Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
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Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Ratings for Countdown have slumped to the lowest in the Channel 4 show's 27-year history.
At the start of the year almost 1.3 million viewers tuned in to see Oxford graduate Rachel Riley and Jeff Stelling take over from Carol Vorderman and Des O’Connor.
Miss Vorderman’s exit was watched by 1.8 million in December, but last week audiences figures dropped to just 650,000.
Countdown insiders admitted that audience figures had started higher than the average for last year, but have started to slide in the past month.
One source said: ‘I think we went up at the beginning, I think people were intrigued to see how Rachel would fill Carol’s shoes. There has been a definite drop off recently though.'
A Channel 4 spokesman said last week's low figure was because of the good weather.
She insisted Countdown had averaged a million viewers since its relaunch.
The show has had a turbulent few years since the death of original host Richard Whiteley in 2005.
It was regularly watched by three to four million viewers when the late presenter and Miss Vorderman worked together.
Since then it faced falling audiences and has struggled to find a long-term replacement for Whiteley.
Des Lynam and Des O'Connor both quit after short stretches at the helm.
Last year there was a huge public outcry after it emerged that Miss Vorderman was being forced off the show.
Channel 4 bosses slashed the programme's budget and told her she would have to take a 90 per cent pay cut to keep her job.
The 48 year-old said the bombshell left her in such a state that she feared she was having a stroke.
Critics feared the show would not be as much of a success without her.
Some fans complained that Miss Riley was not up to the pressure of solving puzzles at speed for television.
It was reported that she failed on several of the tasks given to her during the recording of a series.
Miss Riley beat more than 1,000 applicants to land the Channel 4 job after Miss Vorderman was forced out amid savage budget cutting.
She is being paid £100,000 a year compared with Miss Vorderman's £800,000.
A source at Channel 4 said: 'Rachel missed the occasional problem, but it was nerves.
'Let's get this in perspective, the girl has graduated from Oxford with a masters degree in mathematics. It's not going to be a question of ability.
'She is working on a hugely popular show, doing number tasks in front of the camera and audience – there is a lot of pressure. I think the occasional hiccup is expected.'
Miss Vorderman, who has an IQ of 167, had an amazing record during her 26-year tenure on Countdown.
But she was also occasionally left stumped by the more difficult challenges.
Last year she was upstaged by Bradley Cates, 11, who showed her step by step how to solve a puzzle that had defeated her.
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At the start of the year almost 1.3 million viewers tuned in to see Oxford graduate Rachel Riley and Jeff Stelling take over from Carol Vorderman and Des O’Connor.
Miss Vorderman’s exit was watched by 1.8 million in December, but last week audiences figures dropped to just 650,000.
Countdown insiders admitted that audience figures had started higher than the average for last year, but have started to slide in the past month.
One source said: ‘I think we went up at the beginning, I think people were intrigued to see how Rachel would fill Carol’s shoes. There has been a definite drop off recently though.'
A Channel 4 spokesman said last week's low figure was because of the good weather.
She insisted Countdown had averaged a million viewers since its relaunch.
The show has had a turbulent few years since the death of original host Richard Whiteley in 2005.
It was regularly watched by three to four million viewers when the late presenter and Miss Vorderman worked together.
Since then it faced falling audiences and has struggled to find a long-term replacement for Whiteley.
Des Lynam and Des O'Connor both quit after short stretches at the helm.
Last year there was a huge public outcry after it emerged that Miss Vorderman was being forced off the show.
Channel 4 bosses slashed the programme's budget and told her she would have to take a 90 per cent pay cut to keep her job.
The 48 year-old said the bombshell left her in such a state that she feared she was having a stroke.
Critics feared the show would not be as much of a success without her.
Some fans complained that Miss Riley was not up to the pressure of solving puzzles at speed for television.
It was reported that she failed on several of the tasks given to her during the recording of a series.
Miss Riley beat more than 1,000 applicants to land the Channel 4 job after Miss Vorderman was forced out amid savage budget cutting.
She is being paid £100,000 a year compared with Miss Vorderman's £800,000.
A source at Channel 4 said: 'Rachel missed the occasional problem, but it was nerves.
'Let's get this in perspective, the girl has graduated from Oxford with a masters degree in mathematics. It's not going to be a question of ability.
'She is working on a hugely popular show, doing number tasks in front of the camera and audience – there is a lot of pressure. I think the occasional hiccup is expected.'
