Probably the greatest quiz/game/test of intelligence there has ever been on television.
I still miss Richard Whiteley immensely. The epitome of a true Yorkshireman. The playful banter between himself and Carol was wonderful and entirely unforced - they really were friends we’d never met. Carol was tremendously attractive too. I particularly liked it when she wore boots and nonchalantly came up with the answer to a difficult numbers game.
Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner was and still remains the thinking man’s crumpet - and every man who ever watched Countdown is a thinking man.
Guests were always a cut above. From the witty repartee of Gyles Brandreth to the unhinged flair and creativity of Richard Stilgoe, the couple of minutes leading up to the first ad break always raised a smile.
With the almost equally magificent Fifteen-To-One, presented by the calm and authoritataive William G. Stewart preceding it, that hour and bit was both educational and entertaining.
I’ve often toyed with the idea of being a Countdown contestant, right from the days when my national school secretary Greta won three matches in 1989. It still rankles that my record of 96 points in a single 15 round viewing means I still haven’t breached the magical century barrier.
While the programme will never again reach the heights of the Whiteley/Vorderman days, Nick Hewer and Rachel Riley continue this great British mid-afternoon tradition, and long may they do so - I believe the final of the latest series is on tomorrow for those who will have viewing access.
Here’s a sample letters and numbers game to get your mind working.
[quote=“Sidney, post: 876352, member: 183”]Probably the greatest quiz/game/test of intelligence there has ever been on television.
I still miss Richard Whiteley immensely. The epitome of a true Yorkshireman. The playful banter between himself and Carol was wonderful and entirely unforced - they really were friends we’d never met. Carol was tremendously attractive too. I particularly liked it when she wore boots and nonchalantly came up with the answer to a difficult numbers game.
Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner was and still remains the thinking man’s crumpet - and every man who ever watched Countdown is a thinking man.
Guests were always a cut above. From the witty repartee of Gyles Brandreth to the unhinged flair and creativity of Richard Stilgoe, the couple of minutes leading up to the first ad break always raised a smile.
With the almost equally magificent Fifteen-To-One, presented by the calm and authoritataive William G. Stewart preceding it, that hour and bit was both educational and entertaining.
I’ve often toyed with the idea of being a Countdown contestant, right from the days when my national school secretary Greta won three matches in 1989. It still rankles that my record of 96 points in a single 15 round viewing means I still haven’t breached the magical century barrier.
While the programme will never again reach the heights of the Whiteley/Vorderman days, Nick Hewer and Rachel Riley continue this great British mid-afternoon tradition, and long may they do so - I believe the final of the latest series is on tomorrow for those who will have viewing access.
Here’s a sample letters and numbers game to get your mind working.
Letters:
S M T I E G H L A
Numbers:
75 6 9 4 2 7
Target: 873[/quote]
What kind of an Uncle Tom of a dub calls it national school?
