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Broadcast Times


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This page lists the original broadcast time and length of every edition of Countdown, along with some of the reasons behind schedule changes. No attempt has been made to record the broadcast time of the early morning repeats, which began on 30 May 1999 (and ceased temporarily after 7 Nov 2009, returning on 14 Jan 2010), or the repeats on More4, which began on 1 Nov 2005 and ended in December 2008. The broadcast times of other special shows, such as "Celebrity Countdown" and "Countdown at Christmas", are also given. Details for the breakfast-time "Countdown Masters" have now been added. Details of other unusual events, such as Countdown being broadcast on Saturday or Sunday, can be found on the Series Pages.

Series 1 (1982) - GF 4.45, others 4.45

Series 2 (1983) - GF 7.00, others 5.30 (except P30-P35 5.00)

Series 3 (1983) - GF 4.45, others Mon/Wed/Thu 5.00, Tue 4.45 (except P2 5.30, P14 5.30, P15 6.00, P16 5.30, P25 4.45, P26 4.30, P27 4.45, P28 4.45)

Series 4 (1984) - GF 4.45, others Mon/Wed/Thu 5.00, Tue 4.45 (except P13 4.15, P14 5.00, P15 5.15, P16 4.45)

Series 5 (1984) - GF 4.15, CGF 4.30, P2 4.25, P7 4.25, P17 4.25, others 4.30

Series 6 (1985) - GF 4.15, P5 late?, P9 4.25, P24 4.25, P29 4.25, P34 4.20, P41 late?, P44 4.25, P45 4.25, QF2 4.20, SF2 6.00, others 4.30

Series 7 (1985) - GF 4.45, P30 4.35, others 4.30

Series 8 (1986) - GF 4.15, P16 6.00, P17 late?, others 4.30

Series 9 (1986) - GF 4.15, CGF 4.15, P3 4.25, P19 5.00, QF1 5.00, others 4.30

Series 10 (1986) - GF 4.15, CCC 4.30, others 4.30

Series 11 (1987) - GF 4.30, 500 4.30, others 4.30

Series 12 (1987) - GF 4.30, P38 4.35, others 4.30

Series 13 (1987) - GF 4.30, CGF 4.30, others 4.30

Series 14 (1987) - GF 4.30, others 4.30

Series 15 (1988) - GF 4.30, others 4.30

Series 16 (1988) - GF 4.30, others 4.30

Series 17 (1989) - GF 4.30, CGF 4.30, others 4.30

Series 18 (1989) - GF 4.15, P5 6.00, others 4.30

Series 19 (1990) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 20 (1990) - GF 4.15, 1000 4.10, others 4.30

Series 21 (1990/1) - GF 4.15, CGF 4.30, others 4.30

Series 22 (1991) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 23 (1991/2) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 24 (1992) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 25 (1993) - GF 4.15, CGF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 26 (1993) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 27 (1994) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 28 (1994) - GF 4.15, 1500 4.15, others 4.30

Series 29 (1995) - GF 4.15, CGF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 30 (1995) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 31 (1996) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 32 (1996) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 33 (1996) - SGF 4.15, CGF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 34 (1996/7) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 35 (1997) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 36 (1997) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 37 (1997) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 38 (1997/8) - GF 4.15, CGF 4.30, others 4.30

Series 39 (1998) - GF 4.50, SF2 5.30, others 4.30

Series 40 (1998/9) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 41 (1999) - GF 4.55, others 4.30

Series 42 (1999/2000) - GF 4.10, CGF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 43 (2000) - GF 4.45, 18B 4.15, P5 4.45, others 4.30

Series 44 (2000/1) - GF 4.15, P1 4.15, P3 4.00, P4 4.15, P5 4.25, others 4.30

Series 45 (2001) - GF 4.15, others 4.30

Series 46 (2001) - GF 5.50, SF2 5.45, others 4.15

Series 47 (2001/2) - GF 4.15, P1 3.30, P3 4.45, P4 4.00, P5 3.45, P91 3.50, P108 4.05, JSF1/JSF2/JF 4.30, others 4.15

Series 48 (2002) - GF 4.15, others 4.15

Series 49 (2003) - GF 4.15, CGF 4.15, LSF1/LSF2/LF 4.30, P68 3.55, others 4.15

Series 50 (2003) - GF 3.15, P1-P33 4.15, others 3.15

Series 51 (2004) - GF 3.15, P66 3.30, P98 3.10, others 3.15

Series 52 (2004) - GF 3.15, others 3.15

Series 53 (2005) - GF 3.15, SF1 3.00, SF2 3.45, others 3.15

Series 54 (2005/6) - GF 3.30, P44 4.20, P50 4.10, P56 4.00, P62 4.10, P68 4.00, P74 4.35, P80 4.15, P86 4.15, P92 4.00, P98 4.15, P100 4.00, P106 4.05, P112 4.10, P118 4.20, others 3.30

