The Complete Countdown Companion

The Complete Countdown Companion was a 1990 book written by word-puzzle specialist Peter Newby together with series producer John Meade.

The book was published by Peltham Books in association with Channel 4 and Yorkshire Television, and was dedicated in memory of people who had worked on the show and had passed away - Dictionary Corner guests Russell Harty, Ted Moult and Kenneth Williams, the show's first executive producer Frank Smith, and Calendar Countdown director David St. David-Smith. The foreword was written by Richard Whiteley.

This 188-page paperback book was very much an earlier version of Countdown:Spreading The Word with its blend of behind the scenes stories from the producer, peppered with anecdotes and some word games.

Chapters

• Preface by John Meade (as John B. Meade).
• Foreword by Richard Whiteley.
• The Countdown to Countdown by John Meade

• Pignuts - and Why Not? by Peter Newby. An in-depth examination of the validity or otherwise of confusing words.
• Aardvarks (A little Aardvark never hurt anyone) by Peter Newby. A comparison of the way different dictionaries treat words, and the sometimes absurd contradictions.
• Target Practice by Peter Newby. Four word games played by the Pears Word Games Society, which work as good training tools for Countdown.
• Alternative Countdown Word Games by Peter Newby
• Looking at Words by Peter Newby. Word-building exercises.
• Short Cuts to Success by Peter Newby
• Anagrams by Peter Newby
• Countdown Crosswords. Crosswords where each clue is 9 mixed-up letters, the specified number of which must be extracted to make a word.

• Those Who Dwell in Dictionary Dell by John Meade
• The Contestants by John Meade

• Coinage by Peter Newby. Champter on "sportmanteaux" words, which are deliberately-constructed fun portmanteau words.
• The Vital Statistician by John Meade
• Bringing Numbers into Play by Peter Newby
• Sum Fun by Peter Newby

• Classic Countdown Games by John Meade. Profiles of the Series 6 final, Series 7 final, Series 8 final, Series 9 final, Series 11 final, Series 13 final, Series 16 final, Championship of Champions I final, Championship of Champions II final, Championship of Champions III final and Masters Game 37 between prodigies Tim Morrissey and Allan Saldanha.
• Glossary by Peter Newby. A list of dictionary abbreviations, and useful Countdown words with definitions.
• Countdown Honours List. Series winners, Championship of Champions winners and highest scorers.
• Acknowledgements