Countdown expert Susie Dent... and the helping hand she gets from producers

By RICHARD SIMPSON FOR MAILONLINE
Updated:

Susie Dent

Susie Dent gets help from producers to solve spelling puzzles

As the brains behind Channel 4's Countdown, Susie Dent has a great head for words.

Yet it emerged last night that, every now and then, she gets a helping hand from producers to solve spelling puzzles.

In the popular show's Letters round, contestants have to form the longest word possible from a jumble of nine randomly-picked letters.

They achieve varied results, but Miss Dent, 41, always appears to steam in with a superior intellect and out-do them with longer more difficult words.

Yet it emerged last night that the show's producers, who are in contact with Miss Dent down an earpiece, sometimes suggest a word she may not have spotted herself.

Oxford graduate and lexicographer Miss Dent, the expert in Dictionary Corner, then recounts the word to show host Jeff Stelling.

A show source told the News Of The World: 'It's the Dictionary Corner con. Viewers think the team are smarter but it's never made clear they're getting secret help. It wouldn't be the same if Jeff said, "Thanks to the bloke in the backroom".'

A Channel 4 spokesman said: 'The producer sometimes supplies extra ideas.'

Miss Dent herself added: 'We want to give the audience as many answers as possible.'

Susie Dent

The Countdown team: Susie Dent, Jeff Stelling and Rachel Riley

Miss Dent, who lives in Oxford with her husband Paul and two daughters, is the longest-serving member of the show, having appeared first in 1992 and over which time she has made 1,900 appearances.

Oxford maths graduate Rachel Riley is the new numbers genius after Carol Vorderman left in December last year following a dispute over her pay.

Countdown was the first show to be aired on Channel 4 when it launched in November 1982.

It was presented by Richard Whiteley for more than 20 years until his death from pneumonia in June 2005.

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