13 October 2024 , 15:27
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A Countdown champion has been charged with stabbing a rival contestant in an incident that took place in Blackpool last month.
On September 14, John Cowen, 30, was arrested at the Countdown in Blackpool 2024 event.
The event is an annual tournament that sees former Channel 4 gameshow winners play against each other.
During the competition, Cowen allegedly attacked his opponent with a knife and was charged with a section 18 wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article while the victim.
Following the incident, a man in his twenties was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The former winner hails from Morecambe, Lancashire, and was placed in custody and is set to appear at Preston Crown Court on Monday.
Cowen is a maths champion who debuted on the show in 2017 and scored the third-highest total of the entire series.
The contestant spotted a nine-letter word ‘spreading’ while appearing on the show – a huge feat for Countdown contestants.
Cowen appeared in 11 more episodes, winning eight consecutive times until he was bested.
The show has been running for decades (Picture: Channel 4)
Countdown is a beloved British TV show that has been running since 1982.
The format has remained relatively the same since the 80s and is one of Britain’s longest-running game shows with over 8,000 episodes.
Since it began running the show has had seven main presenters and has spawned several TV spin-offs including Countdown Master, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and Celebrity Countdown.