- 7 hours ago
This episode's repeat was broadcast on Thursday 11th June 2020.
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00:31Good afternoon and welcome to the Countdown Studio, and I imagine that there are many, many disappointed people at home
00:38who, like me, failed to get any post at all this morning.
00:41Mind you, I didn't send any post either. No Valentine cards from me. Well, not to home anyway.
00:47But what I thought it would be interesting would be to look around and see what songs, what love songs
00:54are mostly played at around this time of the year.
00:57And our research department have come up with some particularly appropriate songs.
01:03Some of you will, of course, remember in 1981, John Lennon's great song, Woman.
01:08And then in 1985, Foreigners. This is one with which I'm not familiar. I want to know what love is.
01:14And Tiffany in 1988 apparently sang, I think we're alone now. Well, they should know, I suppose.
01:21So, um, a few emotional love songs there from the 80s, but not every year, our research department tells me,
01:28has had such romantic songs in the charts on Valentine's Day.
01:32Right back in 56, Tennessee, Ernie Ford had a hit with 16 tonnes, perhaps not the greatest compliment to be
01:40paid on Valentine's Day.
01:42Rachel, if you had to pick a song that would be perfect for Valentine's Day, what would it be?
01:48You're just too good to be true. Which is very romantic, I think.
01:51That's very good.
01:52If you're in a slightly different mood, there's another song that goes, er, you look good so much better when
01:56you're naked.
01:58For a slightly different tone on Valentine's Day.
02:00Yes, no, I think that's very fitting. But at my age, it makes me slightly breathless.
02:05So, I'm going to leave you, and thank you for that contribution, Rachel, and turn to our competitors, our contestants
02:11today.
02:13First of all, Chris Wills, a series champion from 2002. Welcome back, er, Chris.
02:18You work at Manchester University as a research administrator at Manchester Met, and you were behind in your last game,
02:25Chris,
02:25but proved you have a perfect eyesight by spotting the conundrum, myopathic, to edge home in at the death.
02:33Is that right?
02:34Yep.
02:34Yeah, and you DJ, I think, don't you? The occasional electro-pop disco night.
02:39What's an electro-pop disco night?
02:42Er, electro-pop, so if you sort of think back to music from the 80s, like Soft Cell, Human League,
02:49Depeche Mode,
02:50and then more recent stuff, like Lady Hawk, and that sort of thing.
02:58Okay.
02:58That's the sort of music that we have there.
03:01Yeah, I'm not very good at that sort of thing, but I see that your co-contestant, Jack Hurst, is
03:05nodding his head vigorously.
03:07Is that your style of music?
03:08Um, I like some of it. I like Lady Hawk, for example.
03:11I've never heard of them.
03:13He's a solo artist.
03:14All right. Now then, you're at Cambridge, math student at Pembroke College, series champion back in 2010, and you had
03:22a 100% record on countdown.
03:2413 shows, 13 wins, and in your last game, you scored the second-highest total of all time, 143.
03:31Well, you know the record's 146, so you keep striving for that. You were only three away last time. See
03:36if you can't bust through it.
03:37So, big round of applause for our contestants here, Chris and young Jack Hurst.
03:46And over in the corner, Susie, welcome back.
03:49Hello, thank you.
03:49Welcome back, and Ken. Ken, you and I are sort of the right age. I'm actually quite a lot older
03:54than you.
03:55No, I'm not.
03:55He said, gallantly.
03:56Yes.
03:56But back in 56, 16 tonnes.
04:00Yeah.
04:00This was something to do with a company store. I do remember this.
04:04He was a miner, I think, wasn't he?
04:05Yeah, it was actually...
04:07Yeah, I owe my soul to the company store.
04:08Exactly right.
04:09Anyway, let's get on with the game here.
04:12Chris, Chris, let us game.
04:14Hello, Rachel.
04:15Hi, Chris.
04:15Can I start with the consonant, please?
04:16Thank you. Start today with S.
04:20And another one.
04:22F.
04:23And another.
04:25G.
04:26Vowel.
04:28A.
04:29Another vowel.
