The Countdown Clock | January 1996

The Countdown clock in the set from 1996, featuring the infamous "extra intensity" clock music which lasted for less than a month before the 1989 clock music was restored.

[@James-4812]

Yes!!! For years and years I thought I had imagined this, I was always sure that they changed the clock music for a short time in the 90's, then they changed it back... I remember asking family members about this and they said they didn't remember it.

[@Lizz85257]

Oh my god I thought I'd imagined this too! Great to hear it again.

[@pvleoparda9443]

This could have been used for crucial conundrums.

[@manslikeaqeelsonicadvances8566]

True

[@jacetaneneko_vt]

Idk if it was, but a short time on 8OOTC they had a high tension round. This would have been great then.

[@topherwolf1113]

I remember this version being introduced when I was kid one day. I loved it, and was so gutted when they took it away.

[@harribo2005x]

I wasn’t born in 1996, so I wouldn’t have seen it.

[@sarnobat2000]

This is like reliving a childhood trauma.

[@fernlew8828]

TBH i love this 10/10

[@jamieleestransporthub]

I actually love this more :D

[@gftyhify]

It’s too distracting for the contestants though. That’s why it didn’t last

[@o...]

I stumbled across an episode using this clock music and my first impression was that the little bit of melodic color the synths gave made it much calmer. But now I learn that it was the “Extra Intensity” version and I am very much in the minority on that lol.

[@WeeDefault]

Even though the music is probably my favourite I can definitely see why this gets distracting.

[@TheNewBattlegod2025]

I love this clock from countdown 1996

[@harribo2005x]

The extra intensity theme distracted the players and was therefore removed and brought back to the old theme.

[@AdamBeachDesign]

It was bloody awful.

[@alexmorgan9501]

I think it also attracted complains from viewers as well.

[@harribo2005x]

@@alexmorgan9501 No wonder.

[@SanFran51]

@@AdamBeachDesign Clearly they must've thought wow this 1989 tune is too dull let's add more sound effects to wake up the audience.

[@roryhazlie753]

They say that this extra intensity clock was off putting to the contestants coz it produced low scores because they added a little bit extra to the clock? Away and don’t talk rubbish channel4. How off putting is the actual clock to the contestants coz they hear the actual one in the studio as to this one. So they shouldn’t say this is was off putting coz the actual one probably is as well. I like this one more that the normal one.they should bring this one back to the program ❤❤❤❤❤

[@caydrew8699]

This clock sounds cool.

[@jacetaneneko_vt]

Agreed.

[@martinfoster3150]

I actually quite like it

[@georgelees3090]

idk if i do or dont

[@aaronmcquillan9601]

I do like the clock with its extra intensity but it's even better without it

[@ismayb754]

Was the new music acknowledged by Richard or anyone the first time it played?

[@jacetaneneko_vt]

If you listen closely, this clock was also used in the backing track of the modern music. It must have existed sooner, just wasn’t used on the show yet.

[@AdamBeachDesign]

Pretty sure this music was just the 1989 version with the added instrumental in, or am I missing something? 😀

[@jacetaneneko_vt]

@@AdamBeachDesign it's faint nowadays but still plays in the credits and very faint in the intro.

[@petercolbeysgameshowmania7176]

​@@jacetaneneko_vtNow that I noticed it, I can't unhear it. Thanks a lot.

[@christycooper5263]

I actually don’t mind the little dramatic noises every few seconds but the ticking of the clock in the last few seconds sounds off to me in this version

[@sambee8982]

Those "extra intensity" sounds sound like they don't belong on the music and is off-putting. I can probably see why viewers complained about it.....

[@Cowman9791]

I thought that this was January of 1966

[@AdamBeachDesign]

🤣🤣🤣

[@user-nr3dq8yg7x]

BRUH I CANT FIND THE OLD COUNTDOWN CLOCK FROM 1982

[@fnhlgn]

"96 RICHARD!!! You're not very good with numbers are you?" - Carol Vorderman 1995

[@SanFran51]

Received complaints that the remixed tune was too distracting and annoying. Proof if it ain't broke don't fix it.

[@ieuantime3257]

As a musician, I can appreciate the addition of heavy synths into the clock theme. However, from a contestant's point of view, this theme is awfully off-putting and has been known to hinder the scores of contestants while this clock theme was used.

[@julianrolheiser6061]

The synths were fine. I did not like the clacking noises near the end

[@ismayb754]

This is horrible it's like a fever dream. Might have been different if they went back and re-recorded the clock music from scratch with an extra intense composition, but this is just the original clock music with some cheap synth sounds added over the top, sounds cheap, distracting, and to put it bluntly, awful.

[@robertgoh8261]

I didn't like that music it was heavy and scary, no one could concentrate.