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Former Countdown champion John Cowen stabbed rival at fan tournament, jury hears
John Cowen, a former Countdown 'octochamp', denies wounding charges after allegedly stabbing fellow contestant Thomas Carey during a fan meet-up attended by about 30 people.
- John Cowen, a former Countdown champion from Morecambe, stands trial on September 9, 2025, accused of stabbing rival Thomas Carey at a Blackpool fan tournament in September 2024.
- The alleged incident took place during a monthly meet-up of fans and ex-players of the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown.
- CCTV footage showed Cowen entering the Wainwright Social Club shortly after 11:30 a.m., running across a room with a knife in his left hand and lunging across a table towards Carey, who was forced back onto a seat.
- Mr Carey recalled hearing a sound that was part growl, part scream, just before Cowen made his way aggressively through the crowd and furniture toward him, stabbing his left bicep, at which point Mr Carey grabbed Cowen’s wrist to try to halt the assault.
- Cowen denies the charges but was ruled unfit to stand trial due to serious mental illness, leading to a fact-finding hearing to determine if he committed the acts as alleged.
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The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)Countdown champion heard ‘growling’ before stabbing rival, court told
John Cowen, 31, is said to have to run across a room with a knife and lunged across a table to attack a rival
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Center
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
45% Center
L 36%
C 45%
R 18%
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