04:31I.
04:32And another one.
04:34E.
04:35A consonant.
04:37D.
04:39Another consonant.
04:41P.
04:44And another consonant, please.
04:47And the last one.
04:48N.
04:49And here's the clock.
04:50And what you do.
05:04So, next one.
05:07And what you do.
05:16Bye-bye.
05:20so Chris only six I'm afraid a six and Jack seven a seven right Chris fiends and Jack spaying thank
05:32you and in the corner Jack can I just ask you how you're spelling spaying spaying and s-p-a
05:37-e-i-n-g
05:38okay it is a Scottish verb and it means to predict or foretell so very different from the spaying
05:45with a y very good so spaying very good what about the corner yeah um we had a thought about
05:50spading
05:51yes you can that is there is a verb you have to turn over the earth with a spade um
05:56but still
05:56sevens for us yeah okay very good indeed well done Jack seven ahead now then a letters game Jack hi
06:04Rachel hi Jack can I start with a consonant please thank you start with W and another
06:10P and another C and another D and a vowel please sorry O and another I and another A and
06:28another
06:28vowel please E um and another vowel please and the last one I and here's the clock
06:39so
06:53so
06:55so
07:08Yes, Jack?
07:09Six.
07:10Six.
07:11And Chris?
07:12Six as well.
07:13All right, Jack.
07:14And cowpea.
07:15Yes?
07:16Yeah, cowpea as well.
07:18Very good.
07:19Happy?
07:20Very happy.
07:21It is a plant of the pea family native to the Old World tropics.
07:25Very good.
07:26Now then, any advances there?
07:28I was rather hoping that Desperate Dan's favourite dish of cow pie might be there, but no, it's not.
07:33It's one word, is it?
07:34All right.
07:35Sadly not.
07:35OK.
07:36So, 13 plays six.
07:38And Chris, off you go again.
07:40Consonant, please, Rachel.
07:41Thank you, Chris.
07:42L.
07:43And another one.
07:45S.
07:46And another one.
07:48M.
07:49Vowel.
07:51A.
07:52Another vowel.
07:53O.
07:54Another vowel.
07:56U.
07:57Consonant.
07:59Y.
08:01Another consonant.
08:03N.
08:05And another consonant, please.
08:07And the last one.
08:09S.
08:09Stand by.
08:10All right.
08:11All right.
08:41Yes, Chris?
08:42Er, try seven.
08:44Thank you. Jack?
08:45Er, I'll stick with the seven then.
08:47OK, Chris?
08:49Salmons.
08:51Salmons.
08:51Hmm. What do you think, Jack?
08:53Er, solanum.
08:54Now then.
08:56OK, salmons, erm, I'm sure it's going to say it's a mass noun.
09:00However, oh, that's really annoying.
09:03I was going to say we have this countdown rule where you can order a dish in a restaurant
09:06and say we'll have a couple of salmons.
09:07Er, but unfortunately it does say plural definitely the same.
09:10So I think you would say we'll have two salmon.
09:14That's that dealt with then.
09:15Yes, I'm sorry about that. And Jack, what was your word?
09:17I'm not sure how it's pronounced. Solanum, maybe. S-O-L-A-N-U-M.
09:22Yeah, a plant of a genus that includes a potato and woody nightshade.
09:26Well done, Jack.
09:27Excellent.
09:28Very good. And in the corner, any advances?
09:30No, we couldn't improve on that at all.
09:32Well done. Excellent.
09:33Very good indeed.
09:34Well done, Jack.
09:3520 plays six.
09:37And off you go again, Jack.
09:38Letters game.
09:38A consonant, please, Rachel.
09:40Thank you, Jack.
09:41R.
09:42And another.
09:44T.
09:45And a third.
09:47M.
09:48And a fourth.
09:50T.
09:52Vowel, please.
09:53E.
09:54And another.
09:55I.
09:56And another.
09:59U.
10:00And another vowel, please.
10:03E.
10:04And another vowel, please.
10:06And the last one.
10:08I.
10:09Countdown.
10:39And another vowel, please.
10:41A seven.
