Countdown to 2021
Imagine Countdown still going in 2021.
Imagine me still posting about Countdown in 2021.
Well, indeed, a new year brings the same old shizzle. In more ways than one, this time around. I have little to say about this programme that hasn’t already been posted several times, so let’s just move on to the project. I had covered all studio sets for the show, bar the current one, introduced in 2017 for the show’s 77th series. So here we are, for the completionists out there. It was certainly evolution over revolution and in some ways a bit of a downgrade from the classy predecessor – the upper section looks a bit like someone left the scaffolding up – but I guess simplicity was the word in mind (yes, that’s ten letters). With nice lighting I suppose it looks decent enough, and the desk is rather swish.
I hadn’t really watched Countdown for a year or so when lockdown (the first one) struck, but rather got back into it as I found it snuck nicely into my schedule. I’m sure that was the case for some other people too, and with another one looming that process may repeat itself. It’s good to have an old classic on hand for some simple escapism, with some astonishment at just how bad at the game I have become. But I suppose that’s part of the fun. There’s also the prospect of a new presenter in its fortieth year, with Nick Hewer to step down in the summer; at first it was for a few weeks’ shielding, then he decided to jack it in altogether. I can’t say I’m too upset about that, though to have stuck at it for as long as he has is impressive. Hopefully they find a host who can wake the show (and Rachel) up a bit and restore some of the spark it used to have. Basically, what I’m saying is they should just give it to Colin Murray. It’s either he or Moira Stuart.
I feel the Bee Gees should take some of the credit for this, as they have bound into my life for some unknown reason and their bizarre groove was the backing track for this build. “TRAGEDY…” My neighbours must love me.
Happy New Year. The countdown to the end of lockdown is on.
jaywalks 
I’m aware of the program but haven’t ever watched it. The temptation to walk up that desk is strong though, not sure if that is part of the show but it should be.
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I think you’ve said that before but still, shocking! Countdown has always been there for me, it helped me learn the alphabet, apparently, and later I’d watch with mum after school. I think it lends itself to group or family viewing as you can shout words out and look slightly less mad/sad. And you don’t necessarily have to find the best answer to do well, which I think is the key to it.
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hey there jay here coz of the youtube comments thing not working
so i gave the lights a try roughly 30 mins and couldnt get it to work or find the correct shape that you used
here is the pic i was trying to send of it too https://imgur.com/a/T9tjbVO
im wondering if it can be done with a pie chart to make the lights as someone said they did but never said how to lol
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Hi Brandin,
That doesn’t look too bad for a first go.
The shape I used is called Block Arc in the Basic Shapes category. Use the format window to input the rotation and make sure they’re 6 degrees apart.
Also use the alignment tool to make sure everything is centred.
https://imgur.com/a/03R4WYd
I don’t know about using a pie chart, but if you made one with 60 equal segments it would give you a template to draw over.
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hey jay, would u be able to show an above view of this set?
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i rebuilt my 2017 set was only wondering earlier for referencing on the entire set layout but i got it i think, heres some pics if u like, hope you like them 🙂 https://imgur.com/a/qEfgnkc
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Very cool!
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hi jay, i downloaded a free trial for c4d to try to get a feel for it in case I buy it later in the year, I plan to do just countdown stuff for now. do you have any tips that would help me with it? It’s a 14 day trial so I may not make much haha
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While it can be fun going in blind and learning by doing, which is what I did to start, it’s worth tracking down tutorials so you know your way around, especially if you’ve only got two weeks. Something like this series – quite old now and maybe out of date in places, but I’m sure the fundamentals still apply.
As with any program, you’ll find you can visualise solutions the more you watch and learn. A basic Countdown clock isn’t that difficult in essence; a few cylinders, some radial cloned cubes for the lines, another cylinder and a prism for the hand, some cloned tube segments for the lights and it’s pretty much done.
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hi again jay, sorry to bug you but would you be able to send a pic of an above set shot, mainly for the desk as im trying to get the shape correct. thanks in advance 😀
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Well I’m not sure the shape is correct, but here it is:
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thanks jay, ill give it a go and see how it looks 🙂
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heya jay, just curious, what did you do to make the letters that are on the floor is it a spotlight or something else?
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lemme rephrase that, to make the letters on the floor look like they are lit up rather than just a texture on the floor
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It’s a spotlight shining through a copy of the backdrop texture, which has an alpha channel applied to make the letters themselves transparent. It’s a bit slapdash but works well enough.
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I’m trying to do a big clock like Adam’s (at this point it’s like the 5th attempt), could I perhaps have the letters/numbers background you used? 🙂
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Sure. Here it is:
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hey, how ya doing? it’s been a while 😅 just wondering with this set how did u go around making the background (panels, metal frame etc) was there any specific side u started at or anything I should keep an eye out for? I’m trying to do this set again and I’m trying to make sure I get it right this time. Cheers!
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Hi Brandin. With them being symmetrical, I started from behind the clock. I’d say keep an eye out for that “join” between the desk and the letters board – the panels seem to go from curved to straight there.
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