(You have a typo – the target should be 997, not 993).
Also, have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mCgiaAFCu8 – possibly the finest bit of Countdown numbers game ever.
Thanks for catching the error. I did see the video you reference…the look on the hostess’ face is priceless.
As an aside, do you find that this game is used in UK schools at all to develop number sense? I become jealous that you all have the “smart” games over there, and we get the dumbed down versions. I was a fan of “The Cube” before we had “Minute to Win It” here is the US.
Oh, I had a huge crush on Carol Vorderman when I was about 14 🙂 A game of Countdown was part of the end-of-class entertainment at my school (in the early 90s), but I don’t know if it still is.
And believe me, the US doesn’t have a monopoly on low-brain TV. Although we do have QI!