10:42Chris?
10:43Seven.
10:43OK.
10:43Jack?
10:44Termite.
10:45Yep.
10:46And Chris?
10:47Termite.
10:48Termites.
10:48So, anything else?
10:49Nothing better than seven, I'm afraid.
10:51No.
10:51Just sixes otherwise.
10:52Sixes.
10:53Very good indeed.
10:5427 plays 13.
10:55Now then, numbers game.
10:56It's the first of the day.
10:58And Chris?
11:00Can I go old school, please, Rachel, and have an inverted T?
11:03You can.
11:04Inverted T.
11:05One from the top.
11:06And five little ones.
11:07Thank you, Chris.
11:08And for the first numbers game, they are two, eight, seven, six.
11:14And another six.
11:15And the large one's 75.
11:18And the target?
11:19725.
11:20725.
11:22725.
11:48725.
11:54Chris, 7.30, not running down.
11:577.30, yes, Jack.
11:587.26.
11:597.26, right, take it away.
12:02OK, so 6 plus 2 plus 7 is 15.
12:056 plus 2 plus 7, 15.
12:07Add it to the 75.
12:09Add to the 75 for 90.
12:11Multiply by the 8.
12:12For 720.
12:14And add the 6.
12:15Yep, one away.
12:16Very good, well done, Jack.
12:17Now, is it possible, 7.25 achievable?
12:21I think it must be possible, but I will have another look.
12:23It's harder than it looks.
12:24But for the moment, Jack takes the scores, 34 to 13,
12:28as we now look towards you, Ken.
12:30Ken, Bruce, what have you got for us today?
12:32It's a long way, appearing on programmes like this
12:34and on the radio from my background in accountancy,
12:37which I was talking about earlier in the week.
12:38I started training as an accountant.
12:40And, you know, all these years later,
12:41I'm still in touch with some of the people I was at college with,
12:46and I'm still actually indebted to my accountant
12:49for all his fine advice.
12:51It's not just about monetary matters.
12:52My accountant is a guide through my whole life.
12:56And to give you an example of that,
12:58I'll just tell you, a few years ago,
12:59I had a bit of a romantic dilemma.
13:02This is highly appropriate for Valentine's Day,
13:04a bit of a romantic dilemma.
13:06I was in love with a beautiful but penniless young Scottish girl,
13:10and I had the offer of marriage from a very wealthy
13:15but somewhat elderly widow.
13:17And, well, naturally, I was torn.
13:20Should I go with the love of my life,
13:23put as a church mouse, young girl,
13:25or the elderly, wealthy widow?
13:27So I asked my accountant for his advice,
13:30and straight away he said,
13:32you must follow your heart.
13:34Follow your heart.
13:35Do what your heart tells you.
13:37Never mind about the wealthy widow
13:39and all the money you might inherit.
13:41Follow your heart.
13:42Marry the young girl that you love.
13:45I said, thank you very much for that fine advice.
13:48He said, just one thing.
13:50Didn't you give me the widow's phone number?
13:53Very good.
13:54What about you?
13:57Very good.
13:58Now, Rachel is looking very pleased.
14:01Now then, Rachel, what have you got for us?
14:03Um, there were a couple of ways to get this one.
14:06Um, you could have said,
14:08one of the sixes plus eight is 14,
14:11and then 75 minus 14, 61,
14:14times by two, 122,
14:17times by the other six for 732,
14:20and take away the seven.
14:21Very good indeed.
14:23Very good.
14:28Did you get that, Jack?
14:29No way near it.
14:31Very good.
14:32But now it's time for Tea Time Teaser,
14:34which is Elbow Lid,
14:35and the clue,
14:36William was in debt
14:38and filled up with air.
14:40William was in debt
14:40and filled up with air.
14:57Welcome back.
14:58I left you with the clue,
14:59William was in debt
15:00and filled up with air.
15:03He billowed.
15:04He billowed.
15:05Now, if you'd like to become a Countdown contestant,
15:08you can email countdown at channel4.com
15:11to request an application form
15:13or write to us at
15:15contestantsapplications
15:16countdown leads
15:18LS
15:18free
15:191
15:20J
15:20S.
