The Countdown Links Page
Some of the best Countdown sites around (if not all of them) can be found right here on this page... well, links to them, anyway. Click and see for yourself!
THE
COUNTDOWN PAGE
Run by series 48 quarter-finalist Mike Brown, this is the extremely
high standard by which practically all Countdown webmasters rate themselves. The
results of practically every game from series 2 onward, classic games, Countdown
experiences (and plenty of them), it's only updated sporadically now, but
definitely should be your first port of call when looking for Countdown info.
CHRIS'S CORNER
The Chris in question being series 47 champion and runner-up of the
eleventh champion of champions, Chris Wills. This hugely under-rated site
contains many great materials, such as articles on past Countdowners and an
archive of classic games (yes, you may be right in thinking they didn't begin
their existence on that site ;-) ), plus detailed write-ups of all games that
took place during the week (the only site that now does it, if I'm correct). Add
to that a detailed write up of the entire Grand Slam tournament (which featured
Countdowners Dee Voce, the Edinburgh Countdown Club's star player Melanie
Beaumont (who has beaten Chris many times on his visits to the ECC), champion of
champions Graham Nash (who also beat Chris ;-) ) and world's scariest man Clive
Spate) and the brilliant "Countdown and other Animals" feature and you have a
must-click right there. Recently, this site has also branched out into other
fields of entertainment- the "Odds and Ends" and "Entertainment Watch" features
are great reads, and highly recommended.
INQUIZITION
Recently-revived site of series 41 semi-finalist Gary Woodward, this
site has a good deal of information (not to mention pics galore, including one
of a trip to the ECC which featured none other than yours truly ;-) ) about
Countdown, along with many other shows such as the Weakest Link and Brainteaser.
Also formerly had a Countdown monthly challenge, until that feature ended and
was replaced by another site carrying a monthly challenge... ;-)
Well worth a click or two, also promises forums coming soon!
GEVIN CHAPWELL'S YAHOO
GROUP
Currently the best Countdown forum on the net, many ex-Countdowners
(and one Countdown producer) can be found here, debating recent games (so a
spoiler alert is in order for people who might not be up to date with their
Countdown), how good a certain lexicographer is/isn't and also gives out it's
own challenges from time to time.
COUNTDOWN UPDATE UK
Recently given a new lease of life, this is series 49 semi-finalist
Martin Gardner's contribution to the Countdown world, featuring (amongst other
things) playing tips, a great trivia file and some other Countdown-related
features. The feature on Octochamps and final seeds is worth a quick look, too.
JOKES ONLY
RICHARD CAN TELL
As mentioned by the great man himself on the show, this site is a
collection of all of the "Jokes only Richard can tell" (i.e. appalling jokes)
that he reads out at the start of the show. Also includes "leotard watch",
spotting how many times the immensely popular word comes out on Countdown (may
want to start a "tangelo watch" as well, sometime soon ;-) )
THE OFFICIAL SITE
...Or what passes for it, anyway- one page of content and few new
pieces of info, but it is the official site, so I guess I have to mention it
somewhere.
JERRY
HUMPHREYS'S SITE
A great site by the series 49 contestant (who had the bad luck of
going up against eventual series champion John Davies) Jerry Humphreys,
featuring his experiences, the tactics of choosing four from the top, and the
awesome "Countdown on a Spreasheet" game, which I urge everyone to try at least
once :-)
ANDREW TATHAM'S SITE
More of the series 49 invasion here, this time by Andrew Tatham, who
reached the semi-finals in said series before also losing to John Davies. This
is basically a short experience page, accompanied by some photos, but is still
worth a click, if only for the most underpopulated Countdown photo of all time
;-)
Dormant Sites
These are ones which, for some reason or other, haven't seen an update in a long, long time- however, there is a good chance they may be moved up to the category above, sometime soon...
TOM
HARGREAVES'S SITE
Run (past tense, sadly) by series 47 runner-up, CoC semi-finalist and
the only person ever to defeat yours truly on screen, Tom Hargreaves, this site
had some great statistical analyses, along with facts, player profiles and a
monthly challenge, sadly pulled when the powers that be at expage decided to go
on a rampage for some reason. Sorely missed, it is.
ZEF'S COUNTDOWN SITE
Zef, who is not one to have graced our screens (yet ;-) ) ran this
site for the whole of series 45, keeping round-by-round analyses of each game,
who won, who scored what... sadly died out with the advent of the 15-round game
(and conveniently missing the advent of yours truly as well) but is still worth
a click, if you remember the last 9-round series with fond memories.
NEB'S COUNTDOWN SITE V2
Ah yes, had to mention it somewhere ;-) The precursor to this site,
that old one had it all... until my computer went berserk and I had no other
option but to flog half of it to Chris... What's still there is worth a click or
two, though, although much of it will be elsewhere, soon enough...
Nebagram 2003