It's your chance to prove yourself a master of vocabulary and maths! Find the longest words with the letters available in our "Letters Game", and calculate the solutions that will bring you to the targets in our "Numbers Game".

See if you can finish with a flourish as you attempt to unscramble the Countdown Conundrum at the end of the show.

Click Play to get started!

You may want to familiarise yourself with instructions on how to play, so use the link below to get started. Remember, instructions are only a click away wherever you are in the show. In the Letters Game, you will be given 9 letters and it's down to you to make the longest word possible with what's available. Des will introduce the round, then it's over to Carol at the board to pick your letters.

You have some control, but not much... You get to choose whether each letter is a Vowel or a Consonant. Use your mouse to choose what you would like - you can select all nine without waiting to see what Carol picks, or make your choices after each letter appears.

Then, it's time to try and fine that longest word. Des will start the Countdown clock and you'll have a limited time to find your word:

• Once Des starts the clock, you'll see your letter selection, along with a second grid in which you can try and make some words.
• You can click letters to select them for your word, or use your keyboard to type them out. Once you're happy with a word that you think might be good, you can hit CONFIRM to enter it.

• If you're struggling you can use the SHUFFLE button to rearrange your letter selection to see whether it gives you some more ideas.
• If you've tried to make a word, and then realised you can't do it, use CLEAR to empty the space.

• You can make several words. When the time is up, you'll get the chance to choose your best word. Make sure you're happy with the spelling, as Susie will check it in the dictionary.
• Remember the bigger the word the more points it is worth, and you'll receive a bonus if Susie can't come up with a longer word.
• If you're going for speed, use the keyboard. ENTER will accept the current word, and SPACE will shuffle the letters. BACKSPACE can also be used for corrections.

In this game, you will need to exercise your maths skills. Carol will draw out six numbered tiles, which you will use in your maths to reach the Target, which is a three digit number randomly picked by our show's computer 'CECIL'. To begin the round you first need to select the 6 tiles that Carol will draw.

• The top row contains the numbers, 25, 50, 75 and 100. The rest of the tiles contain two sets of the numbers, 1 to 10.
• You should generally try to use at least one or two numbers from the top row.
• You can use each number once in your sums, aiming to reach the target score, or at least get close to it.
• All your calculations have to use whole numbers - no fractions or decimals are allowed.

• You'll get a few points for being within ten of the target, and a few more for being within five. For maximum points though, you'll need to be on target.

Once the numbers are out and the target is decided, the Countdown clock is started and it's time to do your maths. It might look a little confusing at first, but you'll soon get the hang of it, as it's just a type of calculator. Give a little thought to how you might reach your target, and perhaps use the calculator to find out the results of some simple combinations.

• Click a number from your selection to place it in your first sum.
• You'll see a maths operation next to your number, initially an ADDITION (+) sign. Clicking this will cycle it through MINUS, MULTIPLY, DIVIDE, and back to ADDITION.
• Click a second number from your selection and it will be added to your calculation, and you'll also see the results of that initial sum. This new number can now become part of your next calculation, as you attempt to equal your target score.
• If you want, you can change the symbol between your two numbers to see the results of some different operations. Just click to change it.

• If you get stuck, you can click the X button to the left of your sum to clear anything you've made so far.
• If you want to use the keyboard, try using the number pad on the right. Remember to turn NUM LOCK on.

You'll get a small amount of points for being within ten of your target score, a few more for being within five. You'll get full points for being on target, with bonus points based on the time it took you to get the right answer. No points will be awarded for a final figure that is over ten away from your target.



If you didn't make it, don't worry as Carol will show you how it's done, or indeed tell you if it turns out to be impossible.

This is the final round, where again you're against the Countdown clock. This time you're trying to solve the Conundrum, which is nine jumbled up letters. These are actually an anagram of a nine-letter word, and it is this word that you have to find! Stare at it - you only have the time on the clock - and once you know it, buzz in.

• Make sure you know the answer, as you'll only get one chance at solving it.
• Once you buzz in, you'll have to be quick, as you'll only have a short time to pick each letter... we can't give you another thirty seconds of thinking time! :)


• Complete the word, and Des will reveal whether you're right or wrong... if you fail to complete a word within the time limit, he'll show you the right answer.

The conundrum is your last chance to boost your score, as after that the show's over... until next time! When you've finished checking your scores, click OK to return to the Countdown Main Screen to start the fun again! With a bit of practice, you'll be well on your way to becoming an Octo-champ!