8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown is a British comedy panel show hosted by Jimmy Carr. It is a crossover of 8 Out of 10 Cats and game show Countdown. The show follows the format of Countdown, but with hosts and contestants from 8 Out of 10 Cats, and an emphasis on the humour seen on 8 Out of 10 Cats.[1] All episodes[fn 1] are approximately 45 minutes long, and usually featured team captains Sean Lock and Jon Richardson; after Lock's death in 2021 his team has been led by a rotating series of guest captains while Richardson continues to be a regular captain (except when scheduling conflicts prevent him from appearing).
As of 16 August 2024,[update] 162 episodes of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown have aired.
This series is composed of unaired episodes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first two episodes were recorded in late 2019 to accommodate Rachel Riley's maternity leave, made obvious by the fact she still appears 8-months pregnant in these episodes;[5] the third episode was originally filmed in early 2019 as references were made to Richard Ayoade's role in the "recent" film The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part; and the fourth and fifth episodes were Best Bits specials that were originally assembled in 2018. The Christmas Special was also filmed in 2019, prior to Riley's pregnancy.
The episode filmed in 2023, as part of the sixteenth production run (ergo listed as Series 16 for international airings), yet to be shown has been revealed as comprising a lineup of Joe Wilkinson and Rob Brydon, Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont, and Huge Davies in Dictionary Corner.[24] This episode is scheduled to air on 15 August 2025 as part of the International Series 16 on BBC UKTV in Australia.[25]
Separately, an episode purported to have been filmed as part of the thirteenth production run in late 2019 - comprising a lineup of Sean Lock and Joe Wilkinson, Jon Richardson and Katherine Ryan, and Tom Binns as Ivan Brackenbury in Dictionary Corner - has never been shown.[26] It is unknown if a UK airdate was ever scheduled, however BBC UKTV in Australia did intend to broadcast the episode in January 2022.[27][better source needed] In 2023, Binns was convicted for possession of child sex abuse imagery. A segment from the episode - not featuring Binns - was released on Channel 4's official YouTube channel, as part of a compilation of highlights from the show, in April 2025.[28]
^Having reached the Countdown Conundrum without scoring, Mack and Mortimer (with help from Joe Wilkinson) persuaded Jimmy Carr to award 100 points for the Conundrum (which they proceeded to lose anyway, with the bonus still being awarded to Hills and Richardson).
^Jimmy Carr stated that because it was the Christmas Special, the Countdown Conundrum was worth 13 points instead of 10, thus giving Sean and Johnny a shot at victory. During the round, Vegas was handed a suspicious piece of paper by Dictionary Corner, announced the answer shortly after, and secured the victory.
^Cariad Lloyd's mascot references David Bowie. The episode aired shortly after his death. Channel 4 noted that this episode was filmed before the death of David Bowie.
^First broadcast on BBC UKTV in Australia and New Zealand on 21 February 2024.
^Nick Mohammed is joined by his son, Finn, as part of one of the Mr. Swallow Dictionary Corner segments.
^First broadcast on BBC UKTV in Australia and New Zealand on 24 January 2024.
^Originally set to broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 on 6 January 2023, as part of series 24.[17]
^First broadcast on BBC UKTV in Australia and New Zealand on 14 February 2024.
^First broadcast on BBC UKTV in Australia and New Zealand on 31 January 2024. This episode was also originally listed by the British Comedy Guide as airing third in the 25th series.
^Khan is also joined by his friend Lumboo as a mascot.
^Khan is also joined by his friend Haroon as a mascot.
^ abBest Bits Special; highlights of episodes produced under the fifteenth production run (those broadcast as episodes 143, 144, 147-151, 153, 159, 161, 162 and 165.)
^First broadcast on BBC UKTV in Australia and New Zealand on 20 March 2024.
Viewer notes
^2.49 million on Channel 4, 411,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.68 million on Channel 4, 379,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.07 million on Channel 4, 559,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.74 million on Channel 4, 495,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.08 million on Channel 4, 386,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.83 million on Channel 4, 467,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.17 million on Channel 4, 291,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.68 million on Channel 4, 424,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.90 million on Channel 4, 404,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.55 million on Channel 4, 334,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.97 million on Channel 4, 371,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.31 million on Channel 4, 436,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.29 million on Channel 4, 406,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.51 million on Channel 4, 283,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.49 million on Channel 4, 269,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.53 million on Channel 4, 366,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.95 million on Channel 4, 349,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.42 million on Channel 4, 342,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.66 million on Channel 4, 274,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.59 million on Channel 4, 287,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.73 million on Channel 4, 252,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.98 million on Channel 4, 371,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.72 million on Channel 4, 281,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.91 million on Channel 4, 391,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.00 million on Channel 4, 452,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.00 million on Channel 4, 434,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.29 million on Channel 4, 356,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.43 million on Channel 4, 326,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.16 million on Channel 4, 271,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.88 million on Channel 4, 410,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.26 million on Channel 4, 274,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.44 million on Channel 4, 332,000 on Channel 4 +1
^2.22 million on Channel 4, 359,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.32 million on Channel 4, 325,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.83 million on Channel 4, 360,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.47 million on Channel 4, 355,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.28 million on Channel 4, 425,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.65 million on Channel 4, 251,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.48 million on Channel 4, 220,000 on Channel 4 +1
^1.51 million on Channel 4, 208,000 on Channel 4 +1
^ ab"8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown | Sky Go". Sky Go New Zealand. Retrieved 21 July 2025. Fri, 15 Aug, 10:30 am. Episode 10: Jimmy Carr hosts a brand new episode of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont take on Rob Brydon and Joe Wilkinson in the classic words and numbers quiz. S16E10
