Countdown champion accused of stabbing rival
John Cowen attended a short hearing at Preston Crown Court.
A former Countdown champion has been taken to court on charges of stabbing another contestant during a quiz-related event.
John Cowen, age 30, was present at Preston Crown Court facing charges of intentionally causing harm and two charges related to having a knife.
Mr. Cowen, who participated in the TV quiz show in 2017, is said to have assaulted Thomas Carey with a knife during the Countdown event in Blackpool on September 14, 2024, held at the Wainwright Club in the area.
Mr. Carey, a former Countdown champion and a math graduate from Cambridge, was hospitalized to receive treatment for an arm injury.
Mr. Cowen was taken into custody at the event soon afterward.
The defendant, hailing from Morecambe in Lancashire, only stated his name during the short session with Judge Darren Preston.
He was taken into custody at HMP Liverpool and will remain there until another hearing on December 6th.
The Countdown in Blackpool event is a yearly competition that brings together past champions and enthusiastic fans of the Channel 4 quiz show to compete against one another.
Mr. Cowen achieved the third highest score throughout the entire series he participated in and also identified the nine-letter word "spreading."
He went on to participate in 11 more episodes, securing victory in eight straight competitions before ultimately being defeated.
