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00:00Still to come this afternoon on 4, loads of money's always the potential prize in deal or no deal at
00:044,
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.
00:48Good afternoon and welcome, big welcome to the Countdown studio today.
00:53Big day for us, big day for us.
00:55You've joined us for our 6,000th show.
00:59How about that? 6,000th show.
01:046,000, I know, extraordinary number, hard to believe, but it was the first show on Channel 4 on the
01:102nd of November 1982.
01:14Countdown was launched, and who was number one? It was Culture Club, and Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?
01:20My word, extraordinary.
01:21But not only was Countdown the first show on Channel 4, of course, but the face, the voice that opened
01:28it was none other than the great Richard Whiteley,
01:31who was so well-loved as a host of this show.
01:35And, of course, he was joined by the statuesque Carol Vorderman, and when Richard sadly passed away, who took over?
01:43Des Lime and then Des O'Connor, and then your great pal, Jeff Stelling.
01:46So it's been a remarkable, remarkable period for Channel 4 and for television in general, I guess.
01:53My highlights, what was I doing in 82? I can't remember.
01:57I think I was working away. Big hair?
01:59A flock of seagulls hair cut in a shell suit, Nick?
02:02No, never a shell suit.
02:04But what's been the highlight for me, working with my co-presenters, Rachel and Susie, of course, has been a
02:08great joy.
02:09What have been your highlights, do you reckon?
02:11Oh, I've had absolutely loads. It's been brilliant.
02:13There was Jeff in Wrong Trousers Day, came out with pink leopard print tights.
02:18Susie trying to get through the origin of Cockerhoop, you on your 70th birthday with your pith helmet,
02:23and we had some, you know, brilliant champions, our 30th birthday series,
02:26and, of course, when Ryan Giggs came and surprised me on my 1,000th show.
02:30He came in from the wings, and you looked startled and then delighted.
02:34Absolutely.
02:35It's a great day.
02:35We had a lot of fun here.
02:36Well, listen, who have we got with us today?
02:38We've got Zilong Ng from Bristol, currently at Cardiff, I think, University, studying Physiology.
02:47Big upset yesterday when you beat David Stanford.
02:50He's a seven-times winner, but you swept him away.
02:54Let's see how tough you are today, because you're up against Paul Bradley,
02:56joining us from North Shields, Tyne and Weir.
02:58No prizes for guessing, I guess, that you're a big Newcastle United fan.
03:02Absolutely, yes.
03:03Good stuff.
03:03Plays bass guitar in a pub band called the Cosmic Space Pirates.
03:08Correct.
03:09And big fan of the soaps, apparently.
03:11So, who'd you go for? Which channel did you turn on?
03:13Erm, I'd watch them both, really, the Corras and the EastEnders.
03:18Erm, but if I was to pick one of the two pubs, I'd probably go for the Rovers Return.
03:23The Rovers Return?
03:24Less chance of getting killed in there, I think.
03:26Indeed, let's have a big round of applause, then, for Zilong and Paul Bradley.
03:32And, of course, over in the corner, as ever, Susie Dent, big hair, shoulder pads, way back in 82, I
03:37guess,
03:38joined once again by the wonderful, wonderful Janet Street Porter.
03:42Now, before we get down to business here, you just stick with us,
03:45because we've got some big surprise at the end of this show.
03:48So, I'm not going to even give you a hint as to what it is, but it's worth waiting for.
03:53Now then, Zilong, give us a letters game.
03:56Hi, Rachel.
03:57Hi, Zilong.
03:57Can I have a consonant, please?
03:59You can, thank you.
04:00Start today with T.
04:02And a vowel.
04:04O.
04:05A consonant.
04:07M.
04:08And another.
04:11G.
04:11And a vowel.
04:14E.
04:14A consonant.
04:17R.
04:19And a vowel.
04:21A.
04:22A consonant.
04:24S.
04:25And a final consonant, please.
04:28And a final F.
04:30And here's the countdown clock.
05:03Yes, Zilong.
05:05A six.
05:05A six.
05:06And Paul.
05:07A six.
05:08Two sixes.
05:09Zilong.
05:09Great.
05:10Paul.
05:11Faster.
05:12Faster.
05:13No arguments there.
05:14What has the corner got to offer us?
05:15There is an eight there, though.
05:17That's formates, which are salts of formic acid.
05:22Thank you very much.
05:25So, where shall we go?
05:26Let's go with Paul.
05:28Let us get in Paul.
05:29Hi, Rachel.
05:29Hi, Paul.
