I only used to watch occasionally when Carol was on but did think that after Richard Whiteley's sad death Carol seemed to think it was her show and was too full of her own importance. Since Jeff and Rachel have taken over I am a devoted fan and haven't missed any shows. I think they are ideal and every show is entertaining. Rachel certainly has brains AND beauty.
Countdown - so much better these days!
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Originally Posted by SylviaB:
“I much prefer Rachel than Carol anyday... Carol was too mouthy for my liking!!! I'm sure that when Carol started on Countdown she only did the numbers and someone else did the letters.. if I remember correctly! She was VERY FRUMPY too!!!
She looks younger now than when she started on the show... (it has probably cost her thousands though)!!! 
”
“I much prefer Rachel than Carol anyday... Carol was too mouthy for my liking!!! I'm sure that when Carol started on Countdown she only did the numbers and someone else did the letters.. if I remember correctly! She was VERY FRUMPY too!!!
She looks younger now than when she started on the show... (it has probably cost her thousands though)!!! ”
Meeoooowww
Seriously though I do agree about Carol, I find Rachel much better.
Originally Posted by bripar:
“I only used to watch occasionally when Carol was on but did think that after Richard Whiteley's sad death Carol seemed to think it was her show and was too full of her own importance. Since Jeff and Rachel have taken over I am a devoted fan and haven't missed any shows. I think they are ideal and every show is entertaining. Rachel certainly has brains AND beauty.”
“I only used to watch occasionally when Carol was on but did think that after Richard Whiteley's sad death Carol seemed to think it was her show and was too full of her own importance. Since Jeff and Rachel have taken over I am a devoted fan and haven't missed any shows. I think they are ideal and every show is entertaining. Rachel certainly has brains AND beauty.”
I also watch it every day now or record it to watch later if I am out! It's tons better now and I never liked either Des on the show and disliked Carol once she'd become too full of herself after her makeovers and after Richard's death!
It's much better now with Rachel and the legend Jeff!
Have I totally lost the plot (as in 'can't do arithmetic' 
), or was that last numbers game today easy?
50. 100. 9. 7. 5. 8. to equal 579
Can't believe even Rachel didn't get it.
), or was that last numbers game today easy?50. 100. 9. 7. 5. 8. to equal 579
Spoiler
Can't believe even Rachel didn't get it.
Originally Posted by nelliek:
“Have I totally lost the plot (as in 'can't do arithmetic'), or was that last numbers game today easy?
Can't believe even Rachel didn't get it.”
“Have I totally lost the plot (as in 'can't do arithmetic'
), or was that last numbers game today easy?Can't believe even Rachel didn't get it.
”
Crickey! If it was that straightforward I'm surprised Jeff didn't jump in and solve it!
Originally Posted by SylviaB:
“I also watch it every day now or record it to watch later if I am out! It's tons better now and I never liked either Des on the show and disliked Carol once she'd become too full of herself after her makeovers and after Richard's death!
It's much better now with Rachel and the legend Jeff!”
“I also watch it every day now or record it to watch later if I am out! It's tons better now and I never liked either Des on the show and disliked Carol once she'd become too full of herself after her makeovers and after Richard's death!
It's much better now with Rachel and the legend Jeff!
”
Great thread Sylvia. Yep - didn't used to be fussed if I missed them, now record them every day and it'll be a novelty to actually know everyone in the finals. My 85 year old mother in law has taken to Jeff. She didn't have a clue who he was of course, but wanted to, so decided to sit down and watch him at his "other job" on Soccer Saturday and thought he was great!
Anyone know how it's doing in the ratings? Creeping back up?
Originally Posted by nelliek:
“Have I totally lost the plot (as in 'can't do arithmetic'), or was that last numbers game today easy?
50. 100. 9. 7. 5. 8. to equal 579
Can't believe even Rachel didn't get it.”
“Have I totally lost the plot (as in 'can't do arithmetic'
), or was that last numbers game today easy?50. 100. 9. 7. 5. 8. to equal 579
Spoiler
Can't believe even Rachel didn't get it.
”
Yes, I thought it was easy as well, but I've missed other easy ones before now by going down the wrong track to start with. At least it proves Rachel isn't connected up to someone giving her solutions!
You hit the nail on the head, Carman. 30 secs isn't very long, especially when you're a contestant (or Rachel) under pressure, and once you've started off down the wrong route, there's no time to backtrack and try something else.
I remember a good contestant from a couple of years back who said that either he saw the answer immediately, or not at all.
I remember a good contestant from a couple of years back who said that either he saw the answer immediately, or not at all.
