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Countdown - so much better these days!


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Old 14-08-2016, 23:17
Torch81
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I met Gyles Brandreth once and I have to say he was absolutely delightful. He was charm personified. Ever since, I've always defended him. He may have seemed smug and irritating, and he's a Tory, but in person he was a thoroughly nice chap.
I can believe that Bob. I'm sure he knows how to play it publicly as and when required though. It's just on the likes of Countdown when the contestants say "I've got a six" and "Me too" for example that he looks over at them and says "well...I've a seven, eight whatever" with a slightly smug superiority look about him that I find, well, a bit tedious. Susie for example knows how to do that far more subtlety and in a far more appropriate manner. He's obviously good at the game but seemingly wants everyone to know that. Ultimately, nowt wrong with that, but, just irks me a bit. Too much One-upmanship for my liking.
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Old 14-08-2016, 23:23
Isambard Brunel
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Gyles Brandreth is lovely.

It's the job of the 'expert' in dictionary corner to be superior to the contestants. Otherwise, what's the point of them. The truth may be that they're being fed a convenient narrative through an earpiece, but that's the reality of all TV shows.
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Old 14-08-2016, 23:47
Torch81
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Gyles Brandreth is lovely.

It's the job of the 'expert' in dictionary corner to be superior to the contestants. Otherwise, what's the point of them. The truth may be that they're being fed a convenient narrative through an earpiece, but that's the reality of all TV shows.
Is it? The 'expert' or you mean specifically Susie? How do you explain the likes of Charlie Stayt then. For example - contestant, "I've got a seven". Charlie, "I could only find a five", etc , etc. In fact Charlie is apparently utter rubbish at the game and, slightly surprisingly, doesn't seem bothered about having that shown. Unlike the likes of that X Factor contestant Joe McEledry (sp) and various others who spend 30 seconds doing bugger all and then look at Susie's pad and announce, "we've got a..."

They get it right more than wrong with regard who they book but too many dictionary corner guests are such a waste of space IMO.
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Old 15-08-2016, 06:27
Tiger Rag
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With the exception of a few, it seems to be a way for them to get on TV.
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Old 15-08-2016, 06:50
Ken Tun
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Gyles Brandreth is lovely.

It's the job of the 'expert' in dictionary corner to be superior to the contestants. Otherwise, what's the point of them. The truth may be that they're being fed a convenient narrative through an earpiece, but that's the reality of all TV shows.
I'm sure the celebrities don't use an ear-piece but Susie lets some of the weaker guests pinch some of her words. But evidently that recent footballer wanted to play his own game however bad it made him look and didn't choose to avail himself of the lifeline, and good for him for trying.

Brandreth has been on CD more than any other guest, or had done so until he boycotted the show for years after Carol's departure. I wish he'd stayed away as quite apart from finding his verbosity irritating I can't stand the way he leans across and invades Susie's personal space fixing her with a stare when she's speaking. He's also been known to shout right into her face when he feels there's an argument to be won.
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Old 15-08-2016, 17:41
ATNotts
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Giles Brandreth may sound like he's doing a pretty good impression of the late, great Derek Nimmo, but despite that I really would like to see him take part in Countdown as a "real" contestant.

He appears to have a phenomenal breadth of vocabulary, and I reckon that, unless dictionary corner is fixed, he could easily be an octochamp. Could be quite fun to pit him against Suzie Dent - with another brainbox from the OED in dictionary corner.

I'd put a small bet on Giles Brandreth beating Suzie Dent in a regular game of Countdown. Might be one to consider for Children in Need day perhaps if they don't want to do a real show.
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Old 16-08-2016, 03:05
grimtales1
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Giles used to be very enthusiastic about puzzles/brainteasers once upon a time (maybe still is), he always had a colourful turn of phrase too IIRC,
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Old 16-08-2016, 09:30
Jenny_Sawyer
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I miss Rick Wakeman & Richard Digance.
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Old 16-08-2016, 15:45
HiMyNameIs
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Anyone know what's wrong with the female contestant's voice?
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Old 16-08-2016, 15:48
Brian Reynolds
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I think that she has probably lost her vocal chords to cancer. It's very courageous of her to go on the show!
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Old 16-08-2016, 15:53
HiMyNameIs
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I think that she has probably lost her vocal chords to cancer. It's very courageous of her to go on the show!
Oh I see...poor woman
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Old 17-08-2016, 05:04
Mudbox
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Fing horses again........giddy up boy!!!! >(

