Islander competes in Channel 4’s Countdown

Mrs McManus, who once taught at St Peter Port High School and was head of maths at St Sampson’s High School, applied for the 88th series of the game show as she has always enjoyed watching it.

‘I have always liked the numbers and word games, but what made me apply was I really like the way the game has gone since Colin Murray has been hosting it,’ said Mrs McManus.

‘My family had said they expected me to do well as I like the words and number games.’

The application process saw her take part in an online audition where she had to complete some of the games that appear on the show.

‘I found the online audition quite scary,’ she said.

‘Being retired I am not used to working to speed as much anymore.’

She had applied for the show when she was younger but was not successful in her application.

‘I applied for the show back when I was about 40, and the audition for that was face-to-face,’ she said.

‘I thought I had done really well in that audition.’

Mrs McManus travelled to film the show in Manchester.

‘In the initial filming session I was really nervous on set, but I hadn’t needed to be as the environment was really friendly,’ said Mrs McManus.

The competition pattern for Countdown is that if you win your game, you stay on for a maximum of eight wins and at the end of the series the eight top performers, known in the show as ‘Octochamps’ are called back for a final series, where they will partake in quarter-finals, semi-finals and then the grand final.

The episode featuring Mrs McManus will air on 25 October at 2.10pm on Channel 4.