c4countdown

Hi people just thought I'd start a new thread and ask for those of you that have been on before, what fan mail and recognition, if any, have you received?? Can be anything from simple letters from viewers to an extremity. Be honest!

When I was on I had 2 memorable pieces of fan mail sent to me with the funniest one being from a gay bloke who wrote gay poems about me and I still have the e-mail stashed away at my parents house, this brings many laughs out of people.

And also for those current and ex-contestants, what has/was your frequency of recognition, I wasn't stopped every minute of every day but some randomers did sing the music to me in the street and teenagers shouted things like "my sister fancies you" (fun back in the day) Also would be good to hear for favourite recollection(s) of recognition.

Interested in hearing your experiences.

Tom wrote:When I was on I had 2 memorable pieces of fan mail sent to me with the funniest one being from a gay bloke who wrote gay poems about me

Without knowing what you look like, it's hard to judge whether this is funny or not. If you're hot I'd consider it less funny than I would if you look like Ann Widdecombe's less attractive older brother. Have you considered giving yourself an avatar?

After my appearances, I had a lovely letter from a lady who said she had got a nephew called Simon Cooper who she hadn't seen for 20 years. From her memory, she thought I looked very much like him, and she gave me details of all sorts of dates, family background etc etc.

I felt really mean writing back to say that I was the 'wrong' Simon Cooper . . . .

On recognition, strangest one I had was a lady coming up who I didn't know saying "When are you going back onto Countdown, then?" . . . and that was 7 years after I had been on the programme!

As mentioned in the finals, I was sent an embarrassingly small amount of fan mail, despite (or maybe because of) demanding it.

I did, however, receive a ton of Facebook messages and friend requests. My advice to anyone going on the show is by all means respond to the messages, but don't accept friend requests from strangers. Some Spanish woman now has my mobile number and texts me garbled Spanglish love messages all too frequently. Ick.

I've been recognised a few times in pubs and so on, and people are always very positive about it, which is surprising for such a geeky pursuit but there you go. No one has yet been hilarious enough to sing the theme tune to me in the street.

I've been inundated with Facebook requests and messages of appreciation, mainly during the heats but also after the series final. Always good for the 'ol ego. I found myself in some international Asian newspaper but noone quite knows how I got there, although my mum remains a prime suspect. I was definitely recognised a lot more after my first appearance in 1998, even though that was just the one show. Perhaps the funniest incident was when I ran into a friend and met his girlfriend for the first time. She was awe struck! I've had a grand total of 3 autograph requests. Okay, so two of those were my parents, but still. They all count.

By the way, is this Tom as in Tom Hargreaves? If so, bloody legend!!! If not, I'm sure you're still ok.

Junaid Mubeen wrote:Okay, so two of those were my parents, but still. They all count.

A woman in the audience for Carol's special show asked me for an autograph. I assumed she was joking but she insisted otherwise.

Junaid Mubeen wrote:By the way, is this Tom as in Tom Hargreaves? If so, bloody legend!!! If not, I'm sure you're still ok.

It is indeed.

Charlie Reams wrote: A woman in the audience for Carol's special show asked me for an autograph. I assumed she was joking but she insisted otherwise.

I got asked for quite a few when I filmed my octochamp run from people in the audience, but was surprised at the CoC to be asked for a couple, particularly as the audience members in question hadn't watched me film (just came about through general chat).

I got recognised once in Waitrose, once by a dude on a bike who stopped to talk to me, and once by another parent at my kid's school. I found this a little disappointing, particularly as I'd been featured in the local press to try and boost the sponsorship money.

Facebook and the like wasn't really around (or at least as popular) back then though, so maybe I should brace myself for an influx of friend requests. Oh - actually, maybe I should actually change my profile picture to one of me as well, rather than some random ugger off the net...

Jon Corby wrote:
Facebook and the like wasn't really around (or at least as popular) back then though, so maybe I should brace myself for an influx of friend requests. Oh - actually, maybe I should actually change my profile picture to one of me as well, rather than some random ugger off the net...

... and I thought it was you before you lost your hair!

Naomi Laddiman wrote:

Jon Corby wrote:
Facebook and the like wasn't really around (or at least as popular) back then though, so maybe I should brace myself for an influx of friend requests. Oh - actually, maybe I should actually change my profile picture to one of me as well, rather than some random ugger off the net...

... and I thought it was you before you lost your hair!