15:22Jack, 34.
15:23Chris, 13.
15:24We go into part two.
15:26Jack, take us away.
15:27Let us game.
15:28Um,
15:29consonant, please, Rachel.
15:30Thank you, Jack.
15:31M.
15:32And another.
15:34D.
15:35And a third.
15:37N.
15:39And a fourth.
15:41T.
15:42Vowel, please.
15:43O.
15:44And another.
15:45A.
15:46And another.
15:47I.
15:49And another.
15:51O.
15:53And another vowel, please.
15:55And the last one.
15:56E.
15:57Countdown.
16:02MUSIC PLAYS
16:29Jack? Eight.
16:31And Chris? Eight.
16:33OK, Jack? Dominate.
16:35Dominate. Chris?
16:36Yes, I'm being dominated.
16:38Well, not entirely.
16:41APPLAUSE
16:42Very good.
16:43And in the corner...
16:44Yes, we've managed to dominate this particular group of letters.
16:48There's quite a lot of eight-letter words there, aren't there, Susie?
16:50Motioned is also there for eight.
16:52And demotion.
16:55Anything else?
16:56No.
16:57Settle for those three.
16:58Very good.
16:59Jack, 42 to Chris's 21.
17:02Chris?
17:03Constantly, Rachel.
17:04Thank you, Chris.
17:05H?
17:06And another one.
17:08R?
17:09And another one.
17:11V?
17:12Vowel.
17:13O?
17:15Another vowel.
17:16I?
17:17And another vowel.
17:18E?
17:19Consonant.
17:21F?
17:23Consonant.
17:25R?
17:27And one more consonant, please.
17:29And lastly, N.
17:31Clock time.
17:32We'll see you next time.
17:33We'll see you next time.
17:34We'll see you next time.
17:34We'll see you next time.
17:35We'll see you next time.
17:37We'll see you next time.
17:39We'll see you next time.
17:42We'll see you next time.
17:46We'll see you next time.
17:48We'll see you next time.
17:50We'll see you next time.
17:50We'll see you next time.
17:51We'll see you next time.
17:51We'll see you next time.
17:52We'll see you next time.
17:53We'll see you next time.
17:53We'll see you next time.
18:00We'll see you next time.
18:03Chris? Seven.
18:04Seven. Jack? Seven as well.
18:06Chris? Hornier.
18:08Hornier, right. Thank you very much, Chris.
18:10And both hornier.
18:12He's hornier as well.
18:14And in the corner, Ken?
18:16We are similarly.
18:19Terrifying prospect here today.
18:21Susie, get it out of this.
18:22What's going to get worse? There's heroin for six.
18:25Heroin, thank you.
18:26And that's about it. So not a great selection.
18:29Very good. Thank you, Rachel,
18:30for putting it up on the board for us.
18:3249 to 28, says
18:34Jack's in the lead. Jack,
18:36take it away. Consonant, please, Rachel.
18:39Thank you, Jack.
18:40R. And another.
18:43P. And another.
18:45C.
18:46And another.
18:49G. A vowel, please.
18:51A.
18:52And another.
18:54U. And another.
18:57I.
18:58I.
18:59And we'll try another vowel, please.
19:02E.
19:04And another vowel, please.
19:05And the last one.
19:07A.
19:07Stand by.
19:09I.
19:21I.
19:24I.
19:25I.
19:36I.
19:38I.
19:39Jack? I'll try a seven. Chris? Six. And your six? Is a Garrick. And Jack?
19:46Piragua. How are you spelling it? P-I-R-A-G-U-A. Brilliant. It's another term for a pirogue.
19:54I think Nick knows all about pirogues, don't you? Those hollow, bottomed-out tree trunks that he used
19:58as canoes. I think you've been in one. I have. I stumbled across a river. Why didn't I stumble?
20:03I floated across a river, yeah, looking for crocodiles at the time. Glad to say I didn't see any.
