Some of the words that pop up on the show have had terrible connotations. But that's the beauty of 'Countdown.'
I'm really lucky to be in the TV industry and to have a regular yearly contract. That gives me security.
Even though you picture Russians as stoic, their language is really poetic.
There's no such thing as a 'maths brain.' Anyone can be numerate; it's just a matter of confidence. There are so many opportunities to improve your skills during everyday life, doing even a little a day can make maths feel more familiar and less scary.
People can underestimate you when you're blonde and from Essex, but it's easy to shut that down. I used to get dumb blonde jokes when I was 18, but when I replied that I was studying maths at Oxford, it usually shut them up.
When I was at uni, our whole college bar would gather around the quiz machine for a few games every night.