Well of course they put the letters into a computer - if they didn't I'd want to know why. Does it matter? The whole point of the dictionary corner is so that you can find out what the best word would have been, they pretend the celebrity and Susie Dent do it for show. It wouldn't make such good TV if they just said "our computer shows the best word is ...". I love Countdown, I video it every day so that I can watch it when I get home from work (I fast forward past the celebrity chat, unless it's Jo Brand who does makes me laugh). I don't believe Carol gets extra time, as she often says she hasn't got it and then gets it a few minutes later. I am really pleased with myself if I get the numbers game and Carol hasn't, especially when she says she doesn't think it's possible. However, sometimes I don't get it and the contestants do and it turns out to be really easy. Depends which direction your brain starts thinking. I'll be so upset if stops. Won't miss Des O'Connor however.