[Former Member 406]

Didn't Des Lynham have form for sometimes being a Dictionary Corner guest when Richard Whiteley was still alive?

Was Des O'Connor ever on the show (i.e. in Dictionary Corner) before becoming its host?

[Neil Jones]

Didn't Des Lynham have form for sometines being a Dictionary Corner guest when Richard Whiteley was still alive?

Was Des O'Connor ever on the show (i.e. in Dictionary Corner) before becoming its host?

Apparently Des Lynam was only ever in dictionary corner once, and that was in 2010:.
wiki.apterous.org 

Category:Episodes with Des Lynam as a guest - Countdown
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  Source: wiki.apterous.org

The same website suggests O'Connor has never been in Dictionary Corner either.

While we're here, neither has Nick Hewer, Jeff Stelling or Richard Whitely (or Carol for that matter, both for obvious reasons). Anne Robinson has (last seen in the late 1980s as a guest) and Colin Murray has as well.

[NI92]

Didn't Des Lynham have form for sometines being a Dictionary Corner guest when Richard Whiteley was still alive?

Was Des O'Connor ever on the show (i.e. in Dictionary Corner) before becoming its host?

Des Lynam was on the first series of Celeb Countdown in 1998 beating Sian Lloyd.

[Si-Co]

You’ve reminded me of a special episode shown on one of the programme’s anniversaries in which Richard and Carol were the contestants. I can’t remember who hosted it - probably a Dictionary Corner regular like Giles Brandreth. Anyone remember this episode, possibly from around 1997?

[nwtv2003]

You’ve reminded me of a special episode shown on one of the programme’s anniversaries in which Richard and Carol were the contestants. I can’t remember who hosted it - probably a Dictionary Corner regular like Giles Brandreth. Anyone remember this episode, possibly from around 1997?

There are 2 specials from that year, one was the 2000th episode, which was a look back, the other was a Christmas Day episode where Carol and Richard were the contestants and Susie Dent took Carol’s role. Both specials were hosted by William G Stewart.

[Brekkie]

I think there are some "specials" which have never been shown - they recorded some to air when the cricket finished early (which wasn't as fun as airing old episodes) and then think Stelling and Hewer recorded a handful for some reason (possibly shorter eps to air during Cheltenham) which didn't all get aired.

[James2001]

There's some unaired Countdown Masters which were shown as part of the Channel 4 Daily as well.

[nwtv2003]

There's some unaired Countdown Masters which were shown as part of the Channel 4 Daily as well.

I think the Gulf War played its part in ending Countdown Masters, I think from that point it became an all News programme excluding cartoons, from its Newspaper on TV format.

[Steve in Pudsey]

Even Jimmy Carr has done a stint in Dictionary Corner (before Catsdown became a thing)

[nwtv2003]

Even Jimmy Carr has done a stint in Dictionary Corner (before Catsdown became a thing)

I forgot that was the case, possibly during Richard Whiteley’s time as well, I think.