Countdown:Did you know

Did you know..., sometimes abbreviated to DYK, is a relatively recent addition to The Countdown Wiki, wherein between three and five facts about Countdown are presented on the Main Page every month. Facts selected for DYK will be in some way notable, unexpected or surprising; for instance, they might offer insight into presenters, guests or contestants with unusual backgrounds for a quiz show, or they might describe noteworthy instances in the games themselves. Ideally, articles linked to from within DYK will contextualise the fact with additional information, though they do not necessarily have to reach featured article standards.

Proposed DYK facts

Anyone can suggest a fact worthy of a future month's Did you know.... Please edit this section to append your suggestion in a bullet point below, as per standard talk page conventions.

• Just like this! -- Chris 'Crispy' Philpot 12:49, 27 June 2010 (BST)
• ...that in the grand final of Series 30, the #7 and #8 seeds played each other? JohnnyCanuck 13:12, 27 June 2010 (BST)

Nice one! -- Chris 'Crispy' Philpot 09:08, 28 June 2010 (BST)

• ...that in The Christmas special,Susie Dent filled in for Carol Vorderman? The Doctor 2031, 28 June 2010, BST
• ...that for most of Series 62, Rachel Riley lost her voice? User:The Doctor

Both of these are great, and I've already lined them up for August. Please feel free to make further suggestions! -- Chris 'Crispy' Philpot 09:34, 3 July 2010 (BST)

Wasn't the voice loss for three weeks of programmes, rather than for most of the series?--Drawoh 09:47, 3 July 2010 (BST)

I've adjusted the wording for the box like so:

* ...that due to multiple episodes being recorded in one day, Rachel Riley appeared to lose her voice for three weeks during Series 62?

If you feel this needs changing please just say so, and how, and I'll endeavour to strike the right note. -- Chris 'Crispy' Philpot 13:37, 4 July 2010 (BST)

Pretty accurate, Crispy. It was actually 15 episodes (three weeks), which were recorded over three consecutive days, not just on one day.--Drawoh 17:23, 4 July 2010 (BST)

• ...that the Countdown Grand Final was broadcast on Christmas day from 1998 to 2001? --The Doctor 09:43, 31 July 2010 (BST)
• ...that the target for the last numbers game of the Championship of Champions VIII grand final was 100?
• ...that Craig Beevers achieved 92.1% of the maximum score during his octochamp run, the highest percentage on record?
• ...that Series 8 was the first series won by its #1 seed (Clive Spate)? JohnnyCanuck 00:39, 1 August 2010 (BST)

* Thank you for these great suggestions. I'll be compiling September's list soon, so let me know any more facts that spring to mind! -- Chris 'Crispy' Philpot 16:39, 18 August 2010 (BST)

DYK archive

November 2009

• ...that Countdown presenter Richard Whiteley (pictured) is said to have accumulated more broadcast hours than anyone else in the history in British television?
• ...that Countdown presenter Des Lynam is the only person to have hosted Countdown, appeared in Dictionary Corner and been a contestant?
• ...that Countdown presenter Des O'Connor has an autobiography entitled Bananas Don't Fly?
• ...that Countdown presenter Jeff Stelling's love of Hartlepool United was acknowledged in the Series 61 final via the conundrum ARTLEPOOL?
• ...that Countdown presenter Nick Hewer's first ever episode was won by eventual series champion Jack Worsley?

January 2010

• ...that Ned Pendleton is the only octochamp in Countdown history to have had his first two declarations disallowed, and is the only octochamp to have fallen behind in six of his eight heat games?
• ...that the largest deficit overcome in the first game of a contestant who went on to become an octochamp is 27 points, achieved by Steven Moir against Rita Willmott?
• ...that the largest deficit overcome in any game of a contestant who went on to become an octochamp is 40 points, achieved by Richard Pay (pictured) against Claire Whitaker?
• ...that this is also the highest deficit overcome by any contestant, ever?

February 2010

• ...that during Series 42 Helen Wrigglesworth had the word ROADSIDE disallowed by Mark Nyman, prompting Countdown to revert to the previous edition of the COD for adjudications during the rest of the series?
• ...that in his first heat game, Ben Nicholson had his offerings disallowed in five consecutive letters rounds – but still won by 32 points?
• ...that the third letters round on 26 September 2012 produced the selection SIENUEDST, which could be rearranged to spell the name of resident lexicographer Susie Dent?
• ...that eleven games have contained two numbers rounds with the same target, but it has never been possible to solve two rounds exactly the same way in a given episode?

May 2010

• ...that former host Des Lynam returned as the Dictionary Corner guest for Countdown's 5000th episode celebrations, with his presence recognised through the conundrum DESLHINAM?
• ...that Series 38 quarter-finalist Jill Bright had a 36 point lead in her second heat game after kicking off with back-to-back nine-letter words?
• ...that Series 64 champion Edward McCullagh (pictured) scored the maximum points available in 95 of the 120 rounds played in his heat games?
• ...that Series 48 champion Julian Fell scored maximum points in 94 of his 120 heat rounds, over nine years before McCullagh and without the aid of Apterous?

July 2010

• ...that Series 62 Countdown contestant Clarke Carlisle (pictured) was a Premier League footballer at the time of his appearance?
• ...that beginning on 2 May 2006, the conundrum was successfully solved by a contestant on a record 24 consecutive games of Countdown?
• ...that the longest word that can be made from the letters in Graham Nash, the name of the winner of Championship of Champions XI, is ANAGRAMS?
• ...that as part of a competition on the ITV programme Harry Hill's TV Burp, for one round on 26 October 2009 Rachel Riley's chair was occupied by a knitted toy rabbit?

August 2010

• ...that in Series 30, Ben Cooke beat Sue Renwick 60 – 26 in her sixth heat game but lost against her in the third quarter-final by 56 – 24, a record rematch score difference of 66 points?
• ...that due to five episodes of Countdown being recorded in a day, a slight ailment caused Rachel Riley to appear to lose her voice for three weeks during Series 62?
• ...that Sweyn Kirkness faced three numbers rounds in which it was impossible to score any points – round 5 of his third heat, his fifth heat, and his quarter-final?
• ...that Series 59 champion Junaid Mubeen (pictured) had previously appeared on the show ten years earlier as a fourteen-year-old boy?