05:30Hiya.
05:30Could I have a consonant, please?
05:32Start with R.
05:34And a vowel.
05:36O.
05:38A consonant.
05:40N.
05:41And another one, please.
05:43S.
05:45A vowel, please.
05:47A.
05:49A consonant.
05:51D.
05:53Another consonant.
05:56S.
05:57A vowel.
05:59E.
06:01And a final consonant, please.
06:04And a final B.
06:07And here's the clock.
06:08A vowel.
06:21A vowel.
06:24A vowel.
06:25A vowel.
06:25A vowel.
06:26A vowel.
06:26A vowel.
06:26A vowel.
06:26A vowel.
06:26A vowel.
06:36A vowel.
06:39Yes, Paul. We'll try an eight. An eight. How about Zilong? Seven. And that seven? Badness.
06:47Badness, Paul. Broadens? Broadens. Absolutely brilliant. Yes, that for eight. Anything,
06:54anywhere stretching that at all? Hmm, I only had drones. I had a really last minute spot
07:00because I have broadens as well, but you can have broadness for nine. Broadness. Very good.
07:07So, Paul made a strong start there. Fourteen points to Zilong. Six. And it's a numbers game for Zilong.
07:14Three large and three small, please. Thank you, Zilong. Three from the top row. And three little ones.
07:20And for the first time today, the little ones are seven, three, and six. And the large ones,
07:2650, 75, and 100. And the target, 973. 973.
07:33Oh my god.
07:49There's two человек.
07:50Yeah, yeah, yeah.
08:05Z-long.
08:07Nowhere there.
08:08Too far.
08:09How about Paul?
08:109,75, two away.
08:13Let's give it a shot.
08:14We'll go with six plus three.
08:16Six plus three is nine.
08:18Times 100.
08:19Times by 100 for 900.
08:21At the 75.
08:21Yep, for two away.
08:22Well done, 9,75.
08:24But 9,73.
08:25Rachel, how tricky is that?
08:27It is there.
08:28If you say 100 plus 50 is 150.
08:32Times by seven is 1,050.
08:36Take away the 75 is 975.
08:39And then six over three is two to take away and 9,73.
08:43Well done, Rachel.
08:45As ever.
08:47Wonderful stuff.
08:48So Paul on 21.
08:50Z-long yet to really fire up.
08:51He's on six.
08:52As we turn to a tea time teaser, which is sin, guilt.
08:55And the clue, he may have guilt about certain sins,
08:59but bad language isn't one of them.
09:01He may have guilt about certain sins,
09:04but bad language isn't one of them.
09:22Welcome back.
09:23I left you with a clue.
09:24He may have guilt about certain sins,
09:26but bad language isn't one of them.
09:30And the answer is linguist, because he's a linguist.
09:34Now then, Paul on 21, Z-long six.
09:39Paul, strong start.
09:40And now it's your letters game.
09:42Cheers.
09:42Could I have a consonant, please, Rachel?
09:44Thank you, Paul.
09:45J.
09:46And a vowel?
09:48A.
09:49A consonant, please.
09:52T.
09:54And another?
09:56L.
09:57And a vowel, please.
10:00U.
10:01A consonant.
10:04V.
10:05A vowel?
10:07E.
10:09A consonant.
10:11D.
10:13And a final consonant, please.
10:16And a final R.
10:19Countdown.
10:20E.
10:21T겁.
10:21E.
10:35Tлом.
10:36E.
10:37E.
10:38E.
10:39E.
10:40E.
10:41E.
10:51Yes, Paul?
10:52A seven.
10:53A seven, and Z-Long?
10:55Yes, seven.
10:55Paul?
10:56Vaulted.
10:57Vaulted and?
10:58Same.
10:58You both vaulted?
10:59Yes.
11:00Any more vaulters over there?
11:02No, I found vaulted.
11:04Otherwise, just valued for six.
11:05Very good.
11:06All right.
11:0628, please.
11:0713, Z-Long.
11:08Letters game for you.
11:10Can I have a consonant, please?
11:11Thank you, Z-Long.
11:13N.
11:13And a vowel.
11:16O.
11:17And another.
11:19U.
11:20And a consonant.
11:22T.
11:23And a vowel.
11:26E.
11:27And a consonant.
11:29M.
11:30And another.
11:33D.
11:34And another.
11:36C.
11:38And one more, please.
11:40And the last one.
11:42N.
11:43Stand by.
11:44Stand by.
12:14Z-Long.
12:15Z-Long.