Miss Vorderman, who has an IQ of 167, had an amazing record during her 26-year tenure on Countdown.
But she was also occasionally left stumped by the more difficult challenges.
Last year she was upstaged by Bradley Cates, 11, who showed her step by step how to solve a puzzle that had defeated her.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I do have to say that it doesn't surprise me that viewers are being lost. I am an long term viewer who has stayed with the programme throughout all of the changes. I feel that it has lost its "Mojo" and its laid back easy atmosphere. There is an edge there now which was never there in the past.
I am warming to Jeff Stelling, but Rachel I'm afraid is not working for me. It is becoming more of a chore to watch the programme than a pleasure.
And..where are the audience? have they lost them as well?
I am warming to Jeff Stelling, but Rachel I'm afraid is not working for me. It is becoming more of a chore to watch the programme than a pleasure.
And..where are the audience? have they lost them as well?
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
It's easy to attack the article, which appears to have been written by one of those chimpanzees that used to type Hamlet but has graduated to Google. But if last week's weather is enough to reduce the audience to 650,000, there's a problem, and what a couple of dozen of us think counts for very little.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I posted the following - it'll be interesting to see how much, if any, is left after moderation:Davy Affleck wrote:A message board is available for comments
More people watch Countdown than read the Daily Mail, so maybe the Mail should be scrapped. Or perhaps the Mail could try printing some, you know, NEWS (there's a clue in the word "newspaper") instead of recycling old stories based on unattributed quotes and unverifiable "statistics". But hey, that would involve paying some proper journalists to do some actual work, rather than sitting in front of Google for five minutes and stitching together a bunch of paragraphs from previous stories. Who is Liz Thomas anyway? Clearly someone with no journalistic talent or scruples - ideally qualified to work for the Daily Mail then. What a farce.
Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
It's probably pertinent to compare it to other shows on around the same time and on other channels to see whether the 'weather' reason holds water. If all shows lost viewers similarly, no problem maybe?David Williams wrote:But if last week's weather is enough to reduce the audience to 650,000, there's a problem, and what a couple of dozen of us think counts for very little.
Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
The weather affects every show right across the board. The day in question was Wednesday March 18th.
Blue Peter had 400,000 viewers.
Alan Titchmarsh on ITV had 900,000 viewers. Even DOND struggled to match its regular audience.
The article suggests Countdown is suffering as a result of change of presenters. A quick look through the records and i notice there were several times in 2003 / 2004 / 2005 when Countdown had low audiences, in the region of 700,000 to 800,000.
Where were Jeff and Rachel then.........?
Blue Peter had 400,000 viewers.
Alan Titchmarsh on ITV had 900,000 viewers. Even DOND struggled to match its regular audience.
The article suggests Countdown is suffering as a result of change of presenters. A quick look through the records and i notice there were several times in 2003 / 2004 / 2005 when Countdown had low audiences, in the region of 700,000 to 800,000.
Where were Jeff and Rachel then.........?
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
And to back up what Damian is saying... our percentage viewership was the same last week as the days we top a million viewers. Hence less people watching tv on those sunny afternoons.
Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
That's what I asked up there ^Kate Horton wrote:And to back up what Damian is saying... our percentage viewership was the same last week as the days we top a million viewers. Hence less people watching tv on those sunny afternoons.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I didn't appreciate the figures were so volatile, or that they had been so low before. Consequence of the dreadful time slot, I suppose. The "RW/CV used to get four million" point has never been a valid point about presenters. RW/CV got an awful lot less than that in later years.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I can't get used to Countdown starting as early as 3.25, so often watch on C4+1.
I'm sure the programme would attract more viewers if it started an hour or so later, as it used to.
I'm sure the programme would attract more viewers if it started an hour or so later, as it used to.
Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Those comments are fairly damning...
Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Yeah, but the Daily Mail is an utter fucking abomination of a shitrag read by cunts.Ian Dent wrote:Those comments are fairly damning...
A question that possibly Damo and Kate could answer is, do stories like this really matter in any way at all? I mean, surely it's not like someone at C4 will read this drivel and think "hang on, maybe I should scrap that programme from the schedule then", or that somebody is on the verge of advertising and decides not to based on this. These people won't be basing any sort of decisions on the words of some halfwit journo, they'll have the more pertinent and correct figures to hand to do with (as discussed above). And would anybody really sit down to watch Countdown and think "oh, hang on, I remember reading in the Daily Mail that Rachel doesn't solve as many numbers as Carol used to, so maybe I won't bother now"?
