A former Countdown champion who is accused of stabbing a fellow contestant at an event for past competitors of the game show is set to stand trial. John Cowen, 30, appeared in Preston Crown Court facing charges of Section 18 wounding and possession of a bladed article, following allegations he attacked Thomas Carey at the Countdown in Blackpool 2024 event last month.

Emergency services were called to Hornby Road at 11.35am on September 14, 2024, following reports of an assault. Mr Carey was hospitalised and Cowen was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and knife possession.

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Both men are understood to have been attending the annual event for winners of the popular Channel 4 TV show prior to the alleged attack. In 2017, Cowen featured in 12 episodes of the daytime quiz show, winning eight consecutive contests and earning the sought-after title of ‘octochamp’.

He also achieved the third highest total of the entire series, identifying the nine-letter word ‘spreading’. He competed in the Series 77 finals in December 2017, but lost to Bradley Horrocks in the semi-final, reports Lancs Live.

He was defeated by Horrocks again in the quarter-final of the Championship of Champions XV series in 2019.

Context, probably, at least in my head