Yes, I do agree with that. I hate the corner guests who make no effort. The worst was a former X-factor contestant a couple of months back, ('Joe' something?) who sat there like a lemon and spent the entire 30 seconds peering at Susie's pad only to proclaim "we've got an 8, or whatever". He was totally useless.

It must have been nerves with the girl today as the 207 solution numbers game was obviously ridiculously easy.

Far easier than the 206 that she came up with. Haven't a clue how she arrived at that.

Agree with what's being said on Charlie Stayt; he was a total bore in the episodes I saw, and apparently couldn't even rescue it by being good at the game. Nick didn't seem to know how to respond to his useless offerings.

And we have Margaret Mountford and Michael Whitehall to look forward to in the coming weeks. Yay.

Bill Tidy on the 1991 repeats is a pleasant contrast. Very enjoyable guest.

There were 2 equally easy numbers today, both which she failed to solve. As you say, easier to get the correct answer than a wrong one.

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!

Why do they persist in having her in DC? Oh yes, she's a mate of Nick's!

Don't the producers review the performance of the DC guests? She was a complete waste of space on her last appearance, there was one episode where she barely uttered a word and just sat there like a lemon. You could see that Susie was embarrassed.

That lad Ross today was the weakest contestant I've ever seen, I don't understand how he made it through the audition.

I quite agree Jenny_Sawyer, he was the worst player I've ever seen on Countdown.
I should imagine alancracker who commented on this thread recently that he can't get on Countdown would be incredulous when he watches when this lads appalling display.

There must be something wrong with the application process if this boy can get on there. Even allowing for the particular pressure put upon Countdown contestants and allowing for extreme nerves and him going to pieces he was still really awful.

He was embarrassingly bad. I began to half wonder if he was doing it deliberately. The amount of times he said "no, nothing" must also have been something of a record. From most letters selections you can surely come up with a four at least. (As Charlie Stayt proved the other week! ).

Especially when two selections had ING in them and he couldn't find a word ending in "ing".

I haven't seen this episode yet as I'm a few days behind but I expect he was nervous and his brain went to jelly. Watching from home is easy - I beat most contestants and am much better (from home) at the numbers than Rachel but being there would be so different.

A show like Countdown must be much harder for nerves than a quiz show like The Chase because you have to think especially during the numbers game.

I agree, when I watch it at home I can get 8 letter words and usually get the numbers, but I know if I went on t.v, I would get brain freeze and end up a gibbering wreck.

Anyone know what's happened to Countdown on Challenge? After this morning's repeat of Friday afternoon's show it's not on anymore. They've shown two quarter finals, just got the other 5 episodes of the series, including the final, to show. Surely they are not just going to leave it like this?

They've said on their Facebook page that they basically cocked up and didn't purchase all the episodes - so they're going back to Channel 4 to rectify the situation. Oops

Thanks davads. But how can you buy all a series apart from the last 5 episodes?

Lawd knows!

I'm only an occasional visitor to this thread, so it may have been mentioned many times previously, but is Rachel turning into Vorderman? Something to do with the way she's (over)doing her eyes, perhaps. It's getting quite unsettling. Just me?

I think Rachel maybe a bit heavy handed with the old makeup, I was just thinking that today....bit too much mascara, bright red lipstick...She has a good taste in clothes, and black, white and greys really suit her, I think....nice dress today.....she seems to have quite grey eyes, which is really striking...I think grey lipstick would look good on her.

Pretty contestant today too.

How come the address for contestant applications is still in Leeds when the show moved to Salford years ago?

I would guess the administration is still based in Leeds....no need to have it in the same place as the studio, I suppose.

I wish she wouldn't wear those awful black tights with those short tight skirts.

why not?

It's the highlight of my day........

Not the black tights? much better without 'em.

I see what you mean, but I do love black......please just no one stop her wearing the tight dresses..

Another contestant yesterday who was getting four letter words and seeing letters that weren't there.

Five victories for the champion so far and two of them have been walkovers.

Yes, he's had a fairly easy ride, although he's not the best. If he gets through to the finals, and meets the existing octochamps, he's going to feel the heat!