Countdown - Christmas Special - 25th December 1997

[@evanslater4551]

That song at the end. Shame the atmosphere just isn’t the same anymore. Richard and carol were a match made in tv heaven

[@loganford3921]

My grandparents watched this while I was playing my new Nintendo 64 playing Super Mario 64 on Xmas Day 97. I wish I could turn the clock back as it's last the one were most of my family were healthy and alive. Thanks for uploading this.

[@zalden2565]

Thanks for sharing this memory. I have the same one, except I was blessed enough to have my family “intact,” until 2002

[@neilwatson4461]

Cracking show that. First of all, William G Stewart was so different from how he did 15-1, far more relaxed and fully into the spirit of it, you can tell he had an absolute ball filming this. Secondly, Suzie did a great job on the letters and numbers, very dry and subtle humour especially on that first numbers round. I only wish Countdown stayed with the 30m shows, still a good show to watch but this was at its absolute peak for me when it was thirty minutes at 4.30pm during the week.

[@MacJaxonManOfAction]

"I don't want to repeat her, but I've also got peter," God, I miss RW.

[@gezatherton1071]

William G Stewart did a great job hosting!

[@MindstormXL]

I mean to be fair he'd been doing 15 to 1 for quite some time

[@madbanana2495]

Great way for them to know what it's like in their contestants shoes.

[@KNIGH7]

Thank you for putting this up. This is fantastic!

[@michaelglaister2550]

KNIGH7 Carol Vorderman Was Better Then Rachel Riley On Countdown

[@williamjhughes9460]

I love Susie Dent, funny to see her doing the letters and Numbers instead of Carol and she had short hair too. Very nice 💖

[@SomeGuyInNevada24]

They should have made this an annual tradition.

[@bencalebrod]

They should do this with Rachel and Colin!

[@SomeGuyInNevada24]

With Jimmy Carr or Jon Richardson hosting!

[@DillcoStudios2]

R.I.P Richard Whiteley. 1981 - 1997

[@zacheryalderton1399]

Taped on Christmas day on Friday

[@nicolavallely8076]

❤ brilliant

[@TestyCol]

100 + (10-4) = 106. 106 x 9 = 954. Subtract the one for 953.

[@eastmeetswestpresents6923]

Fourth round I spotted a 7-letter word: WANTAGE (meaning "amount wanting")

[@Arloyoutubechannel148]

This is a very rare footage

[@SanFran51]

You don't see Vanna White and Pat Sajak play Wheel of FORTUNE DO YOU?

[@tennista260]

Ever seen the WoF episode from April 1, 1997?

[@adilhossain8198]

4:02 That 1 there’s a violation, personally I wouldn’t have it

[@phillipwilloughby5013]

100 x 10 = 1,000 (9 x 4) + (10 + 1) = 47 1,000 - 47 = 953

[@Squab1972]

You can get 614 by saying 8+ 4=12 25*12=300 300+7=307 307*2=614

[@6panel300]

The strange thing for me is not only did I get 953 I also got the conundrum before Richard had pressed his button. Also I don't think that Richard has ever been equalled as a host on Countdown. The same with Angus Deayton on HIGNFY.

[@LordBacon235-zu4os]

in my opinion Des (O’Connor) came pretty close but still couldn’t match richard

[@Nullifidian]

In the first round, I don't think there are any other eights, but there is another seven in FETLOCK. In the second round, another six is PETREL. Again, Dictionary Corner seems to have found the only longest word. In the first numbers round, I had this alternative solution: 25 - 10 - 4 = 11 11 x 8 x 7 = 616 616 - 2 = 614 In the fourth round, there was an eight: DYSTOPIA. In the fifth round, there was another six: AGNATE. It's a term from Roman law for a person related to a certain male relative. It's one of the odd words for which I have no use, but is still stuck in my head because I spent a few years at university studying classics before switching to biology. In the second numbers round, I saw Rene Kande's solution for 953, and I think Carol really _ought_ to have spotted it. However, there was also this alternative, though much less elegant: 100 x 10 = 1000 9 x 4 = 36 36 + 10 + 1 = 47 1000 - 47 = 953

[@MrJacksparrow07]

Love this

[@SanFran51]

Susie Dent didn't became permanent until 2004. Weird.

[@OtakuLogan2017]

Round 4 - 8: DIOPTASE

[@Craig-wp3pz]

.....👀 don't mind me, hunting down the infamous 'countdown tie' Xmas special.......... The hunt continues....🏹👔

[@jacekatalakis8316]

It's surreal seeing William G. Stewart casually throwing puns around, given his serious face and demeanour on 15 to 1. Even Sandi Toxvig can't match that, yet, here he is, throwing jokes and puns around like it's nothing, and many, many of those puns are so bad it's good EDIT: Was that Carol King a stealth pun, or was that her maiden name? I just always knew her as Vorderman on Countdown so I'm genuinely unsure if it's a stealth pun someone snuck in there. Also those puns got more groans than Richard's. Which takes some doing.

[@funfairsthemeparksu.k8970]

21:29 😂😂😂😂

[@moluther2826]

I can't believe I got 953 and Carol didn't

[@MrJacksparrow07]

She would have eventually no doubt

[@zacheryalderton1399]

Who is the host

[@jaffa154]

Zachery Alderton William g Stewart he hosted 15 to 1

[@zacheryalderton1399]

What are the rules

[@andrewjames3908]

words have to be in oxford dictionary, numbers have to be made using only addition subtraction, multiplication or division. division must be whole numbers only

[@hatpeach1]

what was wrong with "teepee?" Oh, nvm.

[@stephend]

WTF is all this KING about for the Vord-at-the-Board?

[@cleverhardy5230]

At the time, Carol was married to Paddy King. So it's possible that she took his name in private life, and used the name on this recording to make things easier.

[@zacheryalderton1399]

Christmas is this week

[@scottpacker4660]

23:19

[@derrenlodge6502]

Richard gives Carol, Christmas and Birthday presents and what does he get in return from her? Nothing! You could at least given him some whisky...😢

[@Qwentar]

10-4+1=7 100+7=107 107×9=963 963-10=953

[@einSteppenwolf]

953=9×(100+10-4)-1

[@bcjohnson3]

(100+10-4)*9 -1 = 953