I got that numbers game yesterday as well and it did seem easy - however I can remember getting one or two that Carol Vorderman didn't get, which was always a great thrill!
Originally Posted by 5 a day:
“I am in the minority, but I like Gyles. He has such an affection and enthusiasm for the programme.”
“I am in the minority, but I like Gyles. He has such an affection and enthusiasm for the programme.”
And I thought he said he wouldn't be appearing again due to the way Carol was treated.
Just like he said he wouldn't appear again after Richard died.
The Dictionary Corner guests seem to have improved since the revamp too. Under Des O'Conner's reign it seemed very much like the old boys club.
Originally Posted by LindyLupin:
“Phew, thank goodness the coffee had finally worn off and Gyles was a little less exciteable today. Still leaning over far too much into Susie's personal space, with those starey eyes! Well Hamish seems one to watch; certainly romped through today - shame he didn't get any decent numbers games to get his teeth into.”
“Phew, thank goodness the coffee had finally worn off and Gyles was a little less exciteable today.
Still leaning over far too much into Susie's personal space, with those starey eyes! Well Hamish seems one to watch; certainly romped through today - shame he didn't get any decent numbers games to get his teeth into.”
Hamish comes across as a real character (despite being a Tory!).
Do any of you know if any contestant has got 3 9-letter words before (4 if you include the conundrum!)?
134 must be amongst the highest scores ever!
Originally Posted by Brekkie:
“The Dictionary Corner guests seem to have improved since the revamp too.”
“The Dictionary Corner guests seem to have improved since the revamp too.”
...with the very notable exception of Jonathan Ansell. What a self-centred bore!
Originally Posted by Miles Platting:
“Hamish comes across as a real character (despite being a Tory!).
Do any of you know if any contestant has got 3 9-letter words before (4 if you include the conundrum!)?
134 must be amongst the highest scores ever!”
“Hamish comes across as a real character (despite being a Tory!).
Do any of you know if any contestant has got 3 9-letter words before (4 if you include the conundrum!)?
134 must be amongst the highest scores ever!
”
The name that sprang immediately to mind was Julian Fell. Just google his name for loads of links re various Countdown records, including 9-letter words and highest scores.
Originally Posted by nelliek:
“Have I totally lost the plot (as in 'can't do arithmetic'), or was that last numbers game today easy?
50. 100. 9. 7. 5. 8. to equal 579
Can't believe even Rachel didn't get it.”
“Have I totally lost the plot (as in 'can't do arithmetic'
), or was that last numbers game today easy?50. 100. 9. 7. 5. 8. to equal 579
Spoiler
Can't believe even Rachel didn't get it.
”
Glad it wasn't just me that managed it and was shocked no one else got it
Originally Posted by 5 a day:
“...with the very notable exception of Jonathan Ansell. What a self-centred bore!”
“...with the very notable exception of Jonathan Ansell. What a self-centred bore!”
Agreed!
His story of how he proposed to his fiance Debbie King on stage at the end of his final show of A Night at the Opera at the London Palladium was one of the most cringeworthy things I've ever heard on telly.
He ended up by saying something to the effect of if she'd said no, at least there'd have been plenty of other women in the audience that would have taken her place! :yawn:
Pr*ck!!
Originally Posted by Miles Platting:
“Hamish comes across as a real character (despite being a Tory!).
Do any of you know if any contestant has got 3 9-letter words before (4 if you include the conundrum!)?
134 must be amongst the highest scores ever!”
“Hamish comes across as a real character (despite being a Tory!).
Do any of you know if any contestant has got 3 9-letter words before (4 if you include the conundrum!)?
134 must be amongst the highest scores ever!
”
I like Hamish, a good potential Octochamp and a bit zany too. As opposed to being plain annoying like some recent octochamps...
Looks like his score of 134 is 6th on all time list:
http://www.thecountdownpage.com/hiscores.htm
The legendary Julian Fell got four 9 letter words (SALMONIDS, DEPORTING, INGATHERS and DEFLATION) on his way to the record score of 146 and he didn't even solve the conundrum
http://www.countdownwiki.com/Julian_Fell
Originally Posted by Steve AWOL:
“
The legendary Julian Fell got four 9 letter words (SALMONIDS, DEPORTING, INGATHERS and DEFLATION) on his way to the record score of 146 and he didn't even solve the conundrum
http://www.countdownwiki.com/Julian_Fell”
“
The legendary Julian Fell got four 9 letter words (SALMONIDS, DEPORTING, INGATHERS and DEFLATION) on his way to the record score of 146 and he didn't even solve the conundrum
http://www.countdownwiki.com/Julian_Fell”
Looking round that website, I noticed that Hamish has been on before, in 1999. I didn't think they asked contestants back unless they were under 18 the first time round.
http://www.countdownwiki.com/Hamish_Williamson
Originally Posted by Velma:
“I hate it when Gyles Brandreth is in Dictionary Corner, he always invades Susie's personal space. Today ( Monday) he was leaning so far towards her, shouting in her face, she was politely leaning away from him at an angle, but if he'd got any nearer Susie would've fallen out of her chair!