Series 55 (2006) - GF 3.30, CGF 3.30, P26-P50 3.45, P51 3.25, others 3.30

Series 56 (2007) - GF 3.30, others 3.30

Series 57 (2007) - GF 3.25, 25B 3.25, P1-P46 3.30, P47-P56 3.25, P57-P86 3.30, P87-P118 3.25, QFs & SFs 3.25

Series 58 (2008) - GF 3.25, others 3.25

Series 59 (2008) - GF 3.25, others 3.25

Series 60 (2009) - GF 3.25, others 3.25

Series 61 (2009) - GF 3.25, others 3.25

Series 62 (2010) - GF 3.25, others 3.25

Series 63 (2010) - GF 3.25, others 3.25

Series 64 (2011) - GF 3.10, others 3.10

Series 65 (2011) - GF 3.10, others 3.10

Specials (2003-5/2010/1) - S1-S12 4.15, S13-S19 3.15, S20 2.40, S21 3.45, S22 3.15, S23 3.40, S26-S29 3.25, S30-S31 3.10

Countdown Masters

Series 1 (1989/90) - M1-M23 6.05 a.m. & 8.19 a.m (except M3.1 6.05 a.m. only, M3.2 8.19 a.m. only), M24-M52 8.45 a.m. (except M30.5 8.55 a.m., M32.5 8.51 a.m., M33.1 8.51 a.m., M39.1 8.48 a.m., M39.2 8.51 a.m., M46.1 8.51 a.m.)

Series 2 (1990/1) - M53-M54 8.45 a.m., M55-M56.2 6.50 a.m. & 9.19 a.m., M56.3-M57.1 6.54 a.m. & 9.19 a.m., M57.2 6.50 a.m. & 9.19 a.m., M57.3-M94.3 6.54 a.m. & 9.19 a.m. (except M91.1 9.19 a.m., M91.2 9.17 a.m., M92.2 9.17 a.m.), M100/M101/M103/M104 - time not known

Key


500 - '500th' Programme (02/02/87)
1000 - '1000th' Programme (02/07/90)
1500 - '1500th' Programme (04/07/94)
18B - '18th Birthday' Special (02/11/00)
25B - '25th Birthday' Special (02/11/07)
CCC - Champion of Champion of Champions (13/10/86)
CGF - Championship of Champions Grand Final
GF - Grand Final
JF - Junior Final
JSF - Junior Semi-Final
LF - Ladies Final
LSF - Ladies Semi-Final
M< n > - nth Countdown Masters Game
M< n >.< p > - pth day of nth Countdown Masters Game
P< n > - nth Preliminary Round
QF - Quarter-Final
S< n > - nth Special
SF - Semi-Final
SGF - Supreme Grand Final (20/12/96)

Programme Lengths


all Grand Finals - 45 minutes, except Series 1 (30 minutes)
all Championship of Champions Grand Finals - 45 minutes, except CoC I (30 minutes)
Supreme Grand Final - 45 minutes
'500th', '1000th' & '1500th' Programmes, 18th & 25th Birthday Specials - 45 minutes
Champion of Champion of Champions - 45 minutes
Junior Specials - 30 minutes
Ladies Specials - 30 minutes
Specials - 45 minutes
Masters - 5 minutes (per day)
all other games: Series 1-45 - 30 minutes; Series 46 onwards - 45 minutes (billed as 50 minutes from 29/10/07 to 21/12/07, 07/01/08 to 24/07/09, 26/01/10 to 29/01/10 and from 04/04/11 to the present day, but actual programme length as before)

Other Special Programmes


'2000th' Programme (23/05/97) - 5.00 (30 minutes)
"Countdown at Christmas" (25/12/97) - 5.00 (30 minutes)
Celebrity Countdown (23/04/98 to 18/06/98) - 8.00 (30 minutes)
"A Tribute to Countdown: 3000 and Counting" (27/04/01) - 5.25 (35 minutes)
"Richard Whiteley - Television Man" (01/07/05) - 2.30 (45 minutes)
"Mr Countdown: A Tribute to Richard Whiteley" (01/07/05) - 4.00 (30 minutes)
"The Wonderful World of Whiteley" (27/12/05) - 3.25 (50 minutes); followed at 4.25 by a repeat of Series 51 Prelim 30 (originally broadcast on 13/02/04 and billed as a "Countdown Special")
"One Last Consonant Please, Carol" (12/12/08) - 2.55 (30 minutes)

