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Countdown - so much better these days!


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Old 11-10-2016, 23:05
Mudbox
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The ones who got on that young were reared to do so by glory-seeking parents. Right from birth the parents focussed on teaching their child to recognize letters, and then forced rote memorization of dictionary words upon them as soon as possible, denying them play in favour of repetition, all so they could boast about producing a Countdown winner

A minimum age of 16 prevents this kind of horrid abuse and will prevent childhoods from being robbed in this way.
it's like when they removed 'heaviest cat' category from the Guinness Book of Records, because people were stuffing their cats.
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Old 12-10-2016, 01:01
Boz_Lowdownl
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The ones who got on that young were reared to do so by glory-seeking parents. Right from birth the parents focussed on teaching their child to recognize letters, and then forced rote memorization of dictionary words upon them as soon as possible, denying them play in favour of repetition, all so they could boast about producing a Countdown winner

A minimum age of 16 prevents this kind of horrid abuse and will prevent childhoods from being robbed in this way.
Really? It is possible that some children actually enjoy words and numbers. And anyway, if your claims are true, the parents can still do the same and just wait till the child is 16.

(But I assume your post isn't serious.)
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Old 12-10-2016, 09:22
Lecate
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Really? It is possible that some children actually enjoy words and numbers. And anyway, if your claims are true, the parents can still do the same and just wait till the child is 16.

(But I assume your post isn't serious.)
No, it wasn't serious!

There are some very pushy parents out there though, just perhaps not to that extent and certainly not all for Countdown glory!

Child Genius was some uncomfortable viewing.
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Old 14-10-2016, 14:46
mikebuk
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I discovered that indeed 'health and safety' and working conditions / hours were the reason for this rule. Sad that we will no longer see the youngsters humiliate the teachers.
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Old 03-11-2016, 17:23
SepangBlue
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Couldn't believe this thread has dropped to page 8 in DS's UK TV listing.

Just wanted to register my disappointment at the recent change of broadcast time from 3.10pm to 2.10pm

Like many retired people, my wife and I like to sit down for a cup of tea in the afternoon and watch Countdown while we munch our biscuits. Now they've messed with the schedule we shan't be seeing it anymore .. shame!

Do we think that Countdown will sink without trace now that it's core viewing demographic has been cut out?

Anyone know any good reason why it was moved?
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Old 03-11-2016, 17:33
Tiger Rag
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Couldn't believe this thread has dropped to page 8 in DS's UK TV listing.

Just wanted to register my disappointment at the recent change of broadcast time from 3.10pm to 2.10pm

Like many retired people, my wife and I like to sit down for a cup of tea in the afternoon and watch Countdown while we munch our biscuits. Now they've messed with the schedule we shan't be seeing it anymore .. shame!

Do we think that Countdown will sink without trace now that it's core viewing demographic has been cut out?

Anyone know any good reason why it was moved?
I'm wondering the same thing. It was fine where it was.
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Old 03-11-2016, 17:40
stewartuu
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Couldn't believe this thread has dropped to page 8 in DS's UK TV listing.

Just wanted to register my disappointment at the recent change of broadcast time from 3.10pm to 2.10pm

Like many retired people, my wife and I like to sit down for a cup of tea in the afternoon and watch Countdown while we munch our biscuits. Now they've messed with the schedule we shan't be seeing it anymore .. shame!

Do we think that Countdown will sink without trace now that it's core viewing demographic has been cut out?

Anyone know any good reason why it was moved?
There's always C4+1?

I presume it was moved so that Deal or No Deal could get a more prominent slot. I imagine that, when DOND is finished, Countdown will go back to 3:10.
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Old 03-11-2016, 17:59
dodrade
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I'm wondering the same thing. It was fine where it was.
It's been moved several times between 2:10 and 3:10 in recent years.
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Old 09-11-2016, 22:38
Trappedin80's
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Am I the only one that presses the pause button when the clock starts, to give myself an extra 30 seconds of thinking time?

I find that I nearly always win by using that method.

I won by a single point today.

I know I'm cheating, but still.
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Old 09-11-2016, 23:25
bart4858
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Am I the only one that presses the pause button when the clock starts, to give myself an extra 30 seconds of thinking time?
I do it to take off the pressure, not necessarily to get more time. Also to make sure I get 30 seconds as I'm usually busy with food at the same time.

I find that I nearly always win by using that method.

I won by a single point today.

I know I'm cheating, but still.
You have to do the scoring properly. When I bother to keep score (very rarely) I have to keep separate scores between me vs. the champ, and me vs. the challenger. Otherwise it doesn't work.

The conundrum is harder to score as, if you pause and it takes you 20 seconds, then press play and one contestant gets it in 5 seconds, you don't know whether the other would have beaten you or not.
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Old 09-11-2016, 23:36
Trappedin80's
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I do it to take off the pressure, not necessarily to get more time. Also to make sure I get 30 seconds as I'm usually busy with food at the same time.

You have to do the scoring properly. When I bother to keep score (very rarely) I have to keep separate scores between me vs. the champ, and me vs. the challenger. Otherwise it doesn't work.

The conundrum is harder to score as, if you pause and it takes you 20 seconds, then press play and one contestant gets it in 5 seconds, you don't know whether the other would have beaten you or not.
I do keep a proper score, at least. I insert myself into the game as the third player & count all three scores accordingly.

I got the conundrum in about 10 or 12 seconds today & that got me over the line. Just.
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Old 10-11-2016, 12:35
bart4858
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I do keep a proper score, at least. I insert myself into the game as the third player & count all three scores accordingly.
That makes it much tougher then! As you have to beat or equal both the other players to get the points. (Imagine playing with 20 others.)
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Old 10-11-2016, 13:07
Trappedin80's
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That makes it much tougher then! As you have to beat or equal both the other players to get the points. (Imagine playing with 20 others.)
That's right, but as I get an extra 30 seconds, plus no pressure, it makes it much easier.

If I was in the studio I would go blank & end up with no points.
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Old 10-11-2016, 18:10
Mudbox
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you could play the contestants separately...keep two sets of scores.
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Old 10-11-2016, 19:16
Trappedin80's
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you could play the contestants separately...keep two sets of scores.
I'd not thought of that.
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Old 10-11-2016, 20:46
James_Laverty
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So now you have to be 16 to be a contestant ? - have they forgotten the great young contestants of the past. Some as young as 8 or 9 ?
It's to do with the rules since they moved to the new studio at MediaCityUK c.2013.
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Old 10-11-2016, 20:57
allafix
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Am I the only one that presses the pause button when the clock starts, to give myself an extra 30 seconds of thinking time?

I find that I nearly always win by using that method.

I won by a single point today.

I know I'm cheating, but still.
What's the point? You aren't winning the game if you cheat. Better to watch it in real time and pat yourself on the back when you find a better word than either contestant or get the numbers answer closer than they do.
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Old Yesterday, 14:59
Mark_Beales1
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One of the best female players I've seen in a long while on today, Susie Turner. A potential octochamp at least!
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Old Yesterday, 15:42
Baz_James
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It's to do with the rules since they moved to the new studio at MediaCityUK c.2013.
Which in itself is to do with the ever more stringent Child Protection legislation, I would suggest.
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Old Yesterday, 16:38
mb@2day
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One of the best female players I've seen in a long while on today, Susie Turner. A potential octochamp at least!
Scoring the best part of 120 at a canter, she made it look very easy and without behaving like some of the weirdos that frequent the latter rounds of Countdown. Still I outdid her on the conundrum.
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