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00:00Still to come this afternoon on 4, Loads of Money is always the potential prize in Deal or No Deal at 4,
00:05and we're in Cardiff for Come Dine With Me at 5.
00:08Now, quizzing first, and it's a rather special episode of Countdown.
00:30APPLAUSE
00:49Good afternoon and welcome, big welcome to the Countdown studio today.
00:53Big day for us, big day for us.
00:56I'm delighted you've joined us for our 6,000th show.
01:00How about that? 6,000 shows.
01:02APPLAUSE
01:066,000, I know, extraordinary number, hard to believe,
01:09but it was the first show on Channel 4 on 2nd November 1982.
01:15Countdown was launched and who was number one?
01:18It was Culture Club and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
01:21My word, extraordinary.
01:23Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? was Countdown, the first show on Channel 4, of course,
01:28but the face, the voice that opened it was none other than the great Richard Whiteley,
01:33who was so well-loved as a host of this show,
01:37and of course he was joined by the statuesque Carol Vorderman,
01:41and when Richard sadly passed away, who took over?
01:44Des Lynam and then Des O'Connor and then your great pal Geoff Stelling.
01:48Remarkable, remarkable period for Channel 4 and for television in general, I guess.
01:54My highlight, what was I doing in 1982? I can't remember.
01:57I think I was working away. Big hair?
02:00A flock of seagulls haircut and a shell suit, Nick.
02:03No, never a shell suit.
02:05But what's been the highlight for me, working with my co-presenters,
02:08Rachel and Susie, of course, has been a great joy.
02:10What have been your highlights, do you reckon?
02:12Oh, I've had absolutely loads. It's been brilliant.
02:14Geoff in wrong trousers day came out with pink leopard print tights.
02:18No.
02:19Susie trying to get through the origin of Cocker Hoop.
02:21You on your 70th birthday with your pith helmet,
02:23and we had some brilliant champions of our 30th birthday series,
02:26and of course, when Ryan Giggs came and surprised me on my 1000th show.
02:30He came in from the wings and you looked startled and then delighted.
02:34Absolutely.
02:35It was a great day.
02:36We had a lot of fun here.
02:37Well, listen, who have we got with us today?
02:39We've got Zilong Ng from Bristol,
02:43currently at Cardiff, I think, University.
02:45That's the one.
02:46Studying physiology.
02:48Big upset yesterday when you beat David Stanford.
02:51He's a seven times winner, but you swept him away.
02:54Let's see how tough you are today,
02:55because you're up against Paul Bradley,
02:57joining us from North Shields, Tyne and Wear.
02:59No prizes for guessing.
03:00I guess that you're a big Newcastle United fan.
03:02Absolutely, yes.
03:03Good stuff.
03:04Plays bass guitar in a pub band called the Cosmic Space Pirates.
03:08Correct.
03:09And a big fan of the Soaps, apparently.
03:11So who do you go for?
03:12Which channel do you turn on?
03:14I watch them both.
03:15The Coras and the Eastenders.
03:18But if I was to pick one of the two pubs...
03:20Yes?
03:21I'd probably go for the Rovers Return.
03:23The Rovers Return.
03:24Less chance of getting killed in there, I think.
03:26Let's have a big round of applause, then,
03:28for Zilong and Paul Bradley.
03:32And, of course, over in the corner, as ever,
03:34Susie Dent, big hair, shoulder pads, way back in 82, I guess,
03:38joined once again by the wonderful, wonderful Janet Street-Porter.
03:42Now, before we get down to business here,
03:44you just stick with us,
03:45because we've got some big surprise at the end of this show.
03:48I'm not going to even give you a hint as to what it is,
03:51but it's worth waiting for.
03:53Now, then, Zilong, give us a letters game.
03:56Hi, Rachel.
03:57Hi, Zilong.
03:58Can I have a consonant, please?
03:59You can, thank you. Start today with T.
04:02And a vowel.
04:04O.
04:05A consonant.
04:07M.
04:08And another.
04:11G.
04:12And a vowel.
04:14E.
04:15A consonant.
04:17R.
04:19And a vowel.
04:21A.
04:22A consonant.
04:24S.
04:26And a final consonant, please.
