Countdown (game show)

*Countdown*
Countdown
Genre	Game show
Created by	Armand Jammot; Marcel Stellman;
Based on	Des chiffres et des lettres; by Armand Jammot
Presented by	Richard Whiteley (1982–2005); Des Lynam (2005–2006); Des O'Connor (2007–2008); Jeff Stelling (2009–2011); Nick Hewer (2012–2021); Anne Robinson (2021–2022); Colin Murray (2022–present);
Starring	Carol Vorderman; Susie Dent; Rachel Riley;
Theme music composer	Alan Hawkshaw
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	90 (Regular); 2 (Masters); 2 (Celebrity)
No. of episodes	8,320 (Regular; as of 19 July 2024); 104 (Masters; as of 29 March 1991); 14 (Celebrity; as of 9 January 2020); 45 (Specials; as of 23 December 2020);
Production
Production locations	The Leeds Studios, Leeds (1982–2009); Granada Studios, Manchester (2009–2012); Dock10 studios (2013–present);
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	25 mins (excluding adverts, 1982–2001); 50 mins (excluding adverts, 2001–present);
Production companies	Yorkshire Television (1982–2004); Granada Yorkshire (2004–2009); ITV Studios Entertainment (2009–2021); Lifted Entertainment (2021–present);
Original release
Network	Channel 4; S4C (1982–2010) (Wales only);
Release	2 November 1982 –; present
Related
	8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown; Celebrity Countdown;
	Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Countdown is a British game show involving word and mathematical tasks that began airing in November 1982. It is broadcast on Channel 4 and is currently presented by Colin Murray, assisted by Rachel Riley with lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be broadcast on Channel 4 and 90 series have been broadcast since its debut on 2 November 1982. With over 8,000 episodes, Countdown is one of Britain's longest-running game shows; the original French version, Des chiffres et des lettres (Numbers & Letters), has been running on French television continuously since 1965. Countdown was produced by Yorkshire Television and was recorded at The Leeds Studios for 27 years, before moving to the Manchester-based Granada Studios in 2009. Following the development of MediaCityUK, Countdown moved again in 2013 to the new purpose-built studios at Dock10 in Greater Manchester.