Countdown champ 'heard growling' before being stabbed by another contestant

A Countdown champion described the moment he heard "growling" seconds before being stabbed in the arm by a fellow contestant in a get-together for players of the Channel 4 show, a trial has heard. John Cowen, 31, is said to have to run across a room with a knife in his hand and "lunged" across a table to attack rival Thomas Carey at the gathering of the Focal Countdown Group in Blackpool on September 14, 2024.

Both men were previous winners, with Cowen earning the coveted title of 'Octochamp', after a winning run of 12 games. Members of the Focal Countdown Group meet regularly at locations all over the country to play the game against each other, prosecutor Rosalind Scott-Bell told the jury at Preston Crown Court. On Saturday, September 14, 2024, Mr Carey was at the Wainwright Social Club chatting with other fans of the show before a planned tournament when Cowen walked in brandishing a knife.

Mr Carey told a jury at Preston Crown Court: "I saw someone coming towards me. It was John Cowen. He had been to a few events in the past but he hadn't been to any recently. He used to have a big beard - he didn't at that time but I recognised him quick enough.

"He was making a noise - like a half growl, half scream."

About 30 people were in the club's function room at the time, including Mr Carey.

Prosecutor Rosalind Scott-Bell told the jury at Preston Crown Court that members of the Focal Countdown Group meet regularly at locations all over the country to play the game against each other.

Ms Scott-Bell said: "Mr Carey will describe how he had only been in the club for a very short time when he heard growling and saw the defendant coming towards him. His first reaction was that it was a fake knife but the defendant kept coming towards him, lunged across the table and stabbed him in his left bicep."

Fiona Titcombe, a club member who had been standing nearby, took the knife and put it out of reach behind the bar, Ms Scott-Bell added.

Emergency services arrived at the club and arrested Mr Cowen. As he was searched, a second knife was recovered along with packaging for two kitchen knives. Mr Carey was taken to the hospital, where his wound was treated with steri strips.

Cowen was not present in court as jurors were told he is "seriously mental unwell" and not fit to stand trial.

Jurors were asked to conduct a fact-finding exercise and went on to rule he did the acts he was charged with - one count of wounding and two counts of possessing a bladed article in a public place.

Judge Guy Mathieson adjourned sentencing until September 30 for further medical reports.

Cowen, from Morecambe, is currently being treated at a secure mental health hospital.