I'm not a regular Countdown viewer. Why would I know it?

Because it's been like that since the beginning of this version as well.

And do they give the scoring system at the start of every show?

How many times have they had a impossible target? Twice?
So I didn't pick up on it.

Just surprised you didn't that's all because they've awarded 7 points a few times now because they always award 7 points to the closest to the target by 5.

I watched an old episode the other night which featured Vic Reeves in dictionary corner.

Jimmy asked if he had made up any words and Vic went on to tell an anecdote about his wife making up words when dealing with their kids.


I was surprised that Reeves, Carr or one of the others didn't give a mention to two very famous made up words.

Iranu and Uvavu.


Maybe Bob or someone else invented then and he didn't want to take the credit.

Back on this Friday (5th September) at 9pm. It's the first of three new episodes.

Guests are David Mitchell and Roisin Conaty with Phill Jupitus in dictionary corner.

Unfortunately, Joe Wilkinson is still there

He's not 'helping' in the second episode, according to this: http://digiguide.tv/programme-detail...own/Quiz+Show/

C4's 80s Night is back too by the looks of it, with the final episode being an '80s special'.

nice. new series of would i lie to you coming soon too i think.

I can only think he's been given some kind of contract with C4 or with the production company that makes the show.

I can't honestly see any logical reason why he continues to be included in that show. I fully appreciate that comedy is subjective and they probably think his contributions are funny but it really spoils the entire flow of the show for me.

Still, at least that's what Sky Plus is for I suppose ..

But for the last time though. On Friday 12th:

Jimmy Carr hosts the comedy panel show's version of the famous quiz, with team captains Sean Lock and Jon Richardson joined by guests David Baddiel and Trevor Noah. Countdown regular Susie Dent is in Dictionary Corner with Joey Essex, while maths expert Rachel Riley provides the letters and numbers with help from Alex Horne and the Horne Section.

Let's hope it's his last time, can't see any details about the guests for the third episode.

Maybe he's in the first episode so they can give him some kind of send-off.

Joey Essex in Dictionary corner
Bring back Joe Wilkinson, all is forgiven!

Oh, FFS! What will he pretend to be too thick to understand this time? Any number higher than 3? What a vowel is?

Whatever it is, the morons will lap it up. 'He can't tell the time! LOL!!1!!'

He was pretending?

To be fair Danny Dyer was quite funny when he was in there.

who was pretending?

Joey Essex apparently.

What the actual f***?

But I've learnt something new today - I never knew he could read.

He was funny, the bit about the cats making his nerves bad made me laugh!

The previous series was originally going to be 6 episodes but they tagged on filming for another 2 episodes but only broadcast 7 of those. They film two episodes per evening so the first episode this time would have been filmed the same day as episode 7 from the last series. Then episode 2 and 3 this time would have filmed the same evening on a later date so if Joe's missing from episode 2 he's unlikely to appear in episode 3, unless he got on the wrong train or something and Alex Horne had arrived early for the second filming.

I'm sure (though I'm not at home to check) that my Sky+ (or the TV mag) said this Friday was episode 1 of 10.

Anyway, not a great fan of Joe Wilkinson but could be worse, they could have Joey Es........oh, they do have Joey Essex on there. Would rather they have Postman Pat than him. No, I'm not joking.

Oh and good to see David Baddiel on there, I quite like him to be honest, but maybe that's more because he did Three Lions and Three Lions 98. Got no problem with Alex Horne and the Horne Section being on though, quite enjoyed them on the show in the past.

I've been a casual viewer of Countdown for years and I've never known there be an impossible solution. I always thought the target number was achievable.

Apparently, Joe has a regular gig on the new version of Celebrity Squares starting next week and maybe there was recording conflicts & with CS being his first job (AFAIK) on primetime ITV, he decided to inflict himself on a new set of network executives, advertisers and viewers.
I'm sure Rachel's pleased for him...

Forgive my ignorance but who the hell is Joey Essex?

Click me

Has Phil Jupitus ever said or done anything remotely funny?