Countdown's Susie Dent is celebrating her 30th year on the iconic game show.
The resident lexicographer has been a part of the Channel 4 show since 1992, when the late Richard Whiteley sat as presenter, with Des Lynam, Des O'Connor, Jeff Stelling, Nick Hewer, Colin Murray, and Anne Robinson coming and going in that time.
Dent took a trip down memory lane earlier this week for The Daily Mail.
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"We all have days whose importance we fail to realise at the time. For me, it was June 29, 1992, when I took my place for the first time in Dictionary Corner as Countdown's resident lexicographer — and pretended I knew what I was doing," she began.
"Alongside me was the immaculate Rula Lenska, behind whose luxuriant hair I desperately tried to hide. The evidence of that first day — saved forever on YouTube — shows all too clearly that, however much I longed to look poised and knowledgeable, this newbie was a bag of nerves.
"If anyone had told me then that I'd be occupying the same seat 30 years later, I'd have thought them utterly bonkers.
"Yet, here I am, still loving what is surely the very best gig on British television — and still feeling the adrenaline every time the clock starts ticking down."
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Finishing her tribute to this British TV icon, Dent reiterated: "Richard Osman, Pointless star and now best-selling author, once asked me: 'Do you ever get bored?' After 5,000-plus shows, the honest answer is: NEVER.
"That day in 1992 was fateful in so many ways. I can't imagine my life without Countdown. I'm so thankful that, at least for 30 years, its life has included me."
Here's to another three decades of vowels, consonants and numbers!
Countdown airs weekdays on Channel 4.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment.
In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.
