A former Cambridge student has been captured in a photograph after allegations emerged that a contestant from Channel 4’s Countdown, John Cowen, attacked a rival participant at a competition. Cowen, who appeared on the show, was charged by Lancashire Police for reportedly stabbing a former contestant at an event in Blackpool. The 30-year-old was taken into custody following the incident, while the victim, a man in his twenties, was quickly taken to hospital for medical attention.
Cowen’s arrest was based on suspicions of section 18 assault and possession of a knife or bladed article. He remains in custody and is set to appear before Preston Crown Court on October 14. The victim, identified as Thomas Carey, a former Countdown contestant, has been publicly seen for the first time after the event that transpired at the Wainwright Club in Blackpool last month.
Thomas Carey, a former Cambridge University maths student, was allegedly attacked by Cowen with a knife during the Countdown event in Blackpool. Cowen has been charged with section 18 wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article following the incident. Thomas, who hails from Bingley, West Yorkshire, appeared on the Channel 4 show back in June 2015, garnering an impressive 923 points after winning eight times. He was notably the first contestant since 1986 to correctly answer all eight conundrums.
Cowen, on the other hand, appeared on the programme in 2017, achieving the third-highest score of the series. He notably identified the nine-letter word “spreading” during his time on series 77, narrowly missing out on joining the prestigious 800 club by just one point. The two contestants, Carey and Thomas, are associated with the online platform Apterous, which is tied to the iconic Channel 4 game show. Thomas, a member since 2011, is recognised for wearing a tea cosy on his head and has been an organiser of the Apterous Masters since 2019, having won it in the previous year. Cowen’s rank on the website is 24th, and he has earned the dog bone “medal of honour” three times.
In a statement issued to the Mirror, Lancashire Police revealed the details of the incident, stating that Cowen, aged 30, was charged with section 18 assault – wounding with intent and possession of a knife or bladed article in a public place. He has been remanded and is scheduled to appear at Preston Crown Court on October 14. As of now, the Apterous website makes no mention of the events that unfolded on September 14.
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