20:09Anyway, it's excellent. Well done. Good seven. Very good word. Very good. 56 plays, 28, and Chris,
20:15let us go. Consonant, please, Rachel. Thank you, Chris. N. And another one. X. And another.
20:25L. Vowel. E. Another vowel. I. And third vowel. O. Consonant. C. Another
20:37consonant. M. And one more consonant, please. And the last one. T. Here we go.
20:46From the L. Vowel. E. Another vowel....
20:58MUSIC CONTINUES
21:16Yes, Chris? Seven.
21:18Seven, Jack? Yeah, seven as well.
21:20OK, Chris? Lexicon, thank you.
21:23Also in my lexicon.
21:24Yep.
21:26Now then, Susie, this is your line of country.
21:29It is, yes.
21:29Have you stumbled on lexicon?
21:30I approve. We did.
21:32Well done.
21:33Anything else, Ken?
21:34I'm afraid nothing larger than seven letters now.
21:37Anything leading up to it?
21:38We have motile for six, meaning mobile or fluid,
21:42but that was the only one.
21:43Thank you very much.
21:4463 days, 35.
21:46But now it's time to concentrate.
21:49Susie, we've sharpened our pencils.
21:50We are at your command.
21:53Well, I've been looking at names in English this week.
21:56And today I'm going to talk about Ken.
21:59Ken, because Ken is in the OED with seven different meanings.
22:04They range from a house where thieves, beggars and other rather disrespectful characters meet or lodge,
22:09to a Japanese unit of length and also a Japanese game of forfeits.
22:14But the most popular one, which Ken will definitely know about, and probably use it yourself, I would imagine,
22:19is Ken meaning knowledge.
22:21Actually, it started off to mean romantic knowledge, which is quite appropriate for today.
22:26To Ken was to know or to understand.
22:28And it's a version of the verb can, which originally in the 11th century are meant to have practical knowledge
22:34of something.
22:36To can by heart was to know something by heart.
22:39To can one's good was to know what was good for you.
22:42And that, of course, is the root of our modern sense of can, to have knowledge of something and so
22:46be able to do it.
22:47But the more interesting one is, I think, the den of thieves and beggars.
22:50And that was vagabonds slang, Ken, in the 16th century.
22:54And it was a house.
22:55There was a merry set of words around it.
22:57You could go to a bowsing Ken, a dancing Ken, a smuggling Ken, a stalling Ken, and a touting Ken.
23:04And to burn the Ken was to leave the inn without paying for your drinks.
23:08Something you've probably never done.
23:09Never.
23:09And this sense of Ken, to mean a house, is actually related to the dunny.
23:14We talk about the dunny for the loo.
23:15And that's short for dunnakin, or originally, sorry about this, dung Ken.
23:19I bet you wish I'd never gone there.
23:20So, yeah.
23:21But there you go.
23:22Ken is in the dictionary, and there's a lot to do with it.
23:25Very good.
23:26Well done, Kiki.
23:28Well done.
23:30Well done.
23:31Now then, Jack.
23:3263 to 35.
23:34And it's your numbers game, Jack.
23:36Just one large number, please, Rachel.
23:38Thank you, Jack.
23:39One from the top throw, and five little ones again for you.
23:42And for this round, the little ones are one, four, another one, seven, eight, and the large
23:51one, 75 again.
23:53And your target, and your target, two hundred and thirty-six.
23:55Two, three, six.
23:57One, two, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four,
24:08three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four,
24:08three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, three, four, four, three, four, three,
24:08four, four, three, four, four, three, four, four, three, four, four, three, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four,
24:08four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four,
24:08four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four, four
24:27Yes, Jack.
24:282, 3, 6.
24:292, 3, 6.
24:29Chris, 2, 3, 6.
24:30All right, Jack.
24:32OK, so 75 plus 1 is 76.
24:3475 plus 1 is 76.
24:354 minus 1 is 3.
24:37Yep.
24:38Multiply both of them for 2, 2, 8.
24:402, 8.
24:41And add the 8.
24:42Well done.
24:422, 3, 6.
24:43Very good.
24:44Chris.
24:458 plus 7 plus 1 is 16.
