Countdown (game show) World Records" for the most series of a TV game show broadcast. Countdown (game show) Countdown is a British game show involving word and number puzzles. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on Channel 4. It is currently presented by Nick Hewer, assisted by Rachel Riley, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and 77 series have been broadcast since its debut on 2 November 1982. With over 6,500 episodes, "Countdown" is one of the longest-running game shows in the world, along with the original French version, "Des chiffres
Countdown (game show) Vorderman to commend Channel 4 on its success of "Countdown". On 26 March 2010, Queen Elizabeth II congratulated "Countdown" for amassing 5,000 episodes. On 5 September 2014, the programme received a Guinness World Record at the end of its 6,000th show for the longest-running television programme of its kind during the course of its 71st series. On 23 July 2008, it was announced that O'Connor would be leaving the show at the end of the 59th series in December 2008 to concentrate on other projects. ITV Studios announced on 25 July 2008 that Carol Vorderman would also be leaving at