c4countdown

We're looking into the possibility of making some special stand-alone 30-min editions of Countdown in a few weeks time, possibly June 17th - the idea being these are aired at a later time of day during the back end of August.

Toying with the possibility of Goat Conundrums, putting different numbers on the 4 Large cards, and generally spicing up the gameplay a little, just for a week, just for 5 shows. Maybe even a numbers game special whereby some of you whizzkids take on Rachel etc. Am sure you get the drift.

Anyway, not really possible to do any of this without contestants, so if anyone is interested in theory, then please add your name to this thread or email me at damian.eadie@granadamedia.com

Only 5 shows, so no need for the purists to start worrying about the normal 45-min edition. Bear in mind that 5 shows equals 10 contestants, and not everyone will come from this forum, so don't feel maligned or upset if you're not asked.

Cheers
Damian

For people who have not been on before right? Or open to all?

Cheers,

Rob.

Sounds great. Unfortunately, I have My FP4 exams on the morning of June the 17th, so theres not much point in me putting my name forward.

Would there be tickets available as usual for these shows?

OH GOD ME ME ME ME PLEASE

YES YES YES !!!!! (please)

I'd love a crack at a numbers challenge against Rachel, or a 'decider' against Reams, or anything. Anything. In fact, I'd be up for anything at all.

Junaid Mubeen wrote:YES YES YES !!!!! (please)

I'd love a crack at a numbers challenge against Rachel, or a 'decider' against Reams, or anything. Anything. In fact, I'd be up for anything at all.

Anything?

Rob Thomas wrote:For people who have not been on before right? Or open to all?

I would presume if anything it'd be exclusively for people who'd been on before and are moderately established (but I would also presume Damian will come along and clear it up soon enough).

It would amuse me to see a game where Jeff plays Rachel. Perhaps with a favourite DC guest taking up Jeffs usual role, and I previous numbers wizard playing Rachels role.

D Eadie wrote:................ not everyone will come from this forum, so don't feel maligned or upset if you're not asked.

Cheers
Damian

It would be good to SEE the likes of Charlie, Corby, DoDdie and Junaid doing battle again.

I'd be keen, if only so the British public can see how much prettier I am without facial hair. Any kind of rematch from my earlier appearances would be quite amusing, since all 3 of my biggest scalps (Kai, Junaid, Corby) would probably mince me now.

I'd like to see a Beevers v Hansford rematch.

Me, preferably against Callum or Conor.

Michael Wallace wrote:

Junaid Mubeen wrote:In fact, I'd be up for anything at all.

Anything?

Damian did say that these specials would be aired later in the day, which could mean post-watershed...

Phil Reynolds wrote:Damian did say that these specials would be aired later in the day, which could mean post-watershed...

Your mind, gutter, etc.

I would be interested even though I haven't appeared on the show yet.

No hard and fast rules re previous appearances, but i do think it's prob likely that debutants wouldn't feature much, it's not an ideal situation for making your first ever Countdown appearance.

Impossible to call any shots though until we know what possibilities we've got to play with.

Again, this is only a 'sounding out' exercise, not saying for definite it'll happen on June 17 or at all - and not post-watershed either, it'll be good clean wholesome stuff.

I nominate Kai Laddiman, he is now amazing and will impress everybody.

Jon Corby wrote:I'd like to see a Beevers v Hansford rematch.

How about just jeffrey on his own, or maybe even a recap of when he was on before showing his best bits. I would literally die with laughter.

Ben Hunter wrote:I nominate Kai Laddiman, he is now amazing and will impress everybody.

That'll be good for him, because everybody thought he was really shit last time and nobody was remotely impressed.

JackHurst wrote:It would amuse me to see a game where Jeff plays Rachel. Perhaps with a favourite DC guest taking up Jeffs usual role, and I previous numbers wizard playing Rachels role.

That would be awesome, although if they were in separate shows (Jeff playing a standard game, Rachel a numbers attack) that would be as good.

Maybe Jeff v Jo Brand / Stephen Fry, Rachel v Junaid.

Another Cool idea:

Jeff team Vs Rachels team. Essentially, there would be a bunch of former contestants and DC guests, and Jeff and Rachel pick teams "kick about style", and then these teams play each other, with players form each team being alternated between rounds.

JackHurst wrote:How about just jeffrey on his own, or maybe even a recap of when he was on before showing his best bits. I would literally die with laughter.

Why would you suggest something that would kill you?

