Countdown

[Uzoma]

I'm going to appear as a contestant on Countdown.

Does anyone have any obscure/useful tips?

[Mailmutt]

Just a memory thing for numbers.

Any number where the separate digits add up to 9 or a multiple (18, 36) etc, is always divisible by 9.

OK, reading that it looks obvious that it's divisible, but what I mean is a number like 711 or 819 is instantly recognisable as being able to be divided by 9.

[chirpychirpy]

At the start of the show, it's a good idea to say to the main presenters: Thank you Richard and Carol, for having me on the show. That should ensure they want you to win. You can always thank Des too.

[carrust]

Countdown joke.
It has been reported in The Times that Richard Whiteley is dead.
If they had said deceased, they'd have got 8 letters.

[chrissa1]

Learn your 75 times table.

[osprey]

Ensure that you have a really good night's sleep and try not to let the lights put you off - they are very strong and you could easily be distracted. Also, ensure that each of your rounds are done on a separate page of your notebook. This might seem a trivial point but if you practice each round at home when the programme is on you will see what I mean. As the programme is recorded in real time - by that I mean what you see on the telly is what is recorded (apart from any technical mistakes such as lighting, sound level or verbal mishaps) - it is important that you complete each round when practicing in the thirty seconds, so stay calm and you'll do OK. Oh, and as chrissa1 mentions, learn your 75 times table.

[lankeela]

Look for words with ing in them in the countdown conundrum

[FoxLee2]

I would add look at the letters as they are put on the board. So many times contestants use a letter that isn't there when they have obviously misheard what is called out.

When trying to make your longest word, look out for ATION which so often leads you on to a long word. Also look for IEST.

Best of luck. Please let us know how you got on.

[hopalong]

By your opponent plenty of alcholic drinks the night before. I believe this has happened before and he did very well.

[djtdjt]

Get Rachel's phone number !

[JonnyBoy12]

Make sure you are a genius before you appear. I have got a high I.Q., or so I have been told, and I can not do any of the sums on that programme.