Apart from my friends, a couple of biddies got me to sign the numbers round sheet on my way out of the studios, but that's all really! We'll see what happens next month with my arguably higher-profile Mastermind appearance.

Ooh exciting. Dont forget to start a whole thread to tell us the airdate and all that.

No doubt - relentless self-promotion is something I'm good at

Ian Volante wrote:Apart from my friends, a couple of biddies got me to sign the numbers round sheet on my way out of the studios, but that's all really! We'll see what happens next month with my arguably higher-profile Mastermind appearance.

And your specialist subject is?

Jimmy wrote:And your specialist subject is?

Metallica

Ian Volante wrote:

Jimmy wrote:And your specialist subject is?

Metallica

Respect.

Ben Wilson wrote:

Ian Volante wrote:

Jimmy wrote:And your specialist subject is?

Metallica

Respect.

They wouldn't let me do Slayer. Too obscure apparently!

Ian Volante wrote:They wouldn't let me do Slayer. Too obscure apparently!

Pah. Though to be fair at my (alas failed) audition they only just accepted Van Halen.

Ben Wilson wrote:

Ian Volante wrote:They wouldn't let me do Slayer. Too obscure apparently!

Pah. Though to be fair at my (alas failed) audition they only just accepted Van Halen.

What a bunch of miseries! Maybe they've improved, cos at first they accepted it, but then it got vetoed higher up the chain.

Well judging by your responses it sounds like I got recognised more than most people did. Was fun back in the day. Though not every finalist etc got as much, know Julian Fell and Willsy got recognised a lot.

In response of your message Phil, the Countdownwiki has an extremely gorgeous picture of me taken 4 years ago, though I am a lot uglier now.

Bloody legend??!! thanks Junaid, very nice of you indeed lol. Decided to tune in to the C of C's this time around, haven't watched your QF game yet, but hope you and Charlie made it a good game. Just a shame in my opinion that you got drawn in the QF's and not later.

Why is it that I got a failure delivery the past two times I tried to e-mail the Countdown crew?

Jason Larsen wrote:Why is it that I got a failure delivery the past two times I tried to e-mail the Countdown crew?

Maybe their email address has changed? Maybe their server was broken? Could be many things. Maybe if you say what email address you used, somebody will be able to tell you if it is correct.

Clare, it's interesting because you know what? I e-mailed Lara privately to find out how I could let Damian know I liked his interview on Radio Humberside, and she said to e-mail to the address of the actual show.

If I would have sent them an e-mail, I would have said just that and also in the subject line told Jeff not to read it on the air.

In fact, I will send them a test e-mail just to see if their account works. I think it's my lunchtime now, so I think I'll do it after that.

Success!

Charlie Reams wrote: My advice to anyone going on the show is by all means respond to the messages, but don't accept friend requests from strangers. Some Spanish woman now has my mobile number and texts me garbled Spanglish love messages all too frequently. Ick.

Or just don't put your phone number on facebook. I wouldn't want to give my number to half my old schoolfriends who are friends on facebook. I'd rather give it to the countdown fans. After I was on Countdown, I had a lot of old schoolchums come out of the woodwork and add me, plus two girls who I didn't know.

The only time a fan approached me was when a woman came up to me during the interval of a Russell Howard gig. She congratulated me on my performances and asked if I'd gone to a top local school. I said "yes". Apparently, my superior education shines through. I didn't have the heart to tell her about the crappy school I really went to.

The only other recognition was from a girl giving me a funny look on the tube, but she may just have been a psycho.

Have just recieved my first facebook friend request from a total stranger, with an accompanying message that simply reads: 'You're doing well on Countdown. Friend?'
How odd. I don't suppose any of you know someone named 'Cameron Burrows'?

Neil Zussman wrote:Have just recieved my first facebook friend request from a total stranger, with an accompanying message that simply reads: 'You're doing well on Countdown. Friend?'
How odd. I don't suppose any of you know someone named 'Cameron Burrows'?

http://www.c4countdown.co.uk/viewtopic. ... 973#p14973

Neil Zussman wrote:Have just recieved my first facebook friend request from a total stranger, with an accompanying message that simply reads: 'You're doing well on Countdown. Friend?'
How odd. I don't suppose any of you know someone named 'Cameron Burrows'?

Maybe I should've asked for your autograph while I had the chance in January!

Charlie said that Jeff has just started to read e-mail on the air, but I haven't heard him do that yet! Has he?