12:16A seven.
12:16A seven.
12:17Paul?
12:17Seven.
12:18Z-Long.
12:19Counted.
12:20And Paul?
12:21Mounted.
12:22Counted and mounted.
12:24And what's happening in the corner?
12:25Janet.
12:27Documents.
12:28Yes.
12:29Brilliant.
12:30Very good.
12:31Very good.
12:32Anything else, Susie?
12:33Can't top eight.
12:33That was excellent.
12:34So, scores down to get to 20 and 35 for Paul.
12:37And, Paul, your numbers game.
12:38Could I have one large and any other five of your choice?
12:42Indeed.
12:42Five little ones.
12:43A few.
12:44Oh, okay.
12:45Let's go for...
12:46Let's have another three, large, three, small.
12:48Thank you, Paul.
12:49Dangerous, letting me have my choice.
12:50Right, this time we have six, seven, and ten.
12:54And a large one, 75, 100, and 25.
12:59And a target, 496.
13:02Four, nine, six.
13:03Four, nine, six.
13:33Paul?
13:35No.
13:36Nor any, I'm sorry.
13:37How about Z-long?
13:38Four, nine, seven, not completely written down.
13:41Don't worry about that.
13:42Have a go at it.
13:43Uh, 75 times six, 450.
13:4775, yep, times six, 450.
13:49100 over 25 is four.
13:51Yep.
13:51Times 10.
13:5340.
13:54Add the seven and add it on.
13:57Uh, yes, for one away.
13:59Four, nine, seven.
14:00Good shot, though.
14:01But not quite perfect.
14:03Not quite a bullseye.
14:04What does 496 look like, Rachel?
14:06If you say 75 plus seven is 82, multiplied by six is 492, and then 100 over 25 is the
14:17four
14:17to add on for 496.
14:18There we go.
14:19Well done.
14:23So, uh, Z-long 27, Paul on 35.
14:25But now we turn to the wonderful Janet Street Porter.
14:29And we, Janet, we talked about, uh, 6,000 shows and way back to 82.
14:33What were you up to exactly?
14:35I was working for ITV.
14:38I was doing a show every Friday night with Michael Aspel, shown in the London area.
14:42It was hugely popular, though, called the Six O'Clock Show, not a very original title.
14:47And I was also presenting a late night show that went out in different regions, because then not every part
14:54of England showed all the same program.
14:57So I was doing a late night show that was all women.
15:00So it was called the Cat Show for ITV, and people either loved it or hated it.
15:08Um, all I can remember is that Baroness Warnock wrote some file piece about it in the Observer, saying it
15:15was 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, I was on Husband No. 3.
15:24Oh!
15:25Because I actually, when I realised I was going to have to talk about now at 1982, I had to
15:30go through my drawer of wedding certificates and divorce certificates to find out which one.
15:36I was up to, um...
15:38Is it quite a big drawer, then? I don't understand.
15:41It's quite full, yes.
15:44You are a character.
15:45It's almost 1982, seems like yesterday.
15:47Lovely. Thank you so much, Janet. Brilliant.
15:50So, Z-Long, your letters game?
15:52Start with a consonant, please.
15:53Thank you, Z-Long.
15:55G.
15:56And a vowel.
15:58A.
15:59And another.
16:00O.
16:01And a consonant.
16:04W.
16:06And 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.
16:22Turn by.
16:23I.
16:51And a vowel.
16:54yes he don't six not written down and how about Paul m4 not written down neither of
17:03you written down so Paul and went no there's no end in there how about Z
17:12long gamut gamut as I'm running the gamut is g-a-m-u-t unfortunately oh dear
17:19sorry these things happen now then Janet what have you got for us I've got nine
17:24have you got Janet I've got a top word but it's only five letters but I'm very
17:29very pleased with it go on meow and Susie really tough one had gimme for five yeah
17:40which she won't like and towage for six towage towage 35 plays C longs 27 now
17:47then Paul your letters game I will have a consonant please thank you Paul Z well
17:52we'll try again please ah a vowel please a and consonant P a consonant s and a vowel I
18:10another consonant P a vowel a and we'll finish with a consonant please and finish with T and here's the
18:26countdown clock
18:30so
18:57yes yes Paul er six C long six as well pause
19:01spirit spirit spirit and aspire happy yes very happy and what does the
19:06corner got over there's Susie Janet well prizes prize re-zips you can turn it around a
19:17little bit and have zippers seven yeah traipse for seven and but there is an
19:22eight um and it's nice about the countdown zappiest the zappiest show on t yeah sure
19:27zappy very good very good
19:3241 pays 33 we're into the numbers into Rachel's territory here Z long your numbers game
19:38uh we try three large and three small again another three from the top pro and three little ones thank
19:45you Z long and for the third time today the three little ones are two ten and five and a
19:52large three
19:53seventy-five twenty-five and one hundred and the target seven hundred and forty seven seven four seven
20:02so
20:16so
20:17so
20:31Yes, C-Long?
