I’ve been at Thameslink for just over two months now, working in communications across employee surveys, culture, diversity and inclusion, and collaboration with employee networks. I’m part of the team that shapes employee campaigns, focusing on why we’re doing them, what the business needs, what we’re asking of people, and what we want to achieve. The way I got into this job, though, might surprise you.
A lifetime love of Countdown
My nan told me I had been obsessed with Countdown since I was two years old. She would tell a story about me being really upset once while at the park, and of all the reasons for a two-year-old to be upset, it was because I was missing an episode of Countdown. That interest stayed with me, and when I was at university, watching Countdown became an important daily ritual. I’d play along, feeling proud when I found a seven-letter word or solved a conundrum that the contestants couldn’t.
I decided to sign up to play online and discovered a whole community of people doing the same, taking part in unofficial events, training regularly, and working towards appearing on the show. I kept playing and improving, learning new words and getting better at the numbers and conundrums, with the aim of one day making it onto the show.
After I graduated from university, I reached a point where I was playing Countdown at a high level. I even beat the best player of all time at a tournament, so I decided it was time to apply. There’s an audition process, and I actually didn’t think I did that well, but before I knew it I was in the studio. What surprised me was how natural the letter rounds felt, even in front of an audience and cameras - it didn’t feel that different from playing at home. The number rounds, however, were much harder under pressure, with the time feeling a lot shorter than it actually was.
Playing Countdown with Series 65 winner Graeme Cole in Cambridge
Becoming a Countdown octochamp
I kept playing and kept winning, eventually reaching eight consecutive wins and becoming a Countdown octochamp. At the time, I was the third highest scoring octochamp of all time, and I’m still the highest scoring female octochamp, which is something I’m really proud of.
One moment that really stands out from my time on Countdown was finding the nine-letter word “mousebird”. I wasn’t even sure it was valid, but it turned out to be correct and it was really satisfying to spot such an unusual word. Meeting Rachel Riley and getting a hug from her was another moment that meant a lot.
Behind the scenes in the Countdown studio
How my time on Countdown opened the door to my career
Alongside the show, I became more involved in the wider Countdown community, taking part in unofficial tournaments and events around the country, and building lifelong friendships with other players (alongside a few competitive rivalries).
As these events grew, we wanted to promote them and encourage more people to get involved, so I stepped up to support the marketing and communications side. I worked on social media posts, engaged with local communities to spread the word, created graphic design assets, and developed explainers and booklets to help people who hadn’t attended tournaments before to understand how it all worked. This experience is what helped me gain the confidence to apply for a professional marketing role, which eventually led to my position here at Thameslink.
A full circle moment
Looking back, it still feels so unexpected that something I loved as a child could shape my career so directly. What started as watching a TV game show turned into competing, travelling, getting involved behind the scenes, and eventually gave me the experience and confidence to step into communications professionally.
My work at Thameslink gives me a huge amount of satisfaction, even though I’ve only been here a short while. I really enjoy getting out and meeting colleagues, hearing about their backgrounds and experiences, and understanding the dynamics across the business. I recently supported at the Long Service Awards and spoke to people who have spent 25 or even 40 years in the rail industry, and hearing those stories first-hand is something I find genuinely engaging.
Now, being part of Thameslink and working on campaigns that connect people across the network, there’s a real sense of everything coming together. It’s a reminder that the things you’re genuinely interested in, the ones you stick with simply because you enjoy them, can open doors you never expected, and lead you somewhere that feels exactly right.