<P> The first episode aired as part of Channel 4 's `` mash - up night '' on 2 January 2012 ; the first full series was aired in July 2013 and multiple series have since been commissioned . Episodes feature Jimmy Carr as host ; two teams of two contestants feature in most episodes , with Sean Lock and Jon Richardson as permanent team captains ( various other personalities , such as Lee Mack , Sarah Millican , Bill Bailey and Claudia Winkleman , deputise when either captain is unavailable to film ) . Rachel Riley and Susie Dent take up their regular roles from Countdown ; Joe Wilkinson appears in many earlier episodes as Rachel 's assistant and has also stood in as a team captain . </P>
<P> The first episode aired as part of Channel 4 's `` mash - up night '' on 2 January 2012 ; the first full series was aired in July 2013 and multiple series have since been commissioned . Episodes feature Jimmy Carr as host ; two teams of two contestants feature in most episodes , with Sean Lock and Jon Richardson as permanent team captains ( various other personalities , such as Lee Mack , Sarah Millican , Bill Bailey and Claudia Winkleman , deputise when either captain is unavailable to film ) . Rachel Riley and Susie Dent take up their regular roles from Countdown ; Joe Wilkinson appears in many earlier episodes as Rachel 's assistant and has also stood in as a team captain . </P>
when did 8 out of 10 cats does countdown start
when did 8 out of 10 cats does countdown start
2 January 2012
2 January 2012