Carol Vorderman has revealed some behind-the-scenes insights into how ‘rude words’ were handled on Countdown during her tenure as one of the hosts of the show, which spanned from 1982 to 2008. She explained that experts would sometimes need to find alternative words for contestants if they selected what was considered a ‘rude’ word to ensure fair scoring.
“Some [rude words] did come up, and we would have to keep a straight face,” she shared. “It was all about keeping a straight face.”
She added that if a contestant had the longest word, but it was deemed inappropriate, they would have to re-record to maintain fairness.
Speaking on the Off Menu podcast, she mentioned that while one rude word gained online notoriety, it never actually occurred on the show.
“When something rude came up, that awful one that begins with ‘CU’ and ends in ‘TS’ – that never happened,” Carol clarified.
Carol emphasized that having rude words on the show was not allowed, but the team would play ‘rude word Countdown’ in the bar after recording sessions.
During the interview, Carol also recalled a time when she feared her career might be over after impersonating Cher on an episode of Stars In Their Eyes in 1998. Despite initial challenges during her performance, it turned out to be a memorable moment for her career.
Countdown is streaming on Channel 4.