04:28And a final F.
04:30And here's the countdown clock.
05:01Yes, Zilong?
05:03Six.
05:04Six. And Paul?
05:06Six.
05:07Two sixes. Zilong?
05:09Great.
05:10Paul?
05:11Faster.
05:12Faster.
05:13No arguments there. What has the corner got to offer us?
05:15There is an eight there. That's formates,
05:18which are salts of formic acid.
05:21Thank you. Thank you very much.
05:25So, let's go with Paul. Letters game, Paul.
05:28Hi, Rachel.
05:29Hi, Paul.
05:30Could I have a consonant, please?
05:32Thank you. Start with R.
05:35And a vowel.
05:37O.
05:38A consonant.
05:40N.
05:42And another one, please.
05:44S.
05:46A vowel, please.
05:48A.
05:50A consonant.
05:52D.
05:54Another consonant.
05:56S.
05:57A vowel.
06:00E.
06:02And a final consonant, please.
06:04And a final B.
06:07And here's the clock.
06:29CLOCK TICKS
06:40Yes, Paul?
06:41We'll try an eight.
06:42An eight. How about Zilong?
06:44Seven.
06:45And that seven?
06:46Badness.
06:47Badness. Paul?
06:48Broadens?
06:49Broaden.
06:50Absolutely brilliant. Yes.
06:52That's an eight.
06:53Anything, anywhere stretching that tall?
06:57I only had drones.
06:59I had a really last-minute spot because I had broadens as well,
07:02but you can have broadness for nine.
07:04Broadness. Very good.
07:07So, Paul made a strong start there.
07:0914 points to Zilong.
07:10Six, and it's a numbers game for Zilong.
07:14Three large and three small, please.
07:16Thank you, Zilong.
07:17Three from the top row and three little ones.
07:20And for the first time today,
07:22the little ones are seven, three and six.
07:25And the large ones, 50, 75 and 100.
07:29And the target, 973.
07:32973.
07:56Zilong.
07:58No idea.
07:59Too far? How about Paul?
08:01975.
08:02Two away.
08:04Let's give it a shot.
08:05We'll go with six plus three.
08:07Six plus three is nine.
08:09Times 100.
08:10Times 100 for 900.
08:12Add the 75.
08:13Yep, for two away. Well done. 975.
08:16But 975 is...
08:18Nine.
08:19Nine.
08:20Nine.
08:21Nine.
08:22Nine.
08:23And 975.
08:24But 973. Rachel, how tricky is that?
08:27It is there.
08:28If you say 100 plus 50 is 150.
08:33Times by seven is 1050.
08:36Take away the 75 is 975.
08:39And then six over three is two to take away, and 973.
08:42Fantastic. Well done, Rachel.
08:46As ever.
08:48Wonderful stuff. So, Paul on 21.
08:50Zilong yet to really fire up. He's on six.
08:52as we turn to a teatime teaser, which is sin, guilt, and the clue...
08:57He may have guilt about certain sins, but bad language isn't one of them.
09:02He may have guilt about certain sins, but bad language isn't one of them.
09:08BUZZER
09:16APPLAUSE
09:22Welcome back. I left you with the clue.
09:24He may have guilt about certain sins, but bad language isn't one of them.
09:30And the answer is linguist, cos he's a linguist.
09:34Now then, Paul on 21, Zee long six.
09:38Paul, strong start. And now it's your letters game.
09:42Cheers. Could I have a consonant, please, Rachel?
09:44Thank you, Paul. J.
09:46And a vowel?
09:48A.
09:50A consonant, please?
09:52T.
09:54And another?
09:56L.
09:58And a vowel, please?
10:00U.
10:02A consonant?
10:04V.
10:06A vowel?
10:08E.
10:10Consonant?
10:12D.
10:14And a final consonant, please?
10:16And a final R.
10:19Countdown.
10:50BUZZER
10:52Yes, Paul?
10:53A seven.
10:54A seven, and Zee long?
10:55A seven.
10:56Paul?
10:57Vaulted.
10:58Vaulted, and you're both vaulted?
11:00Yes.
11:01Any more vaulters over there?
11:03No, I found vaulted. Otherwise just valued for six.