Susie is so sweet and nice, I always wonder what she thinks of the guests that 'assist' her. I bet she dies inside when she hears Gyles is coming to terrorise her. I would call in sick if it was me...
It's going to be a long week, I detest him!
Tim was a great guest last week.”
“I hate it when Gyles Brandreth is in Dictionary Corner, he always invades Susie's personal space. Today ( Monday) he was leaning so far towards her, shouting in her face, she was politely leaning away from him at an angle, but if he'd got any nearer Susie would've fallen out of her chair!
Susie is so sweet and nice, I always wonder what she thinks of the guests that 'assist' her. I bet she dies inside when she hears Gyles is coming to terrorise her. I would call in sick if it was me...
It's going to be a long week, I detest him!
Tim was a great guest last week.”
I'm so glad to come here and find that others have noticed this too. I think GB's behaviour towards Susie is not far short of criminal. For example his persistent bullying today over her disallowing "triste" was almost frightening. He is an overbearing pompous windbag.
More generally, I agree with those who like CD more at the moment than for some time. Rachel and Jeff are both excellent in their roles.
Originally Posted by LindyLupin:
“Great thread Sylvia. Yep - didn't used to be fussed if I missed them, now record them every day and it'll be a novelty to actually know everyone in the finals. My 85 year old mother in law has taken to Jeff. She didn't have a clue who he was of course, but wanted to, so decided to sit down and watch him at his "other job" on Soccer Saturday and thought he was great!
Anyone know how it's doing in the ratings? Creeping back up?”
“Great thread Sylvia. Yep - didn't used to be fussed if I missed them, now record them every day and it'll be a novelty to actually know everyone in the finals. My 85 year old mother in law has taken to Jeff. She didn't have a clue who he was of course, but wanted to, so decided to sit down and watch him at his "other job" on Soccer Saturday and thought he was great!
Anyone know how it's doing in the ratings? Creeping back up?”
There's been a daytime report on the Ratings thread regarding for Friday 1st May:
15.25 Countdown: 607,000
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...ostcount=14862
It's a loss of 42% on the audience it got in the last daytime report from January - but some of that is bound to be down to the weather.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...ostcount=14894
Originally Posted by Miles Platting:
“Hamish comes across as a real character (despite being a Tory!).
Do any of you know if any contestant has got 3 9-letter words before (4 if you include the conundrum!)?
134 must be amongst the highest scores ever!”
“Hamish comes across as a real character (despite being a Tory!).
Do any of you know if any contestant has got 3 9-letter words before (4 if you include the conundrum!)?
134 must be amongst the highest scores ever!
”
Pretty sure Kirk did too - might be wrong.
Hamish reminds me of the wiry haired, dancing Scotsman in the porridge ad. Hoots mon there's a moose loose aboot this hoose!
Originally Posted by Fudd:
“There's been a daytime report on the Ratings thread regarding for Friday 1st May:
15.25 Countdown: 607,000
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...ostcount=14862”
“There's been a daytime report on the Ratings thread regarding for Friday 1st May:
15.25 Countdown: 607,000
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...ostcount=14862”
It's still the most watched show by miles apart from the Ch5 news, in the list above (80k more)!
And of course there was a bit of curiosity at the beginning about the new team, just as there was in Carol's final days too.
I'd imagine Countdown's audience fluctuates quite a lot over the year - I know Deal or No Deal can range from under 2m to over 3m, so an accurate picture won't really be available until the end of the year. I don't think it's in any danger of going anywhere yet though - if C4 really wanted rid it would have gone with Vorderman.
I'd imagine Countdown's audience fluctuates quite a lot over the year - I know Deal or No Deal can range from under 2m to over 3m, so an accurate picture won't really be available until the end of the year. I don't think it's in any danger of going anywhere yet though - if C4 really wanted rid it would have gone with Vorderman.
Martin Lewis - the money chap - is in Dictionary Corner this week. Has anyone noticed how his left eyebrow is a lot higher than his right. Just thought I'd mention it.
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