Notes


Series 2, P30 to P35 (26/05/83 to 03/06/83) - 30 minutes earlier than usual due to pre-election coverage
Series 2, GF (02/07/83) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 4, P13 to P16 (23/04/84 to 26/04/84) - Easter Week
Series 6, P5 (11/01/85) - listed in TV Times as 4.30 - possibly delayed until 4.55 by live snooker coverage
Series 6, P41 (04/03/85) - listed in TV Times as 4.30 - possibly delayed until 4.55
Series 7, P30 (23/11/85) - broadcast on Saturday (no programme on previous Monday)
Series 8, P16 (27/01/86) - listed in TV Times as 4.30 - delayed by live House of Lords coverage
Series 8, P17 (28/01/86) -listed in TV Times as 4.30 - possibly delayed or interrupted by Challenger Space Shuttle disaster
Series 9, P3 (11/04/86) - listed in TV Times as 4.30
Series 9, P19 (05/05/86) - May Day Holiday
Series 9, QF1 (26/05/86) - Spring Bank Holiday
Series 12, P38 (03/06/87) - Derby Day
Series 18, P5 (15/07/89) - broadcast on Saturday (moved from Friday)
Series 36, P8 (09/07/97) - not shown - replaced with repeat of '2000th' Programme
Series 39, SF2 (24/12/98) - Christmas Eve
Series 39, GF (25/12/98) - Christmas Day (repeated 26/12/98, 3.30)
Series 41, GF (25/12/99) - Christmas Day (repeated 28/12/99, 3.15)
Series 43, P5 (05/07/00) - one-day cricket not shown
Series 44, P1, P3, P4, P5 (26/12/00 to 01/01/01) - Christmas and New Year
Series 45, GF (21/09/01) - incorrectly listed in TV Times as 4.30 for 30 minutes
Series 46, SF2 (24/12/01) - Christmas Eve
Series 46, GF (25/12/01) - Christmas Day
Series 47, P1, P3, P4, P5 (26/12/01 to 01/01/02) - Christmas and New Year
Series 47, JSF1, JSF2, JF (12/03/02 to 14/03/02) - shown due to Cheltenham Festival
Series 47, P91 (06/05/02) - May Day Holiday
Series 47, P108 (03/06/02) - listed in TV Times as 4.10, Daily Mail as 4.05, broadcast at 4.08 - Jubilee Holiday
Series 49, LSF1, LSF2, LF (11/03/03 to 13/03/03) - shown due to Cheltenham Festival
Series 49, P68 (05/05/03) - May Day Holiday
Series 51, P66 (12/04/04) - Easter Monday
Series 51, P98 (31/05/04) - Spring Bank Holiday
Series 53, QF3, QF4, SF1 (28/06/05 to 30/06/05) - all delayed by a day, after QF3 not aired on 27/06/05 as a mark of respect following death of Richard Whiteley on 26/06/05. SF1 and SF2 shown as a double bill on 30/06/05.
Series 54, P44 (07/01/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P50 (14/01/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P56 (21/01/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P62 (28/01/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P68 (04/02/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P74 (11/02/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P80 (18/02/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P86 (25/02/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P92 (04/03/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P98 (11/03/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P100 (18/03/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P106 (25/03/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P112 (01/04/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 54, P118 (08/04/06) - broadcast on Saturday
Series 55, P51 (28/08/06) - August Bank Holiday
Series 57, 25B (02/11/07) - also called '25th Anniversary' Special (repeated 03/11/07, 4.40); preceded by repeat of first-ever edition of Countdown at 2.55 (billed as "Countdown: 25 Years Ago Today").
Special, S20 (30/08/04) - August Bank Holiday
Special, S1 - repeated 21/12/04, 3.45
Special, S2 - repeated 22/12/04, 3.45
Special, S23 (30/05/05) - Spring Bank Holiday

Masters Series 1, M3.1 (18/04/89) - scheduled for 17/04/89, broadcast at 6.05 a.m. on 18/04/89, followed by M3.2 at 8.19 a.m. on the same day - reason unknown
Masters Series 1, M30.5 (27/10/89) - listed in TV Times as 8.45 a.m. - delayed by news of Nigel Lawson's resignation
Masters Series 1, M32.5 (10/11/89) - listed in TV Times as 8.45 a.m. - delayed by news of Berlin Wall
Masters Series 1, M33.1 (13/11/89) - listed in TV Times as 8.45 a.m. - delayed by news of Berlin Wall
Masters Series 1, M39.1 (25/12/89) - listed in TV Times as 8.45 a.m. - delayed, Christmas Day
Masters Series 1, M39.2 (26/12/89) - listed in TV Times as 8.51 a.m. - Boxing Day
Masters Series 1, M46.1 (12/02/90) - listed in TV Times as 8.45 a.m. - delayed by news of Nelson Mandela's release
Masters Series 2, M73.2 (21/08/90) - following day's show broadcast by mistake at 6.54 a.m. (and therefore only Masters show ever to be shown three times!)
Masters Series 2, M91.1 (25/12/90) - listed in TV Times as 9.16 a.m., broadcast at 9.19 a.m. (Christmas Day)
Masters Series 2, M91.2 (26/12/90) - listed in TV Times as 9.16 a.m., broadcast at 9.17 a.m. (Boxing Day)
Masters Series 2, M92.2 (01/01/91) - listed in TV Times as 9.17 a.m., broadcast at 9.17 a.m. (New Year's Day)

All times are p.m. unless otherwise stated. Countdown is broadcast at different days and times on S4C, Channel 4 for Wales.

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