Countdown Game Show - Number Rounds (19 January 2023)

Colin Murray and Rachel Riley host as contestants race against the clock to pit their wits against vowels, consonants and numbers. Rick Edwards joins Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner. Each day two contestants compete in 15 rounds of words and numbers to become the Countdown Champion.
Following Countdown's 40th birthday, the show now looks to its next Champion Of Champions series - which will crown the ultimate winner from the past few years.
Champion Of Champions XVI playlist:
• Countdown Maths 2023 (...
Countdown's 40th birthday playlist:
• Countdown 40th anniver...
#Channel4 #Countdown #ChampionOfChampions
BACKGROUND
Countdown is the channel’s longest running show and the first show ever broadcast on Channel 4 when it launched 40 years ago, in November 1982. The original version of Channel 4's Countdown is the French television programme « Des chiffres et des lettres » (literally "numbers and letters"), where the Numbers Round is referred to as « Le compte est bon » ("the total is right"). The show debuted in 1965 as « Le mot le plus long » using letters only, and reached its present format in 1972. This year marks the shows 51st anniversary.
Playlist: • The Original Countdown...
SPIN-OFF
"8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown" is hosted by Jimmy Carr, with Rachel Riley and Susie Dent assuming their Countdown roles. The formation of the crossover with "8 Out if 10 Cats" began as a series of specials, the first of which was broadcast on 2 January 2012, when Channel 4 orchestrated a special "mash-up night", merging two shows to form a special edition of the pair, as part of its 30th-anniversary celebrations eleven years ago.
Playlist: • Series 23 - 8oo10cdc (...

[@mm9773]

POPLITEAL, sure. Saw that immediately, totally obvious. A word we all use every day.

[@Ineddiblehulk]

Same. Tbh I got it before they even flipped the clue around cos I happened to be saying the word, which I do often. Because I’ve definitely heard of it and know what it means.

[@olde4eyes]

Enjoyed watching this battle between two gentlemen…great sportsmanship 👍

[@DaKoolDude]

Rachel. wow

[@baldeepbirak]

Amazing semi. Right to the end.

[@syntaxlost9239]

Crazy finish. Tension so high you could use it to string an instrument. I'm surprised just how confident Ahmed is on the letters and conundrum, much like Adam. It's a shame the Lords of Randomness were very generous on numbers rounds though.

[@redpred3502]

Would've taken me an hour to get that conundrum lmao

[@jtn2002]

499: All the bigs added, times 2, minus 1?

[@tarynshapley263]

Exactly my thoughts.

[@ricksimon9867]

@@tarynshapley263 It is funny that they are so focused on using multiplication (because it is usually more efficient) that they can't see solutions that are so simple.

[@yatyayat]

Good one. 😮

[@Lukas-qy4ze]

@@ricksimon9867 To be fair, all the solutions are simple in this case.

[@redrob6026]

Fantastic game, what an episode

[@Nullifidian]

In the first round, another way of solving for 519 is: 100 + 75 = 175 50 / 25 = 2 175 - 2 = 173 173 x 3 = 519 In the second round, I saw both contestants' solutions, and had this easier way of doing Dan's solution: 7 - 2 - 1 = 4 75 - 4 = 71 71 x 8 = 568 568 - 2 = 566 As well as this solution: 8 x 2 = 16 16 - 1 = 15 75 x 15 = 1125 1125 + 7 = 1132 1132 / 2 = 566 In the final round, a few more solutions are: 8 x 6 = 48 48 - 6 - 2 - 1 = 39 39 x 25 = 975 8 + 6 = 14 14 - 1 = 13 6 / 2 = 3 25 x 13 x 3 = 39 6 x 6 = 36 36 + 25 = 61 61 x 8 x 2 = 976 976 - 1 = 975

[@TheSpotify95]

I did that in the final round - didn't spot the easy method the contestants used, but did work out (albeit after 30 seconds) that (8 x 6) - 6 - 2 - 1 gave the required 39, since I knew the target was one multiple of 25 away from 1000.

[@yatyayat]

One of the craziest episodes ever, as both of the scores were so high and all level at 111 points before broken by the conundrum. They played very well, never lost any.

[@prakharjain9801]

Damn rachel!

[@atyourservice]

Out of pure decency they didn't dare to ask for two large ones.

