8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown is a crossover between the panel games "8 Out of 10 Cats" and "Countdown". The show follows the format of "Countdown", but with hosts and contestants from "8 Out of 10 Cats", and an emphasis on humour. The first episode aired as part of Channel 4's "mash-up night" on 2 January 2012; the first full series was aired in July 2013 and multiple series have since been commissioned. Episodes feature Jimmy Carr as host; two teams of two contestants feature in most episodes, with Sean Lock
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Jon Richardson as permanent team captains (various other personalities, such as Lee Mack, Sarah Millican, Bill Bailey and Claudia Winkleman, deputise when either captain is unavailable to film). Rachel Riley and Susie Dent take up their regular roles from "Countdown"; Joe Wilkinson appears in many earlier episodes as Rachel's assistant and has also stood in as a team captain. The formation of the crossover began as a series of specials, the first of which was conceived on 2 January 2012, when Channel 4 orchestrated a special "mash-up night", merging two shows to form a special edition of the pair,