Stories
Countdown Me Up - Brought to you by James Wormald -
This little gem, was originally supposed to be an event, it sounds like it’d make a good event, and it was written at the time that Leedsmeup: live from New York St was around. So why did it never appear on the original website? Honestly I have no idea. It is, the lost event. I completely forgot about it even, until I found the write up I wrote the day after it happened, a couple of days ago. So here, for you now, the stories section of Leedsmeup.com is proud to present the lost event of the Leg.End of countdown.
There was I, TheWorm merrily not working at that waste of time they call University, when suddenly I spotted in front of me a huge pile of paper gold. Tickets for the recording of ‘Countdown’. The student Meccah, so like the initiative filled cream treat I am, I swiped them.
That evening, Sean ((Winner of the extra ticket raffle) (I should’ve hidden it in a chocolate bar)) and me set off for an encounter that both of us would keep engraved in our memories for weeks to come. And then again on the 12th and 13th February when the two shows are being aired.
18:00 Sean and I leave new York Street brimming with the Enthusiasm of Emma at 10 ‘o’clock on a Monday. By 18:45 we were in, past the gift shop and over the assault course of commemorative Heartbeat, Emmerdale, and Countdown stationary. Past the green, dressing, and many many therapy rooms and into the studio.
We were amazed as soon as we got in, not by the endless shouts of ‘wow, it looks so different on TV’ and ‘It’s really cheap and tacky’. No, our eyes were lit as bright as Gazz with a Starbucks Venti-Caramel Macchiato in his hand. A large Venti-Caramel Macchiato. On each of the audience chairs, were a miniature pen and countdown pad to work out the words and numbers and crap. More official memorabilia to come home with
We endured the endlessly drawl comic stylings of the audience entertainer. He really should be on SM:TV.
The show was bitchin, as bitchin as Gazz’z mum in bed. Well ok, not that bitchin, ha ha ha, that would be something ooh yeah!! (Thanks to Sam for that whopper)
After the show, as promised, twice nightly Whitely (R.I.P) was there again, for the second time in the evening! Can you believe they were filming another show for the next day. This one was a lot better, however Leedsmeup.com is unauthorised to dispense any information as to the outcome of the show, let’s just say it’s a suspense filled roller coaster thrill ride of emotions, all the way to the finish.
OF course Leedsmeup.com is never too busy to shy away from recruitment, the address spread through the isles like wildfire. I’d like to give a big shout out to the lovely Amy, my entertainment for the evening, for achieving the heavy heights of 3s, 5s, and 4s like RAM, and PINT, it was obvious she was Leeds uni, not met. Hopefully she’ll be spreading the word across the land. (campus)
There’s always time for some pictures at the end of the show. Great celebrities such as Richard Whiteley, Carol Vorderman, and the woman who lost the first game, always have time for their adoring fans.
During all the excitement however, tragedy struck, security guards were mauled and the number cards were disappearing as fast as my self-respect. This all meant that we were prematurely thrown from the building, we didn’t even get to dabble in the after show party with midget waiters sporting silver platters and lines of coke strapped to their heads, What a night!
James x