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Old 19-08-2016, 01:21
Mudbox
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Countdown on 4od crashes my computer in the evening, but it works in the day and late at night.
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Old 27-08-2016, 18:45
FOCAL_Countdown
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In case you're frustrated with the horse-racing taking priority and fancy filling the Countdown void in your life by playing at one of our unofficial tournaments, we have 5 left this year - Dublin (10th Sept), Huddersfield (8th Oct), Glasgow (separate tournaments on 12th and 13th Nov), and Birmingham (3rd Dec). There are also 2 confirmed for 2017: the long-running Countdown in Lincoln tournament and its sister tournament The Hangover, held on 28th and 29th January respectively.

The details are all on our website at https://focalcountdown.co.uk/ . Lots of newcomers are signed up to Dublin and Huddersfield already, many of whom don't play online at Apterous and have no prior Countdown experience - so sign up now to join them, meet other like-minded fans of the show and former contestants, and have a day out with a difference
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Old 08-09-2016, 10:48
Zebb
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When does Countdown return?
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Old 08-09-2016, 10:50
Mudbox
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When does Countdown return?
19th Sept......Talk Like a Pirate Day.
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Old 19-09-2016, 12:27
Mudbox
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19th Sept......Talk Like a Pirate Day.

it be back on t'day, me shipmates. Arrr.

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Old 19-09-2016, 15:12
Zebb
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19th Sept......Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Knock knock.
Who's there?
Interrupting pirate!
Interrup...
ARRRRRR!
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Old 19-09-2016, 15:36
Ex Pat
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100,25,1,5,2,1

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Old 20-09-2016, 15:54
Johnr
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25 100 9 6 7 10

One contestant declares 600
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Old 20-09-2016, 18:40
mikebuk
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Michael Whitehall came across as totally homophobic during his anecdote about Liberace today.
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Old 20-09-2016, 18:53
mikebuk
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Gyles Brandreth is lovely.

It's the job of the 'expert' in dictionary corner to be superior to the contestants. Otherwise, what's the point of them. The truth may be that they're being fed a convenient narrative through an earpiece, but that's the reality of all TV shows.
Yes some of the DC guests are irritating when they are clearly poor at the game and it's blatantly obvious that they don't watch the show. Gyles Brandreth is good. The best guests tend to be comedians like Tim Vine, Alistair McGowan, Dave Spikey and Jo Brand.
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Old 20-09-2016, 21:42
roger_50
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Jo Brand?! She's a terrible guest.

"Erm, well I've come up with an 8 letter word called Goopyerp! That's a funny sounding name isn't it?"

(Next word round)

"Here's a 6 letter word called Yipmob! Sounds funny! By the way, did I mention my husband is useless?"
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Old 20-09-2016, 22:07
Torch81
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Michael Whitehall came across as totally homophobic during his anecdote about Liberace today.
I never picked up on that. How exactly? He (MH) was then evidently a young, recently married heterosexual man embarking on a new career who suddenly found himself in the company of a somewhat extrovert and flamboyant gay man, (however much Liberace tried to hide and deny it at the time), which to be honest must have been quite daunting. I thought he just told it like it was. Again...

As DC corner guests go, for me he's one of the very best and invariably tells amusing and entertaining tales as and when required, unlike very many of them.
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Old 21-09-2016, 15:44
mikebuk
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He admitted he felt uncomfortable in his presence and saying things like my ex-friend in a later segment. If not homophobic, certainly an undercurrent of dislike of how Liberace acted.

On 'Backchat' I've heard his son, Jack have to tell him to watch what he says. Maybe it's his generation I don't know, but I'm Liberace can't have been the only gay man he's dealt with.

I will say Mr Whitehall is better than some.
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