20:34Seven, four, eight.
20:38One away, Paul?
20:39Seven, four, seven.
20:40Seven, four, seven, then.
20:42Right, yeah, 75 times 10.
20:4575 times 10, 750.
20:47And five minus two.
20:49Yeah, is the three.
20:50And take that away.
20:51Yeah, and Z-Long's kicking himself, seven, four, seven.
20:58Well done.
20:59Paul, 61, please, Z-Long's at 33 as we turn to a tea-time teaser,
21:03which is child get.
21:05And the clue, see the child get cross because the computer's broken.
21:09See the child get cross because the computer's broken.
21:28Welcome back.
21:29I left with the clue, see the child get cross because the computer's broken.
21:33And the answer is glitched.
21:36It was glitched.
21:38Is that sensible, Susie?
21:40Glitched?
21:40Sounds very sensible.
21:41All right.
21:42Yes, quite new as a verb.
21:43Okay.
21:4451 plays, Z-Long's 33.
21:47Paul, you're back on.
21:48Letters game.
21:48Right, well, I've got a consonant, please.
21:50Thank you, Paul.
21:51N.
21:52And a vowel.
21:54E.
21:55And a consonant.
21:58T.
21:59And another consonant, please.
22:01S.
22:02A vowel, please.
22:05U.
22:05Another consonant.
22:08N.
22:09A vowel, please.
22:12E.
22:14A consonant.
22:17X.
22:20And we'll go with a vowel, please.
22:22And the last one.
22:24I.
22:25Stand by.
22:51And the last one.
22:51I.
22:51I.
22:51I.
22:55I.
22:57Yes, Paul. Six. Six and Zealong? Just the five. And that five? Tunes. Yes, Paul. Unisex? Unisex. Very nice.
23:10What else have we got there? I have Exeunt for six, which is the stage direction for an actor to
23:16exit, or actors. And also Tunnies, tuna fish, especially the bluefin tuna fish.
23:22Tunnies, yeah. Tunny fish. Very good. And 57 to Zealong's 33. Zealong letters came. Start with another consonant, please. Thank
23:32you, Zealong. D. And a vowel. U. And another. A. And a consonant. P. And a vowel. E. And another.
23:50A. And a consonant.
23:53K. And another. R. And a final vowel, please. And a final E. The clock starts now.
24:04K. And another.
24:06K. And another.
24:24K. And another.
24:24K. And another.
24:24K. And another.
24:25K. And another.
24:25K. And another.
24:27K. And another.
24:30K. And another.
24:35Yes, Zilong?
24:36Six.
24:38And Paul?
24:39Six.
24:40Zilong?
24:40Pete.
24:41Pete and?
24:42Pete.
24:43Both of you.
24:45Okay, and a corner.
24:47Susie and Janet?
24:49Well, I've peaked or parked.
24:52Yeah, parade.
24:52Lots 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 for her wonderful origins of words,
25:03but I know that you'll forgive us today, Susie, because we have something in store at the end of the
25:08show.
25:08So, Paul, let's turn to you now for the penultimate letters game.
25:12All right, can I have a consonant, please?
25:15Thank you, Paul.
25:16L.
25:17And a vowel?
25:19A.
25:20A consonant?
25:22C.
25:23And another consonant?
25:26S.
25:28A vowel?
25:30U.
25:32A consonant?
25:34N.
25:36Eh, vowel?
25:40I.
25:41A consonant?
25:43L.
25:45And a vowel, please.
25:47And the last one, A.
25:50Countdown.
25:51Oh, no.
25:52All right.aaaaah,
26:06yeah, yeah. Oh, no.
26:07That'sheard.
26:11And the! Oh,
26:15no. Oh,
26:16no. Oh,
26:20no.
26:21Yes, Paul, just a five. A five, Zilong?
26:25Risky seven.
26:27So, Paul, a clans. And your risk, Zilong?
26:31Cannulus.
26:33Cannulus.
26:35Cannula.
26:37How are you spelling that?
26:39C-A-N-U-L-I-S.