24:48Yep.
24:488 plus 7 plus 1 is 16.
24:50Take that away from the 75.
24:5116 is 59.
24:53And multiply it by 4.
24:54Perfect again.
24:552, 3, 6.
24:56Very good.
24:56Well done both.
24:59Well done both.
25:01So, Jack's 73 to Chris's 45, but now it's time for a Tea Time teaser,
25:06which is Drab Howl.
25:09And the clue, in the US, this is a bit of a big head.
25:13In the US, this is a bit of a big head.
25:30Welcome back.
25:31I left you with the clue.
25:32In the US, this is a bit of a big head.
25:35And the answer is blow hard.
25:37A blow hard.
25:38Big shot.
25:39Big head.
25:4073 plays 45.
25:42Jack in the lead.
25:43Chris, your letters game.
25:45A consonant, please, Rachel.
25:46Thank you, Chris.
25:47H.
25:48And another one.
25:50N.
25:50And another one.
25:52B.
25:53A vowel.
25:55U.
25:56Another vowel.
25:57E.
25:58And another vowel.
26:00A.
26:02Consonant.
26:03R.
26:05Another consonant.
26:07L.
26:09And another consonant, please.
26:11And the last one.
26:12S.
26:13Countdown.
26:15R.
26:15R.
26:45OK, Chris?
26:45Seven.
26:46And Jack?
26:47Yeah, seven as well.
26:48OK, Chris?
26:49Blusher.
26:50Blusher.
26:51Jack?
26:52Nebulas.
26:53Yes.
26:56Yeah, they can be nebulas or nebuli.
26:58Either is fine.
26:59Very good.
27:00Very good.
27:00And in the corner, anything else?
27:02Ken?
27:02The only one for seven letters I can unleash at you is unleash.
27:08Well done.
27:08Unleash.
27:09Let's let the dogs of war unleash.
27:1280 plays 52.
27:14Jack?
27:16Start with a consonant, please, Rachel.
27:19Thank you, Jack.
27:20W?
27:20And a vowel.
27:22E?
27:23And a consonant.
27:25T?
27:26And a vowel.
27:29A?
27:30And a consonant.
27:32B?
27:33And a vowel.
27:36O?
27:37And a consonant.
27:39N?
27:40And another consonant.
27:43R?
27:45And we'll finish with a vowel, please.
27:47And the last one.
27:48E.
27:50Tick-tock time.
27:51And a vowel.
28:19So we'll finish with a vowel.
28:21Jack and a seven seven Chris just six and your six beta beta yes Jack baronet a baronet
28:31yes pretty good nice that was ours too what else we got anything else not really no I'm afraid not
28:38we're sticking with the baronet yeah very good indeed well done 87 plays 52 now then Chris
28:45constant please Rachel thank you Chris Zed lovely and another one S and another one T a vowel I
28:59another vowel O and another vowel a consonant D another consonant L and another constant please
29:14and the last one S and they're off
29:48Chris eight and Jack yeah I'll risk an eight as well Chris solidist solidist most solid
29:59acceptable well it will be the dictionary's decision because it's got more than one syllable
30:04and so um it has to be specified and it is yep excellent both well done
30:09well done anything else there Ken anything interesting nothing as large as eight but at
30:18seven perhaps appropriately we were doziest never dozy now then Jack numbers game 95 will
30:27you get to 100 there's Rachel pleading for her instructions I'm gonna be boring and go one
30:32large can please thank you Jack not always boring let's see what we've got with this one so five
30:38little ones one large one and for the last time today they are four seven one eight six and the
30:46large
30:46five hundred and seventy-five again and the target five hundred and forty-two five four two
30:54so
31:07so
31:08so
31:22How was it, Jack?
31:23Yeah, 5, 4, 2.
31:25Chris? 5, 4, 2.
31:26All right. Jack?
31:27So, 7 times 75.
31:307, 75 is 5, 2, 5.
31:32And then 6 plus 8 plus 4 is 18.
31:36Yep.
31:36Take away the 1, 17, and add it on.
31:395, 4, 2.
