c4countdown

It's nearly 20 years to day since the 1,000th episode of Countdown. 1997 saw the show hit 2,000 episodes, the 3,000th came in 2001, the 4,000th came in 2006.

But today, Tuesday March 23rd 2010, the longest running show on Channel 4 hits the big 5,000

61 completed series, 13 Championship Of Champions, thousands of contestants, hundreds of Dictionary Corner guests and lexicographers, 2 arithmeticians, 4 hosts later, and it's still going strong.

I think we all toast the brilliance of Countdown, and hope it'll reach the 10,000 in around 20 years time or so.

But, back to today's show, Dave Wilkinson saw off our champion Kevin yesterday, so we still wait for our 2nd octochamp of the series. Are we even going to get another one Will Dave be that next octochamp

Who knows

FUCKED
You bottlers.

Marc Meakin wrote:FUCKED
You bottlers.

That was embarrassing. I wish both these guys could lose.

AERIALS for 7 there as well

Matt Morrison wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:FUCKED
You bottlers.

That was embarrassing. I wish both these guys could lose.

Mind you if they had of declared it, would it have edited it out anyway.

2nd numbers:

(10 + 8 + 4 + 1 ) x 7

ONSTAGE also.

Nothing beats seeing a good old schoolboy on countdown eh?

Marc Meakin wrote: Mind you if they had of declared it, would it have edited it out anyway.

I wonder if it was edited out, judging by Jeff's reactions.
Alternative 1st numbers : (50x10-6x2)x2 -75

Ray Folwell wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote: Mind you if they had of declared it, would it have edited it out anyway.

I wonder if it was edited out, judging by Jeff's reactions.
Alternative 1st numbers : (50x10-6x2)x2 -75

Charles never said it, but did say "6, but not one I can say on TV" or somesuch.

Ray Folwell wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote: Mind you if they had of declared it, would it have edited it out anyway.

I wonder if it was edited out, judging by Jeff's reactions.

There's no way it would be edited out and they'd be forced to declare a shorter word than they actually validly had. That'd be so wrong.

Grandad told me off for saying fucked

MALISONS as a dc beater in rd 1 i think.

Good stuff on the numbrs by rachel today.

Matt Morrison wrote:

Ray Folwell wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote: Mind you if they had of declared it, would it have edited it out anyway.

I wonder if it was edited out, judging by Jeff's reactions.

There's no way it would be edited out and they'd be forced to declare a shorter word than they actually validly had. That'd be so wrong.

I agree, as it afects heir overall total. They must have not seen it. I liked Rachel's expression when she realised putting up the E a-lol.

Both saw it, both went for the 5 in the name of decency. Points totals not really relevant at this stage.

And we're not 5000 until FRIDAY James !!!!

D Eadie wrote:Both saw it, both went for the 5 in the name of decency. Points totals not really relevant at this stage.

It's a shame as I would have liked to have heard Jeff say ' both contestants got fucked, did you get fucked Susie'

D Eadie wrote:And we're not 5000 until FRIDAY James !!!!

The debate goes on.

Marc Meakin wrote: The debate goes on.

If there's anyone alive who can prove Friday isn't our 5000th then i'll concede defeat.

D Eadie wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote: The debate goes on.

If there's anyone alive who can prove Friday isn't our 5000th then i'll concede defeat.

Certainly in my view, Friday is closer than today to the 5000th.

Great numbers by Rach today. She clearly saw FUCKED straight away as well, lol.

I trust I wasn't the only one who guffawed at Jeff saying something about "taking a few mansize mouthfuls during Masterchef" to Gregg?

Howard Somerset wrote:

D Eadie wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote: The debate goes on.

If there's anyone alive who can prove Friday isn't our 5000th then i'll concede defeat.

Certainly in my view, Friday is closer than today to the 5000th.

Strictly speaking, we've already passed 5,000 episodes if we include every Masters episode and special show, so maybe we should just end it there. I'm personally just going by the Wiki page, which lists today as #5,000.

James Robinson wrote:Strictly speaking, we've already passed 5,000 episodes if we include every Masters episode and special show, so maybe we should just end it there. I'm personally just going by the Wiki page, which lists today as #5,000.

But as we know, the Wiki episode numbering does have some anomalies.

Howard Somerset wrote: But as we know, the Wiki episode numbering does have some anomalies.

Examples?

