Yesterday Warwick Uni LLM student Mark Deeks narrowly lost his battle with a Cambridge maths student on daytime TV show Countdown. After the final question, a disappointed Deeks (pictured) found himself engaged in some on-camera job interview practice by the show's host, Nick Hewer...
"What are you going to do when you finish your masters there at Warwick?" prodded Hewer, who famously starred as Alan Sugar's right hand man on The Apprentice alongside ex-Herbert Smith solicitor Margaret Mountford.
"That is a valid question, Nick. Next question," responded Deeks, 28, who was famously labelled "cocky" by Countdown numbers expert Rachel Riley during his march to the show's semi-finals in 2011.
Encouraged by the audience's laughter, Deeks then quipped: "I just chose the degree that makes me sound most like a super hero: INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE!"
To which Hewer, who's clearly not a member of the 'Mark Deeks Appreciation Society' (pictured below), retorted: "There'll be a slot for you somewhere – possibly quite far away..."
Sounds like Mark Deeks wants to skip It's a Knockout and get direct entry to Jeux Sans Frontièrs
Mark is my nephew.
This is another example of shoddy journalism, distorting comments with loaded adjectives, to make up a "story", where none really exists. Compounded by a selectively distorting headline.
I recommend that people watch the show and judge for themselves.
This is awkward.
Stop the presses. Mark is Peter's nephew! Back off everyone, hold the phone, stop the bus, turn around. It's all fun and games until you take the mick out of someone's nephew. Shame on you Legal Cheek- there we all were expecting fair and balanced coverage of a game of Countdown and you give us this merciless attack on the character of someone's sister's/brother's son.
Yup, my nephew. Doesn't mean it wasn't shoddy journalism.
What you don't see DC is that the two more offensive and unnecessary adjectives have now been removed, which has changed the tone of the article. Which kind of proves my point.
But make your own mind up. Watch the show.
The words removed were 'scowled' (replaced by 'responded') and 'nervous' (between 'audience's' and 'laughter').
Readers can judge for themselves if they were an accurate description of events by watching the relevant Countdown episode (from 33:40) - http://www.channel4.com/programmes/countdown/4od#3462400
Alex
Why do you want people to watch from 33:40? Which is when Mark is bantering with Nick. Why not from 33:30 when Mark says how much fun he had had, and thanked them for having him?
More selective reporting, and somewhat disingenuous on your part I believe.
I would suggets that people watch for themselves - but not just the part you have selected.
We met Mark Deeks at the Countdown final last year as my brother in law was also a finalist. Very quickly we all realised what a funny, charming and witty young man Mark is, with a brilliant, dry sense of humour. He had a great rapport with both the presenters and crew, who had obviously warmed to his quirky personality during his previous eight consecutive wins. The vast majority of the audience found Mark hugely entertaining and were behind him every step of the way, and we were so disappointed for him when he was knocked out before the final. To be asked back to participate in a further show speaks volumes - there were so many other contestants they could have asked. Whilst everyone is entitled to their opinion, making personal derogatory statements and assumptions about a young persons character, based entirely on a short viewing of an edited TV show is fundamentally wrong.
I'm not Mark's uncle, and I watched the clip from 33:30; Mark seems like a bit of a knob.
I have only just seen this article
Sir Richard Richard
As Mark's father thank you so very much for your truly erudite and thoughtful comment. It speaks volumes about you.
To Janice - I would like to say thank you.
And lastly to my brother - I owe you!