The ongoing rivalry between Preston North End and gloating rivals Blackpool reached new heights this week after a Countdown producer cheekily mocked the team through a Countdown Conundrum.
The joke came just two days after Preston fans, who have been relegated to League One, were incensed by a low-flying aircraft flew over the club’s Deepdale Stadium with a message reading: “We are superior. Love Blackpool FC”.
The latest prank came during the Channel 4 afternoon favourite, as contestants were given their scrambled Countdown Conundrum towards the end of the show. The anagram read ‘PNECRISIS’, with the eventual solution being ‘PRICINESS’.
A spokesman for Channel 4 admitted that the prank was intentional, stating: “One of the members of the production team is a life-long Blackpool fan and it was intended to be friendly banter, all done in good humour.”
Fiona Martin, vice chairperson of the Blackpool Supporters’ Association, told the Blackpool Gazette that Preston fans shouldn’t be too upset by the prank:
“I think it was just a bit of fun and everyone has seen the funny side of it,” she said.
“I laughed when I saw it and found it quite funny. The producer that did it must have a very good sense of humour.
“There will always be jokes between the two clubs and both sets of fans. It’s part of local rivalry that people will always be looking to get one over on the other.”
Preston manager Phil Brown, who described the aircraft stunt as “distasteful”, was able to see the funny side of the Countdown prank, stating: “”If this is the handiwork of somebody who supports a rival, then we will begrudgingly accept that it’s a novel way of trying to do so.”