James Robinson wrote:Strictly speaking, we've already passed 5,000 episodes if we include every Masters episode and special show, so maybe we should just end it there. I'm personally just going by the Wiki page, which lists today as #5,000.

Hang on, so we've already passed 5000 shows, yet you halfwittedly declare today's show as the 5000th in your recap spoilery thing, even though you know that officially it's on Friday. Yeah, makes perfect sense. Strictly speaking, you're typing any old bollocks into your computer for the sake of it without any modicum of a thought process. Nothing new there then.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Howard Somerset wrote: But as we know, the Wiki episode numbering does have some anomalies.

Examples?

One is Episode 4473 - the Conor v Chris game. This was a special within the time of Series 57, but not part of that series.
About three other specials were given standard episode numbers, so these four are included in the count, which reached 5000 today.
Most specials, including the one broadcast on Monday last week (within the time of Series 62, but not part of that series), have been given a separate sequence of numbers, and are therefore not included in the 5000 count.

D Eadie wrote:

James Robinson wrote:Strictly speaking, we've already passed 5,000 episodes if we include every Masters episode and special show, so maybe we should just end it there. I'm personally just going by the Wiki page, which lists today as #5,000.

Hang on, so we've already passed 5000 shows, yet you halfwittedly declare today's show as the 5000th in your recap spoilery thing, even though you know that officially it's on Friday.

Actually, I have never accepted Friday's show as being officially the 5,000th show. Based on my principle, this show was #5,000. You obviously have accepted that Friday is going to be the 5,000th show, which is fine. I don't mind what others think.

Really, once we sort these anomalies out, then we'll know the true answer.

Howard Somerset wrote:

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Howard Somerset wrote: But as we know, the Wiki episode numbering does have some anomalies.

Examples?

One is Episode 4473 - the Conor v Chris game. This was a special within the time of Series 57, but not part of that series.
About three other specials were given standard episode numbers, so these four are included in the count, which reached 5000 today.
Most specials, including the one broadcast on Monday last week (within the time of Series 62, but not part of that series), have been given a separate sequence of numbers, and are therefore not included in the 5000 count.

First I'll point out that I really don't care, but as I am commenting - I don't get it. These are still episodes of Countdown, they still count towards "5000 episodes of Countdown". No one's talking about "5000 regular series episodes of Countdown".

So just to clarify, friday is the 5,000th show of regular countdown (ie not celebrity specials etc.).
But there have been more than 5,000 games of countdown broadcast.

Unless of course somebody can define this better.

Marc Meakin wrote:So just to clarify, friday is the 5,000th show of regular countdown (ie not celebrity specials etc.).
But there have been more than 5,000 games of countdown broadcast.

LOL - i've no idea and am past caring now. If James says the 5000th has been and gone, then it's been and gone.

Howard Somerset wrote:

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Howard Somerset wrote: But as we know, the Wiki episode numbering does have some anomalies.

Examples?

One is Episode 4473 - the Conor v Chris game. This was a special within the time of Series 57, but not part of that series.
About three other specials were given standard episode numbers, so these four are included in the count, which reached 5000 today.
Most specials, including the one broadcast on Monday last week (within the time of Series 62, but not part of that series), have been given a separate sequence of numbers, and are therefore not included in the 5000 count.

To satisfy my curiosity, how are the episode numbers allocated? Mike Brown has obviously been using a numbering system for years and the Wiki system seems to follow the same one - did Mike invent it?

A couple of weeks ago I tried working out which was the 5000th game of Countdown to be broadcast, including all the oddities. I did this because I hoped it would be one of my games, but unfortunately I seem to have missed by a couple of weeks. By my reckoning it was that famous cliffhanger between Andrew Hulme and Barbara Speak.

Marc Meakin wrote:So just to clarify, friday is the 5,000th show of regular countdown (ie not celebrity specials etc.).
But there have been more than 5,000 games of countdown broadcast.

Unless of course somebody can define this better.

Right, let's see if I can help.

Yesterday's show was the 5,000th regular show. The term "regular" includes the Chris Wills v Conor Travers match as mentioned by Howard, the Champion Of Champions match between Clive Freedman & Mark Nyman, the "500th show special" involving Bill Tidy & Gyles Brandreth, the "1000th show special" between Allan Saldanha & Tim Morrisey, the "1500th show special" between Gareth Williams & Allan Saldanha and the "18th birthday special" where Gyles Brandreth & Mark Nyman took on Jo Brand & Damian.

