countdown

[londondave]

Does  anyone else think that it is odd that the  "Z list celebs" in dictionary corner always find words with more letters than the actual contestants, and quite often come up with a 9 letter word.

I think they use a electronic anagram solver hidden under the desk, typing in the letters as they are read out.

[pjm007]

I would agree that some kind of elecronic device is used.

[Dom Tuk]

Does Carol Vorderman also then use some kind of calculator as she can come up with some really convoluted calculations.

[CarolG]

No, Carol Vorderman figures them out herself - a couple of times she hasn't been able to solve the problem on the spot and needs 10mins to do it. I think that londondave is right about the letters round though.

[galltin]

I've also heard that Richard Whiteley is a weekend Goth on the quiet. What do you think Londondave?

[londondave]

I have seen him at Slimelight many times and once back stage at a Sisters gig getting on rather well with Eldrtitch.

PS Who are you? Do you know me?

[IndieSinger]

Everyone knows you. You're Dave from London.

[jenstar]

They don't use electronic wordfinders or anything like that - as is evident from the number of long words they DON'T spot. But what they do have is (1) a dictionary in front of them, so they can look up unlikely-sounding words on a whim, and sometimes they'll turn out to be real words; (2) Susie Dent, who's a real whizz with words, and (3) Michael Wylie and Damian Eadie, both former series finalists and now Countdown producers, ALSO playing along in the production gallery and feeding them words. So basically, it's a case of four heads being better than one.

[gerry]

I remember going to Waterstones bookshop where Richard Whiteley was promoting his book.He did a Q&A Session and mentioned that dictionary Coroner do have help from some people  that are elsewhere in the studio.

[brachiopod]

galltin and londondave !

Richard Whiteley is really Doktor Avalanche - he merely re-programmed himself to belt out repetitive puns and links rather than repetitive drum beats.

(And he still insists that the time he was caught in an Hamburg hotel room with that Atari games console and the ZX81 was a complete set-up !!)

[londondave]

LOL, I had a feeling there were quite a few goffs on here

[5029]

They do have an electronic machine for the letters bit.

 

As for the numbers, the cameras are stopped while she works it out (according to one ex audience member)

[galltin]

Ah londondave, you don't remember! I think I'll let you guess a little longer,I'm sure the penny will drop.........

Did you have a good St. Georges day?

[londondave]

I need more than just "galltin" bto go on, maybe I answered a previous question here on AB and you do not actually know me in real life, I will check my answered posts.

St Georges, just stayed in with a hot home made chilli and Cider

[galltin]

No don't go to the trouble of checking your posts on Answerbank..........,and no we've never met in real life because I didn't turn up at The Packhorse with the rest of the Ch. crew.

[CiderMonkey]

Londondave - have you really seen him at Slimelight? Or is it just someone that looks like him?? I go to Slimelight every now and then and haven't seen him. I'd love to though. I did see Jeffrey from Rainbow at Torture Garden once though...

[londondave]

 Haven't seen him at TG, Kieth Chegwin frequents though.

 

galltin, come to the next one in may w4er then ? "frightening"