Channel 4 Countdown champion, 30, charged with stabbing rival in ...

A CHANNEL 4 Countdown champion has been charged with stabbing a rival contestant at a tournament.

John Cowen, 30, was arrested after allegedly attacking his opponent with a knife at the Countdown in Blackpool 2024 event in Blackpool, Lancashire, on September 14.

He was charged with section 18 wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article.

The victim, a man in his twenties, was taken to hospital for treatment.

The maths graduate made his debut on the Channel 4 show in 2017.

He scored the third highest total of the whole series as well as spotting the 9-letter word "spreading".

Cowen went on to appear in a further 11 episodes winning eight consecutive contests before he was finally defeated.

He competed in the Series 77 finals in December 2017 before going on to lose to Bradley Horrocks in semi-final.

Cowen also lost again to Horrocks in the quarter-final of the Championship of Champions XV series in 2019.

The Countdown in Blackpool 2024 event is an annual tournament which pits former winners from the Channel 4 gameshow against each other.

Cowen, of Morecambe, Lancashire, was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Preston Crown Court on Monday.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "We were called at 11:35am on 14th September 2024 to a report of an assault on Hornby Road in Blackpool.

"Officers attended, and a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault and possession of a knife / bladed article.

"John Cowen, 30, was later charged with section 18 assault – wounding with intent and possession of a knife / bladed article in a public place.

"He was remanded and will appear at Preston Crown Court on 14th October."