This sounds like great fun. I'll put my name forward on the off-chance that I might get picked.

Would be interested... though obviously not as much of a CD legend as some of the others mentioned above.

Michael Wallace wrote:

JackHurst wrote:How about just jeffrey on his own, or maybe even a recap of when he was on before showing his best bits. I would literally die with laughter.

Why would you suggest something that would kill you?

Because i'd be incredibly happy to die under that circumstance.

Junaid Mubeen wrote:YES YES YES !!!!! (please)

I'd love a crack at a numbers challenge against Rachel, or a 'decider' against Reams, or anything. Anything. In fact, I'd be up for anything at all.

This would be good. Particularly with a stipulation where you get her job if you win.

With the amount of people interested in playing, how about either having a poll or some sort of tournament on apterous to win the right to play

Presumably Damien would have to agree to it

marc meakin wrote:With the amount of people interested in playing, how about either having a poll or some sort of tournament on apterous to win the right to play

Presumably Damien would have to agree to it

No, it would be binding whether Damian liked it or not. We control everything.

D Eadie wrote:We're looking into the possibility of making some special stand-alone 30-min editions of Countdown in a few weeks time, possibly June 17th - the idea being these are aired at a later time of day during the back end of August.

Damian, I know you said it will possibly be on June 17th, but if it was how would that work with the shows already set to be filmed on that day? Like mine, for example.

I'd like to see Jeff vs Rachel like what they did in the 1997 xmas special where it was Richard vs Carol.

marc meakin wrote:With the amount of people interested in playing, how about either having a poll or some sort of tournament on apterous to win the right to play

Presumably Damien would have to agree to it

Well there's no guarantee that Damian only wants the best players. Viewers may enjoy a Goatdown match more if they are not being beaten by uber-obscure words every round (which would clearly be much more likely to happen in goatdown than normal countdown). Or if he wants to do a grudge match, say between Charlie and Junaid, it would be a bit silly to have people competing for the right to appear in that.
Also, if the best players are the ones playing, that reduces the already minuscule chance that I'll get on.

Is it just contestant spots up for grabs, or can we appear in any capacity? I'd like a crack at Jeff's job...

Neil Zussman wrote:

marc meakin wrote:With the amount of people interested in playing, how about either having a poll or some sort of tournament on apterous to win the right to play

Presumably Damien would have to agree to it

Well there's no guarantee that Damien only wants the best players. Viewers may enjoy a Goatdown match more if they are not being beaten by uber-obscure words every round (which would clearly be much more likely to happen in goatdown than normal countdown). Or if he wants to do a grudge match, say between Charlie and Junaid, it would be a bit silly to have people competing for the right to appear in that.
Also, if the best players are the ones playing, that reduces the already minuscule chance that I'll get on.

Is it just contestant spots up for grabs, or can we appear in any capacity? I'd like a crack at Jeff's job...

Impressive that you both managed to spell Damian's name wrongly in a thread started by him

Charlie Reams wrote:

Neil Zussman wrote:

marc meakin wrote:With the amount of people interested in playing, how about either having a poll or some sort of tournament on apterous to win the right to play

Presumably Damien would have to agree to it

Well there's no guarantee that Damian only wants the best players. Viewers may enjoy a Goatdown match more if they are not being beaten by uber-obscure words every round (which would clearly be much more likely to happen in goatdown than normal countdown). Or if he wants to do a grudge match, say between Charlie and Junaid, it would be a bit silly to have people competing for the right to appear in that.
Also, if the best players are the ones playing, that reduces the already minuscule chance that I'll get on.

Is it just contestant spots up for grabs, or can we appear in any capacity? I'd like a crack at Jeff's job...

Impressive that you both managed to spell Damian's name wrongly in a thread started by him

Shush. No-one saw nuffing.
In my defence, I used the piece I quoted as a reference. Besides, now you see why I don't want the best spellers to get the coveted places, so in effect, it just backs up my point. It was deliberate.

Jeff vs. Rachel would be nice, but then there'd be the hassle of getting replacements in for a one-off game, so I doubt it'd be on the cards.

Laddiman, Kai vs. Laddiman, Callum surely has to be the perfect match for this sort of format and would certainly get my vote. If there was a vote. Which there isn't.

Another good game would be Joe Bolas vs. Amey Deshpande - TO THE DEATH! - but there may be some problems with that one.

