A Countdown star has admitted that they were forced to film episodes on “very, very little sleep” while taking part in the Channel 4 competition. The beloved gameshow has been on air since 1982 and we’ve now had the insider scoop on what filming it is like.
Countdown’s Ian Kinsella spoke to Daily Star on behalf of Smooth Spins Casino and explained: “It takes between about an hour and 15 minutes and maybe even up to an hour and a half to film an episode. There are retakes and restarts, like Colin muddles up his words.
“There are also things as well, like turning the board. On TV, you go straight from the letters into the numbers round, but this group of men actually have to come out and physically turn the board around. It takes an extra few minutes.”
The finalist said that he filmed “three games on the first day and five on the second day,” which left him completely exhausted. Despite his tiredness, he still managed to impress host Colin Murray with his skills: “Colin told me after that I did it in the hardest possible way because there are different ways you can win the eight games!”
After filming wrapped, the contestants were allowed to leave for the night: “By the time I got back to the hotel room after day one, I’d say 9:30 pm, I was wired to the moon, and it was already nearly bedtime.
“I was straight back in the next morning to play five games with very, very little sleep.”
As for his winner’s Countdown teapot, Ian said: “It’s sitting there as an ornament. Just sitting over on the windowsill. I also have a Countdown finalist trophy and they give you a little clock.”
“I haven’t figured out how to work the clock yet. I don’t actually know if it’s a functional clock. You get a Countdown pen, mug and tote bag as well.”
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