Is there any real damage done by this shit? Do I underestimate the power of the media (the answer to this is probably 'yes', as I'm not sure how else you explain the transition from Jade being a fat idiotic pig to a media darling to a vile racist bully to something approaching a saint.)
Last edited by Jon Corby on Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
None.Phil Reynolds wrote:I posted the following - it'll be interesting to see how much, if any, is left after moderation:More people watch Countdown than read the Daily Mail, so maybe the Mail should be scrapped. Or perhaps the Mail could try printing some, you know, NEWS (there's a clue in the word "newspaper") instead of recycling old stories based on unattributed quotes and unverifiable "statistics". But hey, that would involve paying some proper journalists to do some actual work, rather than sitting in front of Google for five minutes and stitching together a bunch of paragraphs from previous stories. Who is Liz Thomas anyway? Clearly someone with no journalistic talent or scruples - ideally qualified to work for the Daily Mail then. What a farce.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Do the figures reflect C4 AND C4+1? I work from home so am usually able to take a break at 3.25 but sometimes I am too busy and watch on C4+1 instead. I'm sure I'm not alone so I hope C4+1's figures are not being ignored.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I thought the ratings for Countdown were improving now that Jeff and Rachel are the hosts!
What has caused this dip?
What has caused this dip?
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Where do they get the figures from in the first place? - no one has ever asked me if I watch it.
If it's from a sample of viewers then they shouldn't be allowed to go and sit in the garden just because the sun is shining!
If it's from a sample of viewers then they shouldn't be allowed to go and sit in the garden just because the sun is shining!
I thought I was good at Countdown until I joined this forum
Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Jon Corby wrote:Yeah, but the Daily Mail is an utter fucking abomination of a shitrag read by cunts.Ian Dent wrote:Those comments are fairly damning...
A question that possibly Damo and Kate could answer is, do stories like this really matter in any way at all? I mean, surely it's not like someone at C4 will read this drivel and think "hang on, maybe I should scrap that programme from the schedule then", or that somebody is on the verge of advertising and decides not to based on this. These people won't be basing any sort of decisions on the words of some halfwit journo, they'll have the more pertinent and correct figures to hand to do with (as discussed above). And would anybody really sit down to watch Countdown and think "oh, hang on, I remember reading in the Daily Mail that Rachel doesn't solve as many numbers as Carol used to, so maybe I won't bother now"?
Is there any real damage done by this shit? Do I underestimate the power of the media (the answer to this is probably 'yes', as I'm not sure how else you explain the transition from Jade being a fat idiotic pig to a media darling to a vile racist bully to something approaching a saint.)
The story is a follow-up to a News Of The World article on Sunday, albeit a very small one. It isn't the journalist who creates the subject matter, it's fed to them from an outside source, most likely someone formerly connected to the show who harbours a resentment, but i cannot think who.
Last edited by D Eadie on Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcaste ... arch_BoardIan Fitzpatrick wrote:Where do they get the figures from in the first place? - no one has ever asked me if I watch it.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
You'd've thought thanks to Nu Labour, Gordong and his EU cronies causing the credit crunch and record unemployment, not to mention all the immigrants coming in and stealing even more British jobs, that the potential audience would be enormous! Kids could do with a bit more Countdown in their lives, leaving school unable to read or write, squeezing out kids being the best they can do, living off handouts from cradle to grave. Maybe Countdown should try and be more in line with yoof culture - I bet if the contestants were encouraged to stab each other for drugs and alcopops their audience figures would skyrocket (and it would merely complement the only 'educashun' they're clearly getting in schools). Besides, why should I have to pay for some foreigner to learn from Countdown so he can steal my children's babies whilst I'm working for my country? It's political correctness gone mad.
(I feel like I could do better, but I thought I'd temper it to see if it would get past moderation.)
(I feel like I could do better, but I thought I'd temper it to see if it would get past moderation.)
Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
That's well out of order, man.D Eadie wrote:It isn't the journalist who creates the subject matter, it's fed to them from an outside source, most likely someone formerly connected to the show who harbours a resentment, but i cannot think who.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Matt, thank you for posting the ratings but Ian, did you say you were wondering where they came from because you couldn't believe it? That is to say, you couldn't believe they were so low?