31:40Thank you. Chris?
31:41Yeah, pretty much the same way.
31:43Well done. All right. Well done.
31:48You're through the 100, then. Well done, Jack.
31:50105 plays 70 as we get to the final round, and it's conundrum time.
31:55So, fingers on buzzers, please.
31:56Let's reveal today's countdown conundrum.
32:01Wow, Chris. Yes.
32:03Um, oh, no. Sorry. That's it.
32:06No.
32:07Rest of time is yours, Jack.
32:17Thanks, Jack.
32:19Lullabide.
32:20Lullabide.
32:23Well done.
32:24Well done.
32:25Well done.
32:27115. Very good score. Well done, Chris. Good game. Not quite good enough.
32:32No.
32:32This one's a terrific competitor.
32:34And so it is that we send you back to Manchester, which is about, you know, three and six on
32:39the tram, with a big teapot and a priceless piece of kryptonite and our very best wishes.
32:45And to you, Jack Hurst, congratulations. We shall see you in 12 days' time.
32:49Now then, see you tomorrow.
32:51Thanks.
32:51See you tomorrow.
32:52Yes.
32:52Things are getting hot here.
32:54They are.
32:54See you tomorrow.
32:55See you tomorrow indeed.
32:56Tell me this, Ken.
32:59This Eurovision Song Contest, and sometimes people are a little bit unkind about it and unfair watching it on television,
33:05perhaps, because there's some crazy voting going on.
33:08What's all that about?
33:09Well, a lot of people think it's political voting, but it's not really. It's more cultural.
33:15Yeah.
33:15You get sworn enemies voting for each other, like at certain times Ukraine and Russia voted for each other when
33:20they were not getting on at all.
33:22All the former Yugoslav republics vote for each other because it's a cultural thing.
33:26It's voting for usually the kind of music that they like.
33:30Yeah.
33:30And it's also slightly a bit of a kick against the perceived establishment, the Western European countries.
33:37Unfortunately, we in the UK have very few friends at all, so we don't have people voting for us at
33:42all.
33:42I mean, our nearest neighbours, Ireland do sometimes, France, our next nearest neighbours, hardly ever vote for us.
33:48So we're an island nation, and we'll stay that way, I think, in Eurovision terms.
33:53Very interesting.
33:54And often republics will not support an ex-colonial power.
33:58It's quite interesting.
33:58Indeed, indeed.
33:59I always travel on an Irish passport, never on an English passport, British passport.
34:04Do you use different names as well?
34:06No, no, I use the same, more or less the same name.
34:09But it's interesting, actually, because for the reasons, you know.
34:12Exactly.
34:13Well, I was interested in Chris saying that when he DJs, he's into electro-pop.
34:18I go back far enough to be sort of wind-up gramophone pop, really.
34:21I started some years ago in hospital radio, and, you know, all these years later, I'm still making people sick
34:27when they listen to me.
34:28It's such a long time since I've been there, and, you know, you do worry about the effect you're having.
34:33But when I appear on television, you get instant response.
34:37For instance, I've just had this letter in this week.
34:39Dear Ken Bruce, for the past 25 years, my husband has done nothing but sit staring at the TV screen
34:4624 hours a day, sitting like a zombie, never speaking, just watching programme after programme without any sign of comprehension.
34:53The doctors had given up on him.
34:56Then, you appeared on countdown, and there was a miracle.
34:59He got up and switched it off.
35:02It's lovely to have such an effect.
35:04We shall see you tomorrow.
35:06Lots more tomorrow.
35:06Rachel, see you tomorrow.
35:07See you tomorrow.
35:09Have a very pleasant evening.
35:11Good luck getting at least one card when you get home.
35:13Right, don't you?
35:15Join us again tomorrow.
35:17Same time, same place.
35:18We look forward to it.
35:19You be sure of it.
35:20Good afternoon.
35:32Meet the mum and dad's confident enough to say, yep, we're smashing this parenting lark.
35:38Child rearing gets competitive tonight at 8 o'clock here on Channel 4.
35:41Next, though, we're looking for a bit of sunshine.
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