Countdown

Although this show wouldn't be expected to appeal to younger viewers I find that this show can be very entertaining and I enjoy testing myself.Many younger viewers find this boring and not very entertaining but I like to keep my brain working and I enjoy puzzles and love finding words and figuring out the number rounds.I love the special guests every week and always look forward to seeing who will be the next one.All of the guests are entertaining and the only downside in my opinion is the annoying dictionary corner where the brainy girl talks about all the words she finds.Everything else is spot on enjoyable.moreless

Countdown is a classic in every sense of the word. It was the first ever programme shown on channel 4 and is still going strong today. Perhaps the most amazing thing being the format which hasn\'t changed since 1982, infact the only major difference between then and now is the shows host of 23 years Richard Whiteley tragically died.

The concept is pretty simple yet highly addictive and allows for viewers to play along at home. The letters round makes up the main portion and consists of a mix of 9 random vowels and consonants chosen by the contestants. They are asked to make the longest possible word within 30 seconds and are rewarded 1 point for each letter it contains.

There is also a numbers round which sees the contestants choosing a random selection of 6 numbers, large or small and are asked to reach a target using only addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. Same rules apply and they are each given 30 seconds to achieve their goal.

There\'s also a Countdown Conundrum at the end which gives contestants a 9 letter word jumble and are then asked to unscramble it, whoever buzzes in with the correct answer first takes full points.

Perhaps the greatest thing about the show is you don\'t necessarily have to be a maths or english whizz to enjoy it, it\'s all done with an entertaining grace and with the addition of weekly guess stars makes for a pretty good watch.moreless

Countdown started back in 1982 on channel 4 and it is its longest running show. Growing up I would always tune into countdown when I got home from school. I found it a good way to improve my English and maths skills. The show as originally shown in 2 parts over half an hour. New episodes of countdown are now shown in 3 parts over 45 minutes. There are 2 main rounds, the letters and the numbers, and the show concludes with the Countdown conundrum. In the letters rounds you have to choose a selection of 9 vowels and consonants from a series of cards containing letters. The letters are then placed on a board in front of you, and you have 30 seconds to come up with a word made up of letters on the board. Points are awarded for how many letters you use in your word, for every letter used you get one point. If you come up with a word using all of the letters then you receive 18 points. Each letter can only be used once however.

In the numbers round you make a selection of 6 numbers from cards on a table. You do not know which ones you will get but you can choose between large and small numbers. The large numbers are 25, 50, 75 and 100 and the small numbers range from 1 to 10. The computer then generates a random 3 digit number and the aim of the round is to use the numbers you have to make this number. This can be done by adding, subtracting, dividing and multiplying the numbers. If you can not get the number you can still get points as long as you have a number within 10 of it. You are awarded 10 for getting the exact number and for every number away you lose a point.

The countdown conundrum is the final round at the end of the show. The board is slid round and there is a 9 letter word that has been jumbled up. The contestants have 30 seconds to guess the word. If a contestant buzzes in with the wrong answer, they can not guess again until the other person has guessed incorrectly.

Over the years countdown has always had a big following and is a household name. It is best known for its theme tune, which is played at the start of the show and then in every round whilst the clock ticks down.

Countdown lost its original host Richard Whitley, and is now being presented by Des Lynham, former Match of the day presenter.moreless

after the recent departure of the l8 richard whitley. this show with des lynam in it really is boring. come on who would want to watch a middle age man present an old persons program. i think they should get a better presentor or maybe cancel the show completly. sorry for any inconvience this review might offend ppl.

Countdown started as a 4 week project in 1982, which went on for 23 years and nearly 4000 episodes.
Hosted by Richard "loud tie/stripy jacket" Whiteley and the master of numbers Carol Voderman. Countdown was the late afternoon word and number quiz, where contestants played for the greatest prize of all, to find the smartest player.
They were given random letters to make the largest word or the were asked to pick a selection of small or large numbers. Then Carol would produce a random number for the players to mathematically get to.All this was done being timed by a massivly oversized clock behind Richard.
This may sound a little dull to a Countdown virgin, but aided by guest star bookworms and Richard's repartee of good and bad jokes, it really is quite engaging.

Although as many of us here now know this maybe the end. In May,Richard Whiteley became ill with pneumoina and died yesterday on the 26/6/2005 after a heart operation. He will be missed dearly.
The show is still watched by millions of viewers in england. Where there will always be a warm place next to our hearts at tea time.moreless