26:41Yeah, it's cannula, I think.
26:44Not cannulus, unfortunately.
26:46Not there. Sorry, Zilong.
26:48Bad luck. But what can we have?
26:51Well, I had casual for six.
26:54Mm-hmm.
26:55And I risked a seven, and luckily it is in there.
26:59And the plural of lacuna, which means a gap,
27:01it can be a missing piece of text in a manuscript,
27:03is either lacunae or lacunas.
27:05And you have that for seven.
27:07Very good.
27:08All right, 68, please.
27:10A 39.
27:12Zilong, your final letters game.
27:15Consonant, please.
27:16Thank you, Zilong.
27:18T.
27:19And another.
27:21R.
27:22And a vowel.
27:24O.
27:25And another.
27:27U.
27:28And a consonant.
27:31L.
27:32And another.
27:34V.
27:35And a vowel.
27:37I.
27:39And a consonant.
27:41N.
27:42And a final vowel, please.
27:46And a final A.
27:49Clock time.
28:21yes you six a six Paul now just a five and that five a tree and see long vala
28:30vala very nice for vala very good and the corner what comes from the corner
28:37I have vala but I also love it which is only five but it's a nice word yeah Susie out
28:45rival is there
28:46for eight as in maybe you can out rival Janet in all sorts of ways yeah only if they've got
28:52tremendous courage and their feet of foot that's for sure what else anything else no that's that
28:57all right 68 place 45 we're going to the final numbers game one for Paul right Rachel we'll
29:02play it safe this time with one large and five small please thank you Paul one large one five
29:07small play it safe not letting me choose very wise decision thank you Paul and for the last
29:12time this week the numbers six eight another eight four seven and the large one seventy five and the
29:53yes Paul five five not written down two away seelon
30:01five four nine
30:02not written down right so let's go with Paul right we went 75 times 8 75 times
30:138 600 then it was 7 times 6 7 times 6 is 42 yeah tear that off for 558 and
30:24I've
30:25miscalculated it was actually 554 never mind never mind Z long 75 times 7
30:3275 5 5 7 5 2 5 and 6 times 4 is 24 6 times 4 24 4 5 4
30:419 well done Z long but not
30:43perfect 553 is that a is that a horror no for this one you might kick yourself
30:49you say 75 plus 4 is 79 and times that by 7
30:53well done there we are
30:59all right 68 plays Z long's 52 as we go into the final round conundrum round so
31:05fingers on buzzers please let's reveal today's countdown conundrum
31:11so
31:40yes Paul I just wanted to press the button
31:42really but I'm gonna go for one Z I don't think so and the rest of the time
31:57I got off my bit on camera as well so I felt like pressing it as well
32:02with any particular reason I was gonna go for womanized but I remember there's no M or A
32:07right all right all right we've got a couple of comedians up here now then who have we got in
32:13the
32:13audiences and give us the correct answer do I see your hand yes sir is it downsized let's see
32:20whether you're right downsized said with confidence well done
32:28so well done 68 indeed to Z long's 52 Z long you swept away David Stanford yesterday
32:36brilliantly and today you were sort of gonged by Paul Bradley so we're sending you home with a teapot
32:43brilliant yeah indeed and a goodie bag well done well done indeed and uh Paul we'll see you on Monday
32:50well done good win good win but now for some truly exciting news what else could we do for our
32:596,000th show
33:04okay well at the very top of the show we promised you something very very special
33:096,000 shows and here's a gentleman who's gonna tell you what's so special about today
33:16well my name is Mark McKinley I am an adjudicator with Guinness World Records and today it gives me
33:22great pleasure to announce that with over 70 series countdown is the most broadcast series aired by
33:30a game show congratulations you are officially amazing
33:46of course this is you know goes all the way back to those great days of all the other presenters
33:52and all the uh the people backstage of the you know driven this forward it's fantastic don't you think
33:58great privilege to be part of it and thank you Guinness absolutely thank you very much indeed thanks
34:03very much glad to be here good stuff what about that then Janet I'm impressed yes take quite a lot
34:10to impress brilliant stuff now join us again same time on Monday we'll be here waiting for you with
34:19our certificate where are we going to put this thing do you think where should we hang it next the
34:23champagne we're about to go get now same time on Monday same place you be sure of it good afternoon
34:31you can contact the program by email at countdown at channel 4.com by twitter at c4 countdown or write
34:38to us at countdown leads ls3 1js you can also find our webpage at channel 4.com forward slash countdown
35:04we'll be right back to you
35:08you