11:06Very good. All right. 28, please. 13, Zee long. Letters game for you.
11:10Could I have a consonant, please?
11:12Thank you, Zee long. N.
11:14And a vowel?
11:16O.
11:18And another?
11:20U.
11:21And a consonant?
11:23T.
11:24And a vowel?
11:26E.
11:28And a consonant?
11:30N.
11:31And another?
11:33D.
11:35And another?
11:37C.
11:39And one more, please?
11:41And last one. N.
11:43Stand by.
11:48BUZZER
12:15Zee long?
12:16A seven.
12:17A seven, Paul?
12:18A seven.
12:19Zee long?
12:20Counted.
12:21And Paul?
12:22Mounted.
12:23Counted and mounted.
12:25And what's happening in the corner? Janet?
12:28Documents.
12:29Yes.
12:30Brilliant.
12:31Very good.
12:32Very good.
12:33Anything else, Susie?
12:34Can't top eight. That was excellent.
12:36So the score's down again to 20 and 35 for Paul.
12:38And, Paul, your numbers game.
12:40Could I have one large and any other five of your choice?
12:43Indeed. Five little ones.
12:45Up to you.
12:46Let's have another three large, three small.
12:48Thank you, Paul. Dangerous, letting me have my choice.
12:51Right, this time we have six, seven and ten.
12:55And a large one, 75, 100 and 25.
13:00And a target, 496.
13:02496.
13:16THEY CONFER
13:34Paul?
13:35No. No any, I'm sorry.
13:37How about zee long?
13:38497, not completely written down.
13:41Don't worry about that. Have a go at it.
13:4475 times six, 450.
13:4775, yep, times six, 450.
13:49100 over 25 is four.
13:51Yep.
13:52Times ten.
13:5440.
13:55Add the seven and add it on.
13:57Yes, for one away.
13:59497.
14:00Good shot, though, but not quite perfect.
14:03Not quite a bullseye.
14:04What does 496 look like, Rachel?
14:06If you say 75 plus seven is 82,
14:11multiplied by six is 492,
14:14and then 100 over 25 is the four to add on for 496.
14:19There we go. Well done.
14:23So, zee long, 27, Paul on 35.
14:26But now we turn to the wonderful Janet Street Porter.
14:30Janet, we talked about 6,000 shows and way back to 82.
14:34What were you up to exactly?
14:36I was working for ITV.
14:38I was doing a show every Friday night with Michael Aspel,
14:41shown in the London area.
14:42It was hugely popular, though, called The Six O'Clock Show,
14:45not a very original title.
14:47And I was also presenting a late-night show
14:50that went out in different regions
14:52because then not every part of England showed all the same programmes.
14:57So I was doing a late-night show that was all women,
15:00so it was called The Cat Show, for ITV,
15:03and people either loved it or hated it.
15:08All I can remember is that Baroness Warnock
15:11wrote some file piece about it in The Observer,
15:14saying it was the worst show she'd ever seen on television.
15:17Anyway, I've had the last laugh because I'm still on television.
15:21I think I was on Husband Number 3.
15:24Oh!
15:25Because actually, when I realised I was going to have to talk about 1982,
15:29I had to go through my drawer of wedding certificates
15:32and divorce certificates to find out which one.
15:36I was up to...
15:37Is it quite a big drawer, then? I don't understand.
15:40It's quite full, yes.
15:43You are a character.
15:44Some of 1982 seems like yesterday.
15:46Lovely. Thank you so much, Janet. Brilliant.
15:49So, Zilong, your letters game.
15:51Start with a consonant, please.
15:53Thank you, Zilong.
15:54G
15:55And a vowel.
15:57A
15:58And another.
16:00O
16:01And a consonant.
16:04W
16:05And another.
16:07M
16:08And a vowel.
16:10E
16:11And a consonant.
16:13M
16:14And a vowel.
16:17I
16:18And a final consonant, please.
16:20And a final T.
16:22Time's up.
16:35MUSIC PLAYS
16:55Yes, Zilong?
16:56Six, not written down.
16:58And how about Paul?
16:59Erm...
17:00Four, not written down.
17:03Neither of you written down?
17:05So, Paul?
