AN office worker has fulfilled a life-time ambition by appearing on his favourite TV quiz show, Countdown.

Chris Hunt, 27, a statistical officer in the Office of National Statistics, Newport, did so well, winning six of his contests, he may even get to enter the quarter finals later this year.

Chris, who has always been a Count-down fan, the letter and word game starring Richard Whiteley and Carol Vorderman, spent two days filming in Leeds during January.

He said: "I've always watched the show and was really excited and pleased when I finally got on it.

"They do five shows in a day and I didn't think I'd do very well. But I won six so had to ask my boss for extra time off work.

"No one in work knew I was doing it so when it was finally on TV on March 1 to 9, everyone thought it was great and 50 of us watched it together in the office."

Chris had to go to two auditions before being accepted and, as well as a nerve-wracking time facing the audience and TV cameras, he also had to put up with Richard Whiteley's jokes.

Chris said: "He made lots of puns about me being a statistician. And I also got a nine-letter word - blunderer - so there were jokes about that too."

But, despite the statistics comment, Chris does think his preparation and job helped him.

He said: "I'm always doing mental arithmetic at work so I was pretty good with the numbers.

"I live at home with my parents in Cardiff and they record the show if ever I am out.

"I also have a quiz book to practice with and am always learning new words."

Chris will know in a few months if he's made it to the quarter final. But, even if it doesn't, he has his Countdown dictionaries, pens, mugs and teapots to remind him of his fleeting fame.