
Release Date: 1997-09-15 -
Episode 57 - Episode 2094
Release Date: 1997-09-16 -
Episode 58 - Episode 2095
Release Date: 1997-09-17 -
Episode 59 - Episode 2096
Release Date: 1997-09-18 -
Episode 60 - Episode 2097
Release Date: 1997-09-19 -
Episode 61 - Episode 2098
Release Date: 1997-09-22 -
Episode 62 - Episode 2099
Release Date: 1997-09-23 -
Episode 63 - Episode 2100
Release Date: 1997-09-24 -
Episode 64 - Episode 2101
Release Date: 1997-09-25 -
Episode 65 - Series 36, Grand Final
Release Date: 1997-09-26