14 round format (old)

The 14-round format is the arrangement of letters, numbers and conundrum rounds used for grand finals of series and Championships of Champions between Series 2 and Series 45. Described by fans as "LLNLLNCLLNLLNC", the format was also used for two special games celebrating Countdown's 1000th and 1500th episodes.

Episodes played to this format normally lasted for 45 minutes, including one advertising break after the first conundrum (round 7), though the 1500th episode special was extended to 50 minutes. The additional numbers rounds and conundrums arguably added an air of chance to the final, as there was a greater emphasis on numbers and conundrum skill than in a normal game.

The format effectively plays a final over two legs, but squished into one, slightly longer, programme (thus necessitating the removal of two letters games), thus explaining the conundrum in the middle of the game which has baffled many modern-day fans. Like many ideas from the early years of Countdown, this concept of a two-legs final was first used on Calendar Countdown, with Episode CC7 being a 20-round game played over two episodes.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Champion (C1)	Score	Challenger (C2)	Others	Max.
1	C1LETTERS		–
2	C2LETTERS		–
3	C 2 NUMBERS →		–
4	C1LETTERS		–
5	C2LETTERS		–
6	C 1 NUMBERS →		–
7	CONUNDRUM		–
8	C2LETTERS		–
9	C1LETTERS		–
10	C 1 NUMBERS →		–
11	C2LETTERS		–
12	C1LETTERS		–
13	C 2 NUMBERS →		–
14	CONUNDRUM		–

	Chosen by champion	Chosen by challenger	Total
Letters rounds	4	4	8
Numbers rounds	2	2	4
Conundrums			2