17:07Erm...
17:08Went?
17:09Oh, there's no N in there. Doesn't matter.
17:12How about Zilong?
17:13Er, gamut.
17:15Er, gamut, as in running the gamut, is G-A-M-U-T, unfortunately.
17:19Oh, dear.
17:20Sorry.
17:21All right, these things happen. Now, then, Janet, what have you got for us?
17:24What nine have you got, Janet?
17:26I've got a top word, but it's only five letters,
17:29but I'm very, very pleased with it.
17:31Meow.
17:33It's your cat show.
17:35Yeah.
17:36And Susie?
17:37A really tough one. I had gimme for five, which you won't like,
17:41and towage for six.
17:43Towage?
17:44Towage.
17:4535 plays Zilong's 27.
17:47Now, then, Paul, your letters game.
17:49We'll have a consonant, please.
17:51Thank you, Paul. Z.
17:53We'll try again, please.
17:56R
17:57A vowel, please.
17:59E
18:00And a consonant.
18:02P
18:04A consonant.
18:06S
18:07And a vowel.
18:09I
18:11Another consonant.
18:14P
18:15A vowel.
18:18A
18:20And we'll finish with a consonant, please.
18:23And finish with T.
18:25And here's the Countdown Clock.
18:30CLOCK TICKS
18:57Yes, Paul?
18:58Er, six.
18:59Zilong?
19:00Six as well.
19:01Paul?
19:02Spirit.
19:03Spirit and...?
19:04Aspire.
19:05Happy?
19:06Yes, very happy.
19:07And what has the corner got?
19:08Over there's Susie, Janet.
19:11Er, well, prizes, prize...
19:15Rezips.
19:17You can turn it round a little bit and have zippers.
19:19Seven.
19:20Yeah.
19:21Er, trapes for seven.
19:22But there is an eight.
19:23And it's nice to go to the Countdown Zappiest.
19:26The Zappiest show on TV.
19:27Yeah, sure.
19:28Zappy.
19:29Very good.
19:31Very good.
19:3341 plays, 33.
19:34We're into the numbers, into Rachel's territory here.
19:37Zilong, your numbers game.
19:39Er, we try three large and three small again, please.
19:42Another three from the top row and three little ones.
19:45Thank you, Zilong.
19:46And for the third time today, the three little ones are
19:49two, ten and five.
19:52And the large three, 75, 25 and 100.
19:57And the target, 747.
19:59747.
20:27Yes, Zilong.
20:30748.
20:34One away, Paul.
20:35Er, 747.
20:36747, then.
20:38Right, er, yeah, 75 times ten.
20:4175 times ten, 750.
20:44And five minus two.
20:45Yeah, is the three.
20:46And take that away.
20:47Yeah, and Zilong's kicking himself, 747.
20:50APPLAUSE
20:52Well done.
20:53Paul's 61, plays Zilong's 33,
20:55as we turn to a teatime teaser, which is Child Get.
20:59And the clue,
21:00see the child get crossed because the computer's broken.
21:04See the child get crossed because the computer's broken.
21:08BELL
21:09MUSIC
21:15APPLAUSE
21:18APPLAUSE
21:28Welcome back.
21:29I left with the clue, see the child get crossed
21:31because the computer's broken.
21:33And the answer is glitched.
21:36It was glitched.
21:38Is that sensible, Susie? Glitched?
21:40Sounds very sensible.
21:41Oh, it's...
21:42Yeah, quite new as a verb.
21:43OK.
21:4451 plays Zilong's 33.
21:46Paul, you're back on, letters game.
21:48Right, we'll have a consonant, please.
21:50Thank you, Paul.
21:51N
21:52And a vowel.
21:54E
21:56And a consonant.
21:58T
21:59And another consonant, please.
22:01S
22:03A vowel, please.
22:05U
22:06Another consonant.
22:08N
22:10A vowel, please.
22:13E
22:15A consonant.
22:17X
22:20And we'll go with a vowel, please.
22:23And the last one, I.
22:25Stand by.
22:27MUSIC
22:44MUSIC
22:57Yes, Paul?
22:58A six.
22:59A six and, er...
23:01Zilong?
23:02Just a five.
