The letters R, O, E, A, X, L, H, E and N were drawn by Rachel Riley for the contestants to try to make a word from. They came up with the six-letter words ‘exhale and ‘hoaxer’, while in Dictionary ...

The first ever series of Countdown was won that year by crossword ... with Carol Vorderman as co-presenter. Nick Hewer, Des Lynam, Des O'Connor and Jeff Stelling have also served as presenters.