I think it would be cool to have a completely Apterous game. For example, Junaid on the numbers board, Chris and Kirk in Dictionary Corner, Charlie as presenter, and then two contestants - Kai v Callum?

Would love to! And I'm sure my girlfriend (Lorraine Murtagh, fellow Apterite) would love to too

Edit: There's an idea: couple v couple, with some aggregate scoring system.

My hat = in the ring.

Neil Zussman wrote:Also, if the best players are the ones playing, that reduces the already minuscule chance that I'll get on.

Aww is that the Series 60 Champion talking?

JimBentley wrote: Another good game would be Joe Bolas vs. Amey Deshpande - TO THE DEATH! - but there may be some problems with that one.

Could you please explain why this game would be so good? I think these contestants go back to before i was a real fan.

Damian, you are E for excellent! High marks to you!

We gave you good ideas, didn't we?

Neil Zussman wrote:This sounds like great fun. I'll put my name forward on the off-chance that I might get picked.

Same here. I'd LOVE to do it!

This is so amazingly exciting! CONOR! Definitely. I'd love to see him go back on, being the greatest/most famous in recent times and being even better now than when he went on. Kai would be so fantastic and impressive as well. Also: DoD, Paul Howe, Charlie, Kirk, Junaid, Corby... there's just so many. Wow! Will be so great!

Could this be a coincidence?

Numbers challenge: Rachel vs David Williams would get my vote if I had one.

Awesome, I'm definitely interested if there's even a slim chance of getting my ugly mug on screen again.

I knew Jimmy Gough would show interest in that because he is the most recent Octochamp.

I may as well volunteer myself for whatever may be in store. I'd be exceptionally keen on spectating on this regardless though as it sounds juicy! Chances are I'll miss out entirely due to being in Thailand from 14th-29th June, but if another date which I can make comes up then there's up to 4 Micra spots from London available.

I'd like to begin the clamour for Tony Warren to be a guest host too btw.

Dan, I'd like to see you then because I think you would be very entertaining to see!

Dan Vanniasingham wrote:I'd like to begin the clamour for Tony Warren to be a guest host too btw.

With Carol* doing the numbers?

* (not that Carol, Tony's Carol)

Or how about some young kids playing Junior Countdown?

Dan Vanniasingham wrote:I'd like to begin the clamour for Tony Warren to be a guest host too btw.

Thought for a moment you were referring to Tony Warren MBE, a man whose fortunes are inextricably linked with those of the Granada studios. Come to think of it, he'd be a great DC guest.

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Dan Vanniasingham wrote:I'd like to begin the clamour for Tony Warren to be a guest host too btw.

Thought for a moment you were referring to Tony Warren MBE, a man whose fortunes are inextricably linked with those of the Granada studios. Come to think of it, he'd be a great DC guest.

I concur! I would also like to see the creator of Coronation Street in DC, and I don't even watch the show!

Put me down Damo, 100%.

What about me and Dino playing hypernumbers?

http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=42167

Jason Larsen wrote:Dan, I'd like to see you then because I think you would be very entertaining to see!

I think my life is now complete. Thank you, Jason!

Excellent news. Can't remember when the last specials were on.

Matthew Green wrote:Put me down Damo, 100%.

What about me and Dino playing hypernumbers?

http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=42167

Agreed! I'll also toss my hat into the ring as grandmas seem to love me. I'm also liking the idea of grudge matches and the return of Kai.

I'll take part if I'm asked. I'm particularly keen on the 'goatdown' idea of having a 'blank' and/or nominated letter or any kind of letters variants like that. Sounds like a lot of fun!

Matthew Green wrote:Put me down Damo, 100%.

What about me and Dino playing hypernumbers?

http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=42167

Ahem.

I'll throw my hat into the ring please

Rich Priest wrote:I'll throw my hat into the ring please

hope its a big ring as it has lots of hats in it already

As there can only be a maximum of 10 contestants, what about having most of the audience made up of former octochamps and Apterites

Real-life versions of the Apterous bots as a speedgoat between Howe and Prime would make great telly.

marc meakin wrote:hope its a big ring as it has lots of hats in it already

As there can only be a maximum of 10 contestants, what about having most of the audience made up of former octochamps and Apterites

Who is the most senior person who bothers to post in here regularly (in terms of longest time ago on the show not age)? Is it Ben Wilson? I think he should be appointed decision-maker, so the final 10 is down to him as a reward for his commitment to the show and all that surrounds it.