Nick Hewer brings ratings boost to Countdown

10 February 2012

Countdown host Nick Hewer joined the much loved game show one month ago today and viewing figures have seen a boost since he's taken the helm.

So far ratings are up 22% on the show's average audience in 2011 and 4oD views on Channel4.com are up 50% on December's figures.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said "Nick is a class act and we're delighted that the viewers have taken to him"

Nick experienced his first Countdown controversy early in his tenure when a contestant offered up the word ‘w*nker'. Unruffled Nick immediately took the job in hand, tossing the embarrassment aside and moving on to the next contestant, Nick Evans. Sadly Mr Evans was shafted when his effort, ‘weakener' was disallowed. He was stiffed by the presence of only two ‘e's among the letters.

 

Notes to editors:

The current series is up +22% volume and 17% share, compared with the consolidated average audience of 703k and 9.2% across 2011. The profile is skewing slightly more upmarket, with an increase in ABC1s (+2%pts).

The current series is attracting an average audience of 860k and 10.7% share (consolidated YTD).