Elderly individual, Donald, sets record at age 96 as Countdown's oldest competing participant
96-Year-Old Donald Elsom Makes History on Countdown
Donald Elsom, a 96-year-old former Royal Air Force (RAF) corporal from Stanley, County Durham, made history as the oldest contestant in the long-running Channel 4 gameshow Countdown.
Born in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, Mr. Elsom has been a dedicated viewer of Countdown for decades. Despite finding terms like "decimals" and "algebra" intimidating initially, he has a quiet talent for working with figures.
Mr. Elsom's career has been as varied as his interests. He served in the RAF, worked as a police dog handler, a butcher, and a school site agent. His community service and dedication to his local Church of England congregation earned him a place among 152 recipients selected from dioceses in northern England and Scotland. In April 2025, he was honored with Maundy Money by King Charles at Durham Cathedral.
The Countdown gameshow, which first aired on Channel 4 in 1982, sees two contestants compete in 15 rounds to become the daily champion. The show is currently hosted by Colin Murray and produced by Lifted Entertainment, part of ITV Studios.
On August 11, 2025, Mr. Elsom's episode aired in the afternoon, marking a memorable event in his life. He expressed his gratitude, stating that the photo taken during his day on Countdown would be framed alongside his photo with King Charles.
Donald Elsom's appearance broke the previous record for the oldest contestant, which was held by 89-year-old Geoffrey Green who appeared in 2007. The oldest recorded winner was 87-year-old Bertha Bourne in 1993.
Mr. Elsom's first episode on Countdown will air on Channel 4 on August 11 at 2.10pm. Viewers can expect a blend of warmth, wit, and wisdom from this remarkable contestant, along with his sharp mind and love of numbers.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025, August 11). Donald Elsom: 96-year-old becomes oldest contestant on Countdown. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-durham-54219832
[2] ITV. (2025, August 11). Donald Elsom appears on Countdown at the age of 96. Retrieved from https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2025-08-11/donald-elsom-appears-on-countdown-at-the-age-of-96
[3] The Guardian. (2025, August 11). Donald Elsom: the 96-year-old who became the oldest contestant on Countdown. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/aug/11/donald-elsom-the-96-year-old-who-became-the-oldest-contestant-on-countdown
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