23:03And that five?
23:04Tunes.
23:06Yes, Paul?
23:07Unisex?
23:08Unisex.
23:09Very nice.
23:10OK, now...
23:11Yeah.
23:12I have exeant for six,
23:14which is the stage direction for an actor to exit, or actors.
23:18And also tunnies.
23:19Tuna fish, especially the bluefin tuna fish.
23:22Tunnies, yeah.
23:23Tunny fish, very good.
23:24And 57 to Zilong's 33.
23:28Zilong, letters game.
23:30Start with another consonant, please.
23:32Thank you, Zilong.
23:33D
23:34And a vowel.
23:36U
23:37And another.
23:39A
23:40And a consonant.
23:42P
23:43And a vowel.
23:46E
23:47And another.
23:50A
23:51And a consonant.
23:53K
23:54And another.
23:57R
23:58And a final vowel, please.
24:00And a final E.
24:03The clock starts now.
24:05MUSIC
24:11MUSIC
24:37Yes, Zilong?
24:38Six.
24:39Six.
24:40Zilong?
24:41Pete.
24:42Pete and?
24:43Pete.
24:44Both of you.
24:45OK.
24:46And a corner.
24:47Susie and Janet?
24:49Well, I've peaked or parked.
24:52Yeah, parade.
24:53Lots of sixes, Nick, but couldn't find anything longer.
24:55All right, very well.
24:56So, 63 plays Zilong's 39 now.
24:59And, of course, at this stage we normally turn to Susie
25:01for her wonderful origins of words,
25:03but I know that you'll forgive us today, Susie,
25:05because we have something in store at the end of the show.
25:08So, Paul, let's turn to you now for the penultimate letters game.
25:12All right, we'll have a consonant, please.
25:14Thank you, Paul.
25:16L
25:17And a vowel.
25:19A
25:20A consonant.
25:22C
25:24And another consonant.
25:26S
25:28A vowel.
25:30U
25:32A consonant.
25:35N
25:37A vowel.
25:40I
25:42A consonant.
25:44L
25:46And a vowel, please.
25:48And the last one, A.
25:50Countdown.
26:04B
26:22Yes, Paul, just a five.
26:24A five, Zilong?
26:26Risky seven.
26:28So, Paul, a clans.
26:30And your risk, Zilong?
26:32Canulus.
26:34Canulus.
26:36Canula.
26:38How are you spelling that?
26:40C-A-N-U-L-I-S.
26:42Yeah, it's canula, I think.
26:45Not canulus, unfortunately.
26:47Not there. Sorry, Zilong.
26:49Bad luck. But what can we have?
26:52Well, I had casual for six.
26:55Mm-hm.
26:57And I risked a seven, and luckily it is in there.
27:00A lacuna, which means a gap,
27:02it can be a missing piece of text in a manuscript,
27:04is either lacunae or lacunas.
27:06And you have that for seven.
27:08Very good.
27:10All right, 6-8, please.
27:1239.
27:14Zilong, your final letters game.
27:16A consonant, please.
27:18Thank you, Zilong.
27:20T
27:22And another.
27:24R
27:26And a vowel.
27:28U
27:30And a consonant.
27:32L
27:34And another.
27:36V
27:38And a vowel.
27:40I
27:42And a consonant.
27:44N
27:46And a final vowel, please.
27:48And a final A.
27:50Top time.
27:58CLOCK TICKS
28:22Yes, Zilong?
28:24Six.
28:26No, just a five.
28:28And that five, Trian?
28:30Zilong?
28:32Valour.
28:34Very nice.
28:36For valour. Very good.
28:38And the corner, what comes from the corner?
28:40I had valour, but I also had love it,
28:42which is only five, but it's a nice word.
28:44Fabric.
28:46Susie?
28:48Outrival is there for eight,
28:50as in nobody can outrival Janet.
28:52In all sorts of ways.
28:54That's for sure.
28:56What else? Anything else?
28:58No, that's that eight.
29:00All right, 68 plays 45.
29:02We're going to the final numbers game, one for Paul.
29:04Right, Rachel, we'll play it safe this time
29:06with one large and five small, please.
29:08Thank you, Paul.
29:10One large, one five small.