[@navboi12]

Channel 4 ratings would surge if she flashed those large ones.

[@ciderfan823]

You mean "the Sean special"?

[@ricksimon9867]

Rachel Riley has worn a lot of revealing outfits over the years, but this cleavage does not look intentional, more like a wardrobe failure.

[@Ron-d2s]

@@ciderfan823 I'm sure he loved motorboating...... 😋

[@giacomoandria904]

0:52 75×(3+4)-[(100+50)÷25]=519 3:01 (75+8-2)×7-1=566 4:44 (25+50+75+100)×2-1=499 7:08 25×[(6×6)+2+1]=975

[@alos1978]

1. (75x(3+4))-(100+50)/25=519 2. (75-8/2)x(1+7)-2=566 3. (25+50+75+100)x2-1=499 4. (6x8-1-2-6)x25=975

[@ianjeffery6744]

What a game - quite popliteally so, in fact...

[@TananBaboo]

Great game. The contestants weren’t bad either.

[@medusa_404]

499: 75 + 50 = 125 125 / 25 = 5 100 * 5 = 500 500 - 1 = 499 75 / 25 = 3 3 + 2 = 5 5 * 100 = 500 500 - 1 = 499 100 + 75 + 50 + 25 = 250 250 * 2 = 500 500 - 1 = 499 100 / 25 = 4 75 + 50 = 125 125 * 4 = 500 500 - 1 = 499 50 * 25 = 1250 1250 - 100 = 1150 1150 / 2 = 575 575 - 75 - 1 = 499

[@navboi12]

Best bunch in the business.

[@joanneaugust6611]

I was so proud of my solution to the first one: 50/25=2 75-2=73 +100=173 *3=519

[@medusa_404]

519: 3 + 4 = 7 75 * 7 = 525 100 + 50 = 150 150 / 25 = 6 525 - 6 = 519 50 / 25 = 2 100 + 75 - 2 = 173 173 * 3 = 519 100 / 50 = 2 25 * 4 = 100 100 + 75 - 2 = 173 173 * 3 = 519 100 + 3 = 103 75 + 50 = 125 125 / 25 = 5 103 * 5 = 515 515 + 4 = 519

[@shymike]

Don't think anyone has mentioned on first one, (100+75)*3 is 525, then 50/25 =2 +4=6, and subtract to get 519

[@drakky3051]

50/25 = 2 100+75-2 = 173 173 * 3 = 519

[@BartOKemp]

This was my way as well

[@sturgeon2888]

Oh she knows what she's doing...

[@medusa_404]

975: 6 * 6 = 36 36 + 2 + 1 = 39 39 * 25 = 975 6 * 8 = 48 48 - 6 - 1 - 2 = 39 39 * 25 = 975 8 + 6 - 1 = 13 6 / 2 = 3 13 * 3 = 39 39 * 25 = 975 8 - 1 = 7 7 * 6 = 42 6 / 2 = 3 42 - 3 = 39 39 * 25 = 975

[@Adamdow95]

100 + 75 = 175 175 × 3 = 525 25 / 50 = 2 2 + 4 = 6 (525 - 6 = 519) 75 + 8 = 83 83 - 2 = 81 81 × 7 = 567 (567 - 1 = 566) 100 + 75 = 175 175 + 25 = 200 200 + 50 = 250 250 × 2 = 500 (500 - 1 = 499) 8 × 6 = 48 6 + 2 + 1 = 9 48 - 9 = 39 (39.× 25 = 975)

[@partizanpack]

Another way for 519 100+75=175 50/25=2 175-2=173*3=519

[@AkshayDhargave]

[75 × (4 + 3)] - [(100 + 50) / 25] = 525 - 6 = 519

[@Jothamvvw]

Maybe a strange question, but what happens if the scores are tied and neither player gets the conundrum?

[@litigioussociety4249]

I think they have another conundrum until someone gets it. They might also edit out any that no one gets, if it takes a few.

[@rodrigomarinho1807]

The same when the loser is 10 points behind before the conundrum and then he gets it. Another one is played until a winner is declared.

[@IsaacKing2006]

519: 100 + 75 = 175 175 x 3 = 525 50/25 = 2 4 + 2 = 6 525 - 6 = 519

[@highestsettings]

I'm just here for Rachel's two big ones if I'm being totally honest.