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
If someone told me that was the figure I wouldn't know if that was good or bad. What I don't have much faith is in the way the figures are generated.Jason Larsen wrote:Matt, thank you for posting the ratings but Ian, did you say you were wondering where they came from because you couldn't believe it? That is to say, you couldn't believe they were so low?
I thought I was good at Countdown until I joined this forum
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I see!
You think that's unfair!
You think that's unfair!
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I don't know if it's fair or unfair, it's more about accuracy with respect to sampling.Jason Larsen wrote:I see!
You think that's unfair!
With respect to the great Tommy Cooper:
"Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. And there are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin."
I thought I was good at Countdown until I joined this forum
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
If they're wrong, that would be a big surprise!
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Quality.Michael Wallace wrote:You'd've thought thanks to Nu Labour, Gordong and his EU cronies causing the credit crunch and record unemployment, not to mention all the immigrants coming in and stealing even more British jobs, that the potential audience would be enormous! Kids could do with a bit more Countdown in their lives, leaving school unable to read or write, squeezing out kids being the best they can do, living off handouts from cradle to grave. Maybe Countdown should try and be more in line with yoof culture - I bet if the contestants were encouraged to stab each other for drugs and alcopops their audience figures would skyrocket (and it would merely complement the only 'educashun' they're clearly getting in schools). Besides, why should I have to pay for some foreigner to learn from Countdown so he can steal my children's babies whilst I'm working for my country? It's political correctness gone mad.
(I feel like I could do better, but I thought I'd temper it to see if it would get past moderation.)
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Michael, Now that you have calmed down a bit, (I hope) I'll take a bite at the lure that you have cast out. I really thought that the credit crunch was caused by Bankers chasing bonuses. The rest of your observations I agree with, including new Labour who I voted for, because I erroneously thought they were socialists. I believe that the culture of knives and crime is encouraged by our humane attitude to criminals who have rights. Criminals including killers, know that prison is only a holiday, and they will soon be released. If I had the power, prison would be a place of dread. and killers would be confined in a windowless cell, complete with a rope to be used at their own convenience. (You thought that I was a nice kind old man didn't you).Michael Wallace wrote:You'd've thought thanks to Nu Labour, Gordon and his EU cronies causing the credit crunch and record unemployment, not to mention all the immigrants coming in and stealing even more British jobs, that the potential audience would be enormous! Kids could do with a bit more Countdown in their lives, leaving school unable to read or write, squeezing out kids being the best they can do, living off handouts from cradle to grave. Maybe Countdown should try and be more in line with yoof culture - I bet if the contestants were encouraged to stab each other for drugs and alcopops their audience figures would skyrocket (and it would merely complement the only 'educashun' they're clearly getting in schools). Besides, why should I have to pay for some foreigner to learn from Countdown so he can steal my children's babies whilst I'm working for my country? It's political correctness gone mad.
(I feel like I could do better, but I thought I'd temper it to see if it would get past moderation.)
But your observations about our young people generally, are not correct. I'm sure that the majority are hard working and want to get on in life. What really sends me into a fury is our justice system which will send a young mother with two children to prison, for stabbing a burglar in the arm. She got a longer sentence than the burglar.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I can't help noticing that I was no longer on the show on this date - perhaps the weather has nothing to do with itD Eadie wrote:The weather affects every show right across the board. The day in question was Wednesday March 18th.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
George, you do know Michael's post was a joke, don't you?George Jenkins wrote:Michael, Now that you have calmed down a bit, (I hope) I'll take a bite at the lure that you have cast out.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Sorry KaiJon Corby wrote:Yeah, but the Daily Mail is an utter fucking abomination of a shitrag read by cunts.
16/10/2007 - Episode 4460
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
It'd be interesting to know how much of an impact contestants have on the figures. Wasn't there a massive increase in viewers when Conor was on?Kirk Bevins wrote:I can't help noticing that I was no longer on the show on this date - perhaps the weather has nothing to do with itD Eadie wrote:The weather affects every show right across the board. The day in question was Wednesday March 18th.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Oh, and don't get me started on gays...Phil Reynolds wrote:George, you do know Michael's post was a joke, don't you?George Jenkins wrote:Michael, Now that you have calmed down a bit, (I hope) I'll take a bite at the lure that you have cast out.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Hmmmm.Kirk Bevins wrote:I can't help noticing that I was no longer on the show on this date - perhaps the weather has nothing to do with itD Eadie wrote:The weather affects every show right across the board. The day in question was Wednesday March 18th.
