
Countdown (1982)
Countdown is a British game show involving word and number puzzles. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on Channel 4. It is presented by Nick Hewer, assisted by Rachel Riley, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and 67 series have been broadcast since its debut on 2 November 1982. With over 5,000 episodes, Countdown is one of the longest-running game shows in the world, along with the original French version, Des chiffres et des lettres, which has been running on French television continuously since 1965. Countdown was initially recorded at The Leeds Studios for 27 years, before moving to Granada Studios in 2009, and then over to MediaCityUK in Salford Quays in 2013. The programme was presented by Richard Whiteley for over 20 years, until his death in June 2005. It was then presented by Des Lynam until the end of 2006, Des O'Connor until the end of 2008, and Jeff Stelling until the end of 2011. The current presenter is Nick Hewer. Carol Vorderman, the show's co-host, who had been on the programme since it began, left the show in December 2008, at the same time as O'Connor. She was replaced by Rachel Riley. A celebrity guest features in every programme, and provides a brief interlude before the first advertisement break. The two contestants in each episode compete in three disciplines: eleven letters rounds, in which the contestants attempt to make the longest word possible from nine randomly chosen letters; three numbers rounds, in which the contestants must use arithmetic to reach a random target number from six other numbers; and the conundrum, a buzzer round in which the contestants compete to solve a nine-letter anagram. During the series heats, the winning contestant returns the next day until he or she loses or has accumulated eight wins. The best contestants are invited back for the series finals, which are decided in knockout format. Contestants of exceptional skill have received national media coverage, and the programme as a whole is widely recognised and parodied within British culture.
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Episode 1 - Episode 398
Release Date: 1986-03-31 -
Episode 2 - Episode 399
Release Date: 1986-04-01 -
Episode 3 - Episode 400
Release Date: 1986-04-02 -
Episode 4 - Episode 401
Release Date: 1986-04-03 -
Episode 5 - Episode 402
Release Date: 1986-04-04 -
Episode 6 - Episode 403
Release Date: 1986-04-07 -
Episode 7 - Episode 404
Release Date: 1986-04-08 -
Episode 8 - Episode 405
Release Date: 1986-04-09 -
Episode 9 - Episode 406
Release Date: 1986-04-10 -
Episode 10 - Episode 407
Release Date: 1986-04-11 -
Episode 11 - Episode 408
Release Date: 1986-04-14 -
Episode 12 - Episode 409
Release Date: 1986-04-15 -
Episode 13 - Episode 410
Release Date: 1986-04-16 -
Episode 14 - Episode 411
Release Date: 1986-04-17 -
Episode 15 - Episode 412
Release Date: 1986-04-18 -
Episode 16 - Episode 413
Release Date: 1986-04-21 -
Episode 17 - Episode 414
Release Date: 1986-04-22 -
Episode 18 - Episode 415
Release Date: 1986-04-23 -
Episode 19 - Episode 416
Release Date: 1986-04-24 -
Episode 20 - Episode 417
Release Date: 1986-04-25 -
Episode 21 - Episode 418
Release Date: 1986-04-28 -
Episode 22 - Episode 419
Release Date: 1986-04-29 -
Episode 23 - Episode 420
Release Date: 1986-04-30 -
Episode 24 - Episode 421
Release Date: 1986-05-01 -
Episode 25 - Episode 422
Release Date: 1986-05-02 -
Episode 26 - Episode 423
Release Date: 1986-05-05 -
Episode 27 - Episode 424
Release Date: 1986-05-06 -
Episode 28 - Episode 425
Release Date: 1986-05-07 -
Episode 29 - Episode 426
Release Date: 1986-05-08 -
Episode 30 - Episode 427
Release Date: 1986-05-09 -
Episode 31 - Episode 428
Release Date: 1986-05-12 -
Episode 32 - Episode 429
Release Date: 1986-05-13 -
Episode 33 - Episode 430
Release Date: 1986-05-14 -
Episode 34 - Episode 431
Release Date: 1986-05-15 -
Episode 35 - Episode 432
Release Date: 1986-05-16 -
Episode 36 - Episode 433
Release Date: 1986-05-19 -
Episode 37 - Episode 434
Release Date: 1986-05-20 -
Episode 38 - Episode 435
Release Date: 1986-05-21 -
Episode 39 - Episode 436
Release Date: 1986-05-22 -
Episode 40 - Episode 437
Release Date: 1986-05-23 -
Episode 41 - Episode 438
Release Date: 1986-05-26 -
Episode 42 - Episode 439
Release Date: 1986-05-27 -
Episode 43 - Episode 440
Release Date: 1986-05-28 -
Episode 44 - Episode 441
Release Date: 1986-05-29 -
Episode 45 - Episode 442
Release Date: 1986-05-30 -
Episode 46 - Episode 443
Release Date: 1986-06-02 -
Episode 47 - Episode 444
Release Date: 1986-06-03