What's it like to be a contestant on Countdown? Former player reveals all
05.06.2022 - 13:39
/ msn.com
Countdown is one of the UK’s most beloved and prestigious quiz shows, but actually appearing on the Channel 4 programme sounds like quite the conundrum in itself. Letters and numbers are just part of everyday life for most of us, but for those who decide to apply for Countdown, they quickly become all-consuming. Having run since 1982 and with over 7,000 episodes having broadcast so far, it’s clear it still has a huge draw for many.
Long-term fans will remember the original line-up consisting of presenter Richard Whiteley and maths whizz and all-around legend Carol Vorderman brought on to check the figures all matched up. Things haven’t changed too much since then, with lexicographer Susie Dent joining the team permanently back in 2004 and Rachel Riley taking over from Vorders in 2009. Current presenter Anne Robinson revealed she would be stepping down after just a year, meaning someone else will soon be in the hot seat to observe all the goings-on of the incredibly competitive series.
To find out just how things work behind the scenes, Metro. co. uk chatted with former contestant Jen Steadman, who was an octochamp on series 69 of Countdown, broadcast back in 2013.
She’s got quite the record, in fact, and is statistically the greatest female octochamp (a contestant who wins all eight of their heat games), in Countdown’s history, and the highest-scoring woman ever, amongst a long list of other Countdown accomplishments. Jen was also invited back to the Countdown studio as a contestant in the spin-off series, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, to assist the late great comedian Sean Lock and Jason Manford to victory over Sarah Millican, Jonathan Ross and Roisin Conaty. We thought we’d get all the gossip from one of the
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