It lasted THREE weeks.

Countdown recap for Saturday 5 December 1987.
C1: Challenger David Stevens.
C2: Champion Stephen Deakin (4 wins, 200 points.)
DC: Della Thompson and Nigel Rees.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: R G I E N R U T H
R02: T P I C H E N J O
R03: Z D A I S K E T R
R04: 50, 7, 8, 10, 5, 4. Target: 976.
R05: L C O S Q E N U Y
R06: D R I E B H N A F
R07: F R U T L O L E S
R08: 75, 50, 9, 1, 10, 8. Target: 886.
R09: C A N D Y T I E S (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: R G I E N R U T H
C1: HURTING (7)
C2: HERRING (7)
DC: GRUNTER (7) HUNGRIER (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
Round 2: T P I C H E N J O
C1: PINTO (5)
C2: POINT (5)
DC: PHONETIC (8)
Score: 12–12 (max 16)
Round 3: Z D A I S K E T R
C1: SKATED (6)
C2: SKIRTED (7)
DC: ASTRIDE (7) TIRADES (7) DARKEST (7)
OT: DARKIES (7) DISRATE (7) KARZIES (7)
Score: 12–19 (max 23)
Round 4: 50, 7, 8, 10, 5, 4. Target: 976.
C1: 980.
C2: 976. (5 x 4 x 50) - ((10 - 7) x 8) (10)
Score: 12–29 (max 33)
Round 5: L C O S Q E N U Y
C1: CLONES (6)
C2: OUNCES (6)
DC: COUNSEL (7) CLOQUES (7)
OT: UNCLOSE (7)
Score: 18–35 (max 40)
Round 6: D R I E B H N A F
C1: BANDIER (7)
C2: BANDIER (7)
DC: HANDIER (7) BRAINED (7)
Score: 25–42 (max 47)
Round 7: F R U T L O L E S
C1: FULLEST (7)
C2: FULLER (6)
DC: FOULEST (7) FLUSTER (7)
OT: FLORETS (7) FLOTELS (7) FULLERS (7) OURSELF (7) OUTSELL (7) RESTFUL (7)
Score: 32–42 (max 54)
Round 8: 75, 50, 9, 1, 10, 8. Target: 886.
C1: 884. ((10 + 1) x 75) + 50 + 9 (7)
C2: 890.
CV: 886. ((75 + 9 - 8) x (10 + 1)) + 50 (10)
Score: 39–42 (max 64)
Round 9: C A N D Y T I E S
No one buzzes. The answer was SYNDICATE.
Score: 39–42 (max 74)
Statistics Corner
David:
Total score - 39
Raw score - 52
Total % of max - 53
Raw % of max - 70
Total average score per round - 4.3
Raw average score per round - 5.8
Number of maxes - 2
Stephen:
Total score - 42
Raw score - 55
Total % of max - 57
Raw % of max - 74
Total average score per round - 4.7
Raw average score per round - 6.1
Number of maxes - 3
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=14