Countdown

countdown clock music is a bit strange, I dare say were just more used to a simple ticking.

Ours is a little more than just ticking, at least you know with ours when the end of the 30 seconds is going to be due to the build up. With that version it just seems to stop without warning in comparison.

I know what you mean, but at its heart it's the ticking but of course two other instruments, which I could never possible spell correctly even with a inbuilt spell checker

If they could brand it as 'Countdown Australia' on the EPG and dub it with the real music they may have minor hit, I think it would work better than a show like Aussie or American Price is Right would over here.

It's been done.

"Hello. Hello, good evening and as the Countdown to a brand new channel ends, a brand new countdown begins"
- Whitley 1982

"Hello. Hello and welcome back to Countdown"
- Vorderman 2005

"Thank you Carole. Thank you everybody. And good afternoon to you at home"
- Lynam 2005

"It's cold and it's damp and it's miserable"
- Stelling 2009

"Hi Jeff"
- Riley 2009

"Good afternoon and welcome to the Countdown studio and welcome to the first show on 2012. 30 years of great broadcasting to the nation. Who am I? I'm Nick Hewer, your new presenter and I am so proud to be sitting in the same chair that the great Richard Whiteley sat in for all those years and the great presenters, people like Des Lynam, Des O'Conner and most recently Jeff Stelling"
- Hewer 2012

Nick Hewer started today. He brought new titles and plenty of lens flare with him. He wore a tie and seemed quite good. Very different to Stelling.

In other news, the CA mentioned 'The Simpsons' by name again today (twice). I think that little bit of fun is now over.

Thought I'd have a quick look at Countdown - nice new titles, and that title/end credit music (is it a newer mix, it sounds a little different?) is fantastic as ever, I reckon some of the best music on TV.

Nick Hewer - seems very suited to the role with quite a different style to previous presenters - he was a little stilted and seemed uncomfortable, but I'm sure he'll settle in within no time - it is his first TV presenting job after all.

Nick Hewer was bloody awful. As for the titles - not sure. Countdown was long over due a new set but these are basically the same idea but not as good.

(I think too as a forum we need to get back into the habit of actually having separate threads for events like these!)

Yes, but Countdown pretty much plays itself. It doesn't need a presenter in the same way as some programmes do, so I agree Nick Hewer is no Vernon Kay but he is perfect for Countdown.

We've been saying that over on Metropol for about 4 years now. Nothing ever gets done.

I'm claiming credit for something getting done

Out of interest, I note the credits shot doesn't show the audience. Did it used to or is my mind playing tricks? Also shouldn't there be at least one camera in that seemingly massive gap?

The current credits shot has been the case, IIRC, since Jeff took over.
Also if I remember correctly, there did use to be a audience shot of some sort but this would be going back many years ago (possibly to the Purple strips era) where one could just briefly glimpse the audience either side of frame before cutting to the credit roller.

As to the camera setup for the credits - that appears far bigger now than it did last year. It can't be as big in reality as it looks - can it?