Countdown Season 18 Episode 32 Episode 899
- August 22, 1989
In this episode of Countdown, viewers join host Nick Hewer and resident Dictionary Cornerly Susie Dent as they are joined by guests James Martin and Sally Lindsay. As always, the episode begins with the quickfire rounds of the letters and numbers games, testing the contestants' speed and vocabulary skills.
During the first segment, tensions are high as the two contestants, a retiree and a student, go head-to-head to form the longest word possible from a selection of nine letters. With just 30 seconds on the clock, both players frantically shuffle the tiles in front of them, desperately searching for the perfect combination of letters. In the end, it is the retiree who comes out on top, forming an impressive nine-letter word that stuns both the audience and the contestants.
The second segment focuses on the numbers game, where the contestants must use mental arithmetic to reach a target number by combining six randomly selected numbers. Watching the contestants' minds race as they formulate different equations to reach the solution is a thrilling sight, and viewers will be on the edge of their seats as they wait for the contestants to reveal their answers.
However, what makes this particular episode stand out is the appearance of special guests James Martin and Sally Lindsay. As current and former TV personalities, James and Sally bring their wit, charm, and culinary knowledge to the show, offering a unique perspective on both the letters and numbers games.
Throughout the episode, James shares snippets from his personal and professional life, including his time as a chef for numerous high-profile clients, his love of cars, and his latest culinary projects. Meanwhile, Sally regales the audience with stories from her time as a Coronation Street actor and as the host of a successful daytime TV show.
Of course, no episode of Countdown would be complete without Susie Dent revealing some obscure and fascinating words to add to viewers' vocabularies. In this particular episode, Susie shares some lesser-known words related to cooking and food, much to James' delight.
Overall, Episode 899 of Countdown is an entertaining and engaging installment of the long-running game show. The mix of exciting gameplay, special guests, and informative segments make for an enjoyable viewing experience that's sure to impress fans of the show old and new. Whether you're a seasoned Countdown veteran or a newcomer to the show, this episode is a must-watch.