Countdown
Debut: January 01, 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 sixty-seven series have been broadcast since its debut on 2 November 1982. With over 5,000 episodes, it 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 is recorded at the Granada Studios, after moving from The Leeds Studios in 2009. In 2013, the show was moved over to MediaCityUK in Salford. The programme was presented by Richard Whiteley for over twenty years, until his death in June 2005. His position was taken over by Des Lynam, who retired from the show in December 2006 and was replaced by Des O'Connor on 2 January 2007. Carol Vorderman, the show's co-host, who had been on the programme since it began, left the show in December 2008. From 2009, Jeff Stelling and Rachel Riley replaced O'Connor and Vorderman respectively. In May 2011, Stelling announced that he would leave the programme at the end of 2011. On 9 January 2012, Nick Hewer presented his first edition of Countdown.

Intros
Posters
Quotes
Contestant: "I'll have a consonant please Carol. -Contestant"
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload Dismiss