If you cut a gandiseeg in half, do you get two gandiseegs or two halves of a gandiseeg?
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
lol.How they can keep trash like Jonathan Ross and get rid of clever people I really don't know.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
One victim versus my three .Phil Reynolds wrote:George, you do know Michael's post was a joke, don't you?George Jenkins wrote:Michael, Now that you have calmed down a bit, (I hope) I'll take a bite at the lure that you have cast out.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I was informed at Countdown Towers the rating figures went up half a million when I was onJimmy Gough wrote:It'd be interesting to know how much of an impact contestants have on the figures. Wasn't there a massive increase in viewers when Conor was on?Kirk Bevins wrote:I can't help noticing that I was no longer on the show on this date - perhaps the weather has nothing to do with itD Eadie wrote:The weather affects every show right across the board. The day in question was Wednesday March 18th.
16/10/2007 - Episode 4460
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
AwesomeKai Laddiman wrote: I was informed at Countdown Towers the rating figures went up half a million when I was on
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Yeah, but that was just your brothers.Kai Laddiman wrote:I was informed at Countdown Towers the rating figures went up half a million when I was on
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Something I've noticed just lately, although I can't put my finger on exactly when it happened: the advertising profile during the commercial breaks in the C4 transmissions has changed out of all recognition from what it was a year or so ago. Gone are the endless ads for stairlifts, retirement plans and Saga cruises; in their place we now have a wide spectrum of ads for everything from cars to computer games and from supermarkets to the latest movie releases. Clearly the advertisers have woken up to the idea that Countdown is a good place to reach a broad audience demographic. Maybe the Daily Hate-Mail should take note.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
surprisingly the alleged "newspaper" didn't print my comments in support of countdown
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
They don't seem to have added any comments submitted since 12:46 yesterday.Davy Affleck wrote:surprisingly the alleged "newspaper" didn't print my comments in support of countdown
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Are they trying to imply that viewing figures have dropped because Carol isn't in the show anymore? Yeah we all just tuned in to see her "banter" with Des.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I think I should try and do a graph of time of day hate crimes occur to see if there's a spike after 12:46, if this is when Daily Mail writers knock off.Phil Reynolds wrote:They don't seem to have added any comments submitted since 12:46 yesterday.Davy Affleck wrote:surprisingly the alleged "newspaper" didn't print my comments in support of countdown
Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Jojo Apollo wrote:Are they trying to imply that viewing figures have dropped because Carol isn't in the show anymore? Yeah we all just tuned in to see her "banter" with Des.
FFS. It's not often I can be accused of being too subtle.Jon Corby wrote:That's well out of order, man.D Eadie wrote:It isn't the journalist who creates the subject matter, it's fed to them from an outside source, most likely someone formerly connected to the show who harbours a resentment, but i cannot think who.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I thought the crime rate in London went down!
No matter what, they shouldn't blame it on Jeff and Rachel!
Someone on the Countdown crew has e-mailed me in the last day, and she said that they are still having a lot of fun on the show despite the Yorkshire studio closing.
Case in point, Countdown will not be canceled.
No matter what, they shouldn't blame it on Jeff and Rachel!
Someone on the Countdown crew has e-mailed me in the last day, and she said that they are still having a lot of fun on the show despite the Yorkshire studio closing.
Case in point, Countdown will not be canceled.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Phil, I have just re-read Michael's Post and I feel a right twit. (I know that this confession will bring a host of posts on my head agreeing with my own diagnosis, so please be gentle with me. But I did agree with most of his sentiments even if he was only joking.Phil Reynolds wrote:George, you do know Michael's post was a joke, don't you?George Jenkins wrote:Michael, Now that you have calmed down a bit, (I hope) I'll take a bite at the lure that you have cast out.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I just read the article a second time. The funny thing is that, as you read it, you just know it's all leading up to a conclusion that the show is under threat, but it doesn't. It's a very poorly written and researched article, but it's balanced. Accusations against Rachel and a response. Praise of Carol, undermined. And principally the (presumably accurate) fact that the audience fell to its lowest ever figure, with space given to a full response from C4. No attempt to second guess any of the responses, or to have a journalistic final word. In fact a decent journalist would have been all over one or two threads on this forum and had an absolute field day.