29:12Play it safe, not letting me choose.
29:14Very wise decision, thank you, Paul.
29:16And for the last time this week,
29:18the numbers are six, eight, another eight,
29:20four, seven, and the large one, 75.
29:22553.
29:53Yes, Paul.
29:55555, not written down.
29:59208, Zilong.
30:01549, not written down.
30:03Right, so let's go with Paul.
30:08Right, we went 75 x 8.
30:1175 x 8, 600.
30:14Then it was 7 x 6.
30:177 x 6 is 42.
30:20Yeah, tear that off.
30:22For 558.
30:24And I've miscalculated.
30:26It was actually 554. Never mind.
30:28Never mind.
30:30Zilong.
30:3275 x 7.
30:3475 x 7, 525.
30:36And 6 x 4 is 24.
30:386 x 4, 24.
30:40549.
30:42Well done, Zilong, but not perfect.
30:44553, is that a horror?
30:46No.
30:48So, for this one, you might kick yourself.
30:50You can say 75 plus 4 is 79, and times that by 7.
30:54Well done. There we are.
31:00All right, 68 plays Zilong's 52 as we go into the final round,
31:04conundrum round.
31:06So, fings on buzzers, please.
31:08Let's reveal today's countdown conundrum.
31:18BUZZER
31:40BUZZER
31:42Yes, Paul?
31:44I just wanted to press the button, really,
31:47but I don't think so.
31:49No?
31:52And the rest of the time?
31:54BUZZER
31:56I can't admit it.
31:58I got half my bit on camera as well,
32:00so I felt like pressing it as well.
32:02With any particular reason?
32:04I was going to go for womanised, but I remember there's no M or A.
32:07Right, all right.
32:09All right.
32:11We've got a couple of comedians up here.
32:13Let's see what we've got in the audiences
32:15and give us the correct answer.
32:17Do I see a hand? Yes, sir.
32:19Is it downsized?
32:21Let's see whether you're right. Downsized.
32:23Said with confidence. Well done.
32:25APPLAUSE
32:29So, well done. 68 indeed to Zilong's 52.
32:32Zilong, you swept away David Stanford yesterday brilliantly,
32:37and today you were sort of gonged by Paul Bradley.
32:41So, we're sending you home with a teapot.
32:44Brilliant.
32:46And a goodie bag. Well done, indeed.
32:49And, Paul, we'll see you on Monday. Well done. Good win.
32:53But now, for some truly exciting news,
32:58what else could we do for our 6,000th show?
33:02APPLAUSE
33:05OK, well, at the very top of the show,
33:07we promised you something very, very special.
33:10We promised you 6,000 shows,
33:13and here's a gentleman who's going to tell you
33:16what's so special about today.
33:18Well, my name is Mark McKinley.
33:20I am an adjudicator with Guinness World Records,
33:23and today it gives me great pleasure to announce
33:26that with over 70 series,
33:28Countdown is the most broadcast series aired by a game show.
33:33Congratulations. You are officially amazing.
33:36Well done. Thank you very much.
33:40Isn't that terrific?
33:42It's the greatest show of your life, Nick.
33:45How about that?
33:47And, of course, this goes all the way back to those great days
33:51of all the other presenters
33:53and all the people backstage that have driven this forward.
33:57It's fantastic, don't you think?
33:59It's a great privilege to be part of it, and thank you, Guinness.
34:02Thank you very much indeed. Thanks very much.
34:04Glad to be here. Good stuff.
34:06How about that, then, Janet? I'm impressed.
34:08Yes? It takes quite a lot to impress our Janet, anyway.
34:12Brilliant stuff.
34:14Now, join us again, same time on Monday.
34:17We'll be here waiting for you with our certificate.
34:20Where are we going to put this thing, do you think?
34:22Where shall we hang it?
34:24Next to the champagne we're about to go get now.
34:26Not a good idea.
34:28Same time on Monday, same place, you'll be sure of it.
34:31Good afternoon.
34:33You can find our programme by email at countdown.com,
34:36by Twitter at C4Countdown,
34:38or write to us at countdownleads1js.
34:42You can also find our web page at channel4.com forward slash countdown.
35:03Thank you very much.