The many specials recorded in 2002/03 are separate episodes, as are the 4 recorded this year. The Masters shows in 1990/1 are also separate, as is the Richard Whiteley/Carol Vorderman Christmas special.

Hope that helps.

James Robinson wrote:
The many specials recorded in 2002/03 are separate episodes, as are the 4 recorded this year. The Masters shows in 1990/1 are also separate, as is the Richard Whiteley/Carol Vorderman Christmas special.

You can cook figures however you want to. Not sure how or why you've deemed certain shows to be non-inclusive in the 5000 total. Anyway, the 5000th is Friday. Get over it.

D Eadie wrote:

James Robinson wrote:The many specials recorded in 2002/03 are separate episodes, as are the 4 recorded this year. The Masters shows in 1990/1 are also separate, as is the Richard Whiteley/Carol Vorderman Christmas special.

You can cook figures however you want to. Not sure how or why you've deemed certain shows to be non-inclusive in the 5000 total. Anyway, the 5000th is Friday. Get over it.

I haven't deemed them to be inclusive or not in the total. All my information is from the Wiki only. I'm just interpreting it from that source.

If you say the 5,000th is Friday, Damian, that will do for me.

Fact.
Friday's show is the show that is celebrating the 5,000th edition of Countdown.
(but not necessarily the 5,000th show per se)

Am sure someone can settle this, but we've always called them editions, not episodes.
It's not relevant, but it's in keeping with the rest of the thread.

Marc Meakin wrote:Fact.
Friday's show is the show that is celebrating the 5,000th episode of Countdown.
(but not necessarily the 5,000th show per se)

True, having said that, based on the Wiki, the 500th, 1,000th and 1,500th EDITIONS of the show, as mentioned above, weren't those either.

The 500th was #495, the 1,000th was #1,003 and the 1,500th was #1,523.

Oh, and also in reference to above, the Celebrity Countdown editions aren't classified as regular either.

D Eadie wrote:Am sure someone can settle this, but we've always called them editions, not episodes.
It's not relevant, but it's in keeping with the rest of the thread.

Now corrected.

Dunno what the definite answer is Marc.
I hear both used all the time by loads of TV bods, so it must be a close call.

D Eadie wrote:Dunno what the definite answer is Marc.
I hear both used all the time by loads of TV bods, so it must be a close call.

Soap operas and dramas use episodes, along with sitcoms.
Maybe editions work better with gameshows, quizzes and current affairs.

Marc Meakin wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:FUCKED
You bottlers.

That was embarrassing. I wish both these guys could lose.

Mind you if they had of declared it, would it have edited it out anyway.

Has if we haven't seen all these before:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/201 ... -22138366/

James Robinson wrote:Has if we haven't seen all these before:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/201 ... -22138366/

"Click to watch the video and see the funny word" - Brilliant.

Why is Charlie's wankers not there but pooping is? Poor form.

http://lenta.ru/news/2010/03/24/fcuedk/

FUCKEDgate - it even made the news in Russia!

Kirk Bevins wrote:Why is Charlie's wankers not there but pooping is? Poor form.

Presumably because they already had WANKER in there, and it made for a better example of the word than Charlie's because it wasn't bleeped?

Clive Brooker wrote:To satisfy my curiosity, how are the episode numbers allocated? Mike Brown has obviously been using a numbering system for years and the Wiki system seems to follow the same one - did Mike invent it?

Sorry to come into this late, but I've been catching up over the Easter weekend and I thought it warranted a quick reply. I'd never really imagined that I 'invented' the numbering system, but I suppose in a way I did. To be honest, I think it was more a case of wanting to count the episodes/editions (whichever ) for my own amusement (I don't get out much) and it way pre-dates the website. When I first counted them, I just counted every show there was, and missed out only any that were obviously (word used with due caution) not part of the main run of programmes (like Celebrity Countdown and the Christmas Special) as they cropped up. I soon became aware that eps like the so-called 500th show weren't exactly that, but the 3,000th show (well after the Countdown Page was up and running and Damian was well aware of its existence) matched up with what Yorkshire TV decided and that count would certainly have included some 'special' editions. To be honest, I think these landmark shows have as much to do with how they fit into the schedules, which is probably why this latest one was shown on the Friday, even if it was the 5,000th, 5,003rd or 5,292nd (I made that last figure up, so don't try and check it) - otherwise, Des would have appeared on Wednesday, and we'd not have had the build up to the end of the week, etc., etc. This is television, the world of smoke and mirrors, after all.