Countdown only needs defending from this if you think it's got something to be defensive about.
Countdown only needs defending from this if you think it's got something to be defensive about.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I can't speak for viewing figures as I don't have access to them, but it's interesting to see the number of positive comments on this forum as a whole about how most people enjoy Countdown more now that Jeff and Rachel are on it. I wouldn't trust that article as far as I can throw my dining room table.
If you cut a gandiseeg in half, do you get two gandiseegs or two halves of a gandiseeg?
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Because obviously this place is going to be a really representative set of people...Martin Gardner wrote:I can't speak for viewing figures as I don't have access to them, but it's interesting to see the number of positive comments on this forum as a whole about how most people enjoy Countdown more now that Jeff and Rachel are on it. I wouldn't trust that article as far as I can throw my dining room table.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Agreed. I'd say that sadly from experience 9/10 people I've mentioned Countdown to away from this forum always comment on how much they miss Carol and Richard - I've heard "it's just not the same" so many times.Michael Wallace wrote:Because obviously this place is going to be a really representative set of people...Martin Gardner wrote:I can't speak for viewing figures as I don't have access to them, but it's interesting to see the number of positive comments on this forum as a whole about how most people enjoy Countdown more now that Jeff and Rachel are on it. I wouldn't trust that article as far as I can throw my dining room table.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I've heard that mostly from people who never watched it anyway, but just liked the continuity of having the same people on every day.Matt Morrison wrote: Agreed. I'd say that sadly from experience 9/10 people I've mentioned Countdown to away from this forum always comment on how much they miss Carol and Richard - I've heard "it's just not the same" so many times.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Because I've learnt my lesson ,I'm going to agree with everything you say.Michael Wallace wrote:Oh, and don't get me started on gays...Phil Reynolds wrote:George, you do know Michael's post was a joke, don't you?George Jenkins wrote:Michael, Now that you have calmed down a bit, (I hope) I'll take a bite at the lure that you have cast out.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
the number of viewing figures can only be accurately assessed over a period of time, and an average figure produced. If reduced audiences can be proved in the future, it may be because of the new format, and nothing to do with the new presenters, as has been suggested. The overall gloomy primary blue colour of the set completely dominates to the detriment of the players. Just one example was one occasion when Rachel wore a red dress. the clash between the primary red dress and primary gloomy blue of the set was hideous. If there has to be an overall colour, a soft light green which is nature's colour, would have been preferable. Rachel's primary red dress, set against the neutral complementary colour green would have looked stunning.Martin Gardner wrote:I can't speak for viewing figures as I don't have access to them, but it's interesting to see the number of positive comments on this forum as a whole about how most people enjoy Countdown more now that Jeff and Rachel are on it. I wouldn't trust that article as far as I can throw my dining room table.
The set is no longer comfortable to watch, and I can prove that by quoting my Wife. She said that she can't watch it any more, because of eye strain and headache. She has been a fanatical fan of Countdown since the first programme, but now it has lost her.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
That's not a great proof. I think it is totally comfortable to watch - it's a less harsh colour than the pink/red set.George Jenkins wrote: The set is no longer comfortable to watch, and I can prove that by quoting my Wife. She said that she can't watch it any more, because of eye strain and headache. She has been a fanatical fan of Countdown since the first programme, but now it has lost her.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Nah, I'm with George on this, the blue comes across rather strong whereas the previous set seemed a lot softer.Kirk Bevins wrote:That's not a great proof. I think it is totally comfortable to watch - it's a less harsh colour than the pink/red set.George Jenkins wrote: The set is no longer comfortable to watch, and I can prove that by quoting my Wife. She said that she can't watch it any more, because of eye strain and headache. She has been a fanatical fan of Countdown since the first programme, but now it has lost her.
(I was wondering if this was just because of my freaky eye, but the wife agrees, so it's not just me.)
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Well, maybe there are people who were given eyestrain and headaches by the old set and not the new one. It's hardly like we have a whole lot of data to go on.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
I have no problem with the new colours, nor Rachel's dresses, especially the red one, but I'm a slow reader and I didn't want to get into a discussion with George.Kirk Bevins wrote:That's not a great proof. I think it is totally comfortable to watch - it's a less harsh colour than the pink/red set.George Jenkins wrote: The set is no longer comfortable to watch, and I can prove that by quoting my Wife. She said that she can't watch it any more, because of eye strain and headache. She has been a fanatical fan of Countdown since the first programme, but now it has lost her.
