Countdown

This thread being pretty recent means I can ask a question now about something from a while ago, but without dragging up a thread.

Basically there have been three version of the theme tune (on Channel 4), version 1 1982-1990 or so, then 1990 or so to 1995, and the current one which has been used since 1995.

Except for however, 2001. When they relaunched with the new look logo which is still in use today (with the white on blue letters) and the new title graphics which were used until this year (if only recoloured to blue in 2009), they went back to using the 1990-1995 theme tune. Was this a mistake? Especially since they changed back to the newer one at least 12 months later judging from 2002 editions of the show on YouTube.

The clip of the 2001 titles with the old theme is on Tes' website: http://www.tvwhirl.co.uk/tvwhirl.php?file=tesgameshows/countdown2001b.mp4

just seemed odd.

P.S. and if you can't tell the difference, the old theme just has the clock ticking at the beginning, whereas the current one has this sort of added 'whoosing' (for want of a better word) sound too.

That was interesting, maybe they felt like it needed a revival, rather to stick with the newer version.

There was of course a forth version for the 1998 'Celebrity Countdown' series which (presumably as it went to prime time) featured a complete reworking of the theme.

The current theme tune was introduced on January 1st, 1996. That was when they jazzed up the clock music as well, but that didn't last.

Well, what do you know, a clip with the same titles marked as being from the same series and year in fact arrives on YouTube. I guess this was changed quite quick. Looks more like it was a mistake now.

Ah so I didn't imagine it then. Whenever I hear the clock theme, I always hum to myself in a very specific way, almost as if I expect there to be something extra in that clock theme. Is there a clip of it somewhere?

Yes, probably one of the best YouTube channels I've seen 'countdowngoofs' has uploaded the whole episode!

EDIT: rob beat me to it! But I can still tell you when to skip to: 6:19.

Well would you believe it, that is exactly the tune I always hum when i hear that tune. How long did it last? I find it odd I would remember that for so long.

It lasted 5 episodes. Glyn Wigley, Dominic Moyes, Maria Thomson, and Anthony Jenkin are the only people to have won a game with the jazzed up clock music.

You know for some reason I'm getting the feeling you're a bit more than just a casual viewer of Countdown

I've been a big fan of the show for nearly 20 years, and have applied for the show on more than one occasion (unsuccessfully I might add) - but most of my facts come from reading the Countdown Wiki

Which means someone must have gone through all the episodes already recorded and replaced the 'jazzed up' music with the old music. Probably not the hardest editing job in the world, but probably quite boring.

Didn't they change the colour of the letters once too which was equally as unpopular and meant they had to record the bits of the show involving letters again? I might have made that up though.