Pointless

Probably nerves in both cases. They aren't professional TV presenters, and most of them won't have been in front of a camera before.

Because they all seem to do it, I just assumed they had been to do that.

There is an awful lot of waffle on Pointless so I usually watch on iplayer then speed through the names etc and just watch the questions and answers.

I find the need to keep asking contestants to say more about themselves when they have already been introduced and said stuff about themselves before, annoying. I just want to play the game. I don’t know about others but I am not really interested in the contestants.

My nephew has recently been a contestant and yes they are told to say their names, applaud other contestants and think of an interesting, amusing or fascinating story about themselves.
I too fast forward all the chat and just watch the questions and answers.
Alexander Armstrong needs a medal for always appearing interested and saying positive things day after day.

I have a crush on Armstrong. Love his voice.

If there was no waffle, the episodes would be no more than 15 minutes in duration. Apart from the questions everything else is filler.

Cabbie21

Does it really matter?

I get more irritated with the lovely Lee Mack saying after the questions on 'The 1% Club' - 'Let's see who are still in' and then goes on to show us all the one's who aren't!!

Great programme though - especially with the help of the pause button!!
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Babs03

I have a crush on Armstrong. Love his voice.

I can't stand his twaddle!

"Three great looking answers - if one onf them is pointless what would you like to do with the £1,250?"

My husband always says "Shove it right up your....I don't get out of bed for less than £50,000"

Alexander ‘s ears are huge!!

Barbadosbelle

Cabbie21

Does it really matter?

I get more irritated with the lovely Lee Mack saying after the questions on 'The 1% Club' - 'Let's see who are still in' and then goes on to show us all the one's who aren't!!

Great programme though - especially with the help of the pause button!!
.

He is lovely, though 😁

I'd have got the 1% question more than once, but might not actually have got there!

I can't bear it when they ask the contestants questions with the cameras on them so the viewers can't work out the answers - particularly in the rounds where there are numerous photos and you have to choose the pointless ones. You only get to see them for a nanosecond before they cut to Trevor and Sandra telling you about what they'd do with a thousand pounds if they won it.

It's obviously very cheap TV, but it's been going for what seems like 100 years, so it must be popular.

Why does he have to say thank you very much ’indeed’ every time. So annoying.

I’ve been to a recording of Pointless. Alexander Armstrong did not acknowledge the audience at all and was only interested in his phone when not talking to contestants. Quite disappointing.

I know a couple who were contestants on it and they were absolutely forbidden to approach Alexander Armstrong or be within a certain number of metres of him!

Once defeated, they were unable to mix with any other unsuccessful contestants. They had to take a few different outfits so that the wardrobe mistress could see what would look best against the colour of the set. This particular couple were winners but were forbidden from telling anyone at all before the recording was aired, especially on social media, on pain of the prize money being withdrawn.

Ashcombe

I know a couple who were contestants on it and they were absolutely forbidden to approach Alexander Armstrong or be within a certain number of metres of him!

Once defeated, they were unable to mix with any other unsuccessful contestants. They had to take a few different outfits so that the wardrobe mistress could see what would look best against the colour of the set. This particular couple were winners but were forbidden from telling anyone at all before the recording was aired, especially on social media, on pain of the prize money being withdrawn.

Oh, have gone off Armstrong now, I mean of course he doesn’t want to be mobbed by contestants wanting his autograph but that sounds a bit much.
Personally have seen a few famous types when out and about visiting family in London but I give them a wide berth, not for their sake but because I don’t think I would have much to say to them and vice versa. They are just strangers. The only famous person I did meet with my starry eyed daughter who was studying Astro physics, was Stephen Hawking at Cambridge, he was a sweetheart, very patient and had a wicked sense of humour.

Ashcombe

I know a couple who were contestants on it and they were absolutely forbidden to approach Alexander Armstrong or be within a certain number of metres of him!

Once defeated, they were unable to mix with any other unsuccessful contestants. They had to take a few different outfits so that the wardrobe mistress could see what would look best against the colour of the set. This particular couple were winners but were forbidden from telling anyone at all before the recording was aired, especially on social media, on pain of the prize money being withdrawn.

Only to be expected, if you think about it.

Ashcombe

I know a couple who were contestants on it and they were absolutely forbidden to approach Alexander Armstrong or be within a certain number of metres of him!

Once defeated, they were unable to mix with any other unsuccessful contestants. They had to take a few different outfits so that the wardrobe mistress could see what would look best against the colour of the set. This particular couple were winners but were forbidden from telling anyone at all before the recording was aired, especially on social media, on pain of the prize money being withdrawn.

I have heard he is quite an aloof man who loves to boast how intelligent he is and not very pleasant.
OTOH Richard Osman is supposed to be far more down to earth.

That's a shame, always thought he seemed so nice and warm!

I did too Clawdy.

I know someone who was a contestant on Countdown and they were told what to say and how to answer questions. They are told to only say please after the first letter, then consonant, vowel etc...for the other eight letters in the selection. Although not rude Rachel Riley disappeared between filming whereas Colin Murray, Susie Dent and the guest in Dictionary Corner Chris McCausland on this occasion chatted to everyone.

Alexander A : "We asked 100 people ....."

Who are these 100 people being approached to answer questions?

Not me 🤔😂

Never watch it.
Another BBC programme long past its best.