I haven't seen today's programme yet but the dresses Rachel has worn for the last three days have been quite stunning.
I thought I was good at Countdown until I joined this forum
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
We have watched Countdown since the beginning and there have been changes to the set that we have got used to. the previous colours were soft reds and pinks, and although not perfect, were warm and bright to see. When we watch Countdown it is like inviting comfortable friends into our house, we expect to see them perform in comfortable, quiet, warm surroundings, as we are, watching them. we expect them to be dominant because they are the players and they entertain us. We do not expect them to be swamped and become of secondary importance to a gloomy, primary dark blue set, created by persons lacking in the knowledge of colour harmony and compatibility, but probably thinking that they are modern and "with it".Michael Wallace wrote:Nah, I'm with George on this, the blue comes across rather strong whereas the previous set seemed a lot softer.Kirk Bevins wrote:That's not a great proof. I think it is totally comfortable to watch - it's a less harsh colour than the pink/red set.George Jenkins wrote: The set is no longer comfortable to watch, and I can prove that by quoting my Wife. She said that she can't watch it any more, because of eye strain and headache. She has been a fanatical fan of Countdown since the first programme, but now it has lost her.
(I was wondering if this was just because of my freaky eye, but the wife agrees, so it's not just me.)
if I may demonstrate what I mean. Two famous Artists, Constable and Turner, hung their pictures next to each other in the (I'm believe) Royal Academy. Constable's picture was a countryside scene full of detail. Turner's picture was just a series of waves out at sea. Constable and the Judges were mystified by Turners picture. they commented that it was nothing, and what did Turner think he was playing at. the day before the exhibition opened, Turner arrived with a brush and paints. He painted a red buoy at a balanced place in the green waves, and Constable was mortified. Turner's picture glowed with the primary red buoy against the soft neutral green of the waves. Constable's picture look drab by comparison. Turner won the prize.
This is an extreme example of what I complain of about the countdown set. I want the players performing on Countdown to stand out like Turner's buoy, and not be submerged in a gloomy blue colour. By the way, as I have said elsewhere on this forum, I am an Artist, and if anybody wants to dispute my reasoning, I welcome constructive argument.
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
Absolutely right Jon. When us Engine driver's went on strike in 1955, I found on reading the Daily Mirror, (a socialist paper), that I was a card carrying Communist, a traitor preventing the little office girls getting to work, planning to bring the Country down on it's knees and letting the Russian hordes in. In fact, our Union branch secretary at Orpington had his house searched by secret police in plain clothes. The fact that we were on strike to obtain the same wages that little office girls were earning, was never mentioned.Jon Corby wrote:Yeah, but the Daily Mail is an utter fucking abomination of a shitrag read by cunts.Ian Dent wrote:Those comments are fairly damning...
A question that possibly Damo and Kate could answer is, do stories like this really matter in any way at all? I mean, surely it's not like someone at C4 will read this drivel and think "hang on, maybe I should scrap that programme from the schedule then", or that somebody is on the verge of advertising and decides not to based on this. These people won't be basing any sort of decisions on the words of some halfwit journo, they'll have the more pertinent and correct figures to hand to do with (as discussed above). And would anybody really sit down to watch Countdown and think "oh, hang on, I remember reading in the Daily Mail that Rachel doesn't solve as many numbers as Carol used to, so maybe I won't bother now"?
Is there any real damage done by this shit? Do I underestimate the power of the media (the answer to this is probably 'yes', as I'm not sure how else you explain the transition from Jade being a fat idiotic pig to a media darling to a vile racist bully to something approaching a saint.)
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Re: Defend Countdown (Daily Mail article)
A sensible reply Charlie. I wonder if, as we get older, we get set in our ways and opinions, but younger people are more tolerant to change.Charlie Reams wrote:Well, maybe there are people who were given eyestrain and headaches by the old set and not the new one. It's hardly like we have a whole lot of data to go on.
I won't change my mind about the set of course, but it would be interesting to see the reaction if the set was changed to give prominence to the players. this is another case of you pays your money and takes your choice, and nobody wins.