[@eccehomer8182]

(100+75)+3-(50/25)-4 = 519 (75+8-2)x7-1 = 566 100x(75/25+2)-1 = 499 25x(8+6-1)x(6/2) = 975

[@IsaacKing2006]

499: 75/25 = 3 3 + 2 = 5 100 x 5 = 500 500 - 1 = 499

[@travelwell6049]

I over complicated the 975 one. 6 / 2 = 3 3 x 25 = 75 6 + 8 = 14 14 - 1 = 13 13 x 75 = 975?

[@easternbrown]

519 = (3+4)*75 - (100+50)/25

[@IsaacKing2006]

566: 75 - 7 = 68 68 + 2 + 1 = 71 71 x 8 = 568 568 - 2 = 566

[@peterkwan1448]

For the first round, it is immediately noticed that 519 is divisible by 3. One possible factoring solution is: 100 + 75 = 175 50 / 25 = 2 175 - 2 = 173 173 x 3 = 519 In addition, you may also obtain the target from 525: 4 + 3 = 7 75 x 7 = 525 100 + 50 = 150 150 / 25 = 6 525 - 6 = 519 For the second round, I got both contestants' solutions, as well as the following similar to Dan's solution: 7 - 2 - 1 = 4 75 - 4 = 71 71 x 8 = 568 568 - 2 = 566 For the third round, I got both contestants' solutions, and it seems no other way to obtain the target. For the fourth round, the contestants' solutions are straight-forward. In addition to their solutions, I got another alternative: 6 / 2 = 3 6 + 8 - 1 = 13 13 x 3 x 25 = 975

[@jtn2002]

First Round: (75+8)-(2+2)

[@SerdarBekiroglu]

Rachel is gorgeous!!

[@IsaacKing2006]

566: 75 + 8 = 83 83 - 2 = 81 81 x 7 = 567 567 - 1 = 566

[@jonakers704]

499 25^2=625 75+50=125 625-125-1=499

[@einSteppenwolf]

519=3×(100+75+50/25)

[@IsaacKing2006]

975: 6 x 8 = 48 6 + 2 + 1 = 9 48 - 9 = 39 39 x 25 = 975

[@S1L3NTG4M3R]

WOW

[@einSteppenwolf]

566=7×(75+7-1)-2/2

[@einSteppenwolf]

499=2×(100+75+50+25)-1

[@daviddesreumaux338]

519 100+75=175×3=525 50÷25=2+4=6 525-6=519

[@daviddesreumaux338]

499 100+75+25+50=250×2=500-1=499

[@baldeepbirak]

Same way for me too.

[@TananBaboo]

5:30 I’ll say.

[@daviddesreumaux338]

975 6×6=36+2+1=39×25=975

[@Simqer]

(100+25+75+50) x 2 -1 = 499

[@daviddesreumaux338]

566 8-2=6+75=81×7=567-1=566

[@einSteppenwolf]

975=(6×6+2+1)×25

[@einSteppenwolf]

975=6/2×(8+6-1)×25

[@c0mputer]

As Rachel stares off into nothing as the countdown goes, does she go into low power mode or something?

[@Ron-d2s]

I keep wondering if when she has a hard one and uses the clip board why not sign and date the paper, frame it and put it up for a charity auction. I don't want to know what happens to it after that.

[@ricksimon9867]

Nope. I don't buy it. popliteal after just one second. My guess his: They get a list of 100 words, and one of those is scrambled in the crucial conundrum.

[@olegtarasovrodionov]

A tie game was broken with a conundrum. so unfair. especially when you know that conundrums are mostly failed

[@shymike]

Not sure how it's unfair, what other way would you like?!

[@travelwell6049]

It seems the fairest way to me and to be fair that’s how the game is played every day 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@syntaxlost9239]

It's the rules they've signed up to and the rules they base their strategies upon. Ahmed would rather play defensive on the numbers rounds as he's more confident on the letters/conundrum. This strategy is common to a lot of top players. Adam did the same but blundered the final conundrum when slightly behind.

[@IsaacKing2006]

519: 100 + 75 = 175 175 x 3 = 525 50/25 = 2 4 + 2 = 6 525 - 6 = 519