Viewers in hysterics as ‘Megab***h’ is revealed as a word on Countdown

Mild-mannered daytime show Countdown isn’t exactly known for its strong language, so viewers were left a little shocked – and very amused – after the word “megab***h” was revealed as a point-scoring word.

One contestant came close to the nine-letter insult with her word “megabit”, but it was comedian Rachel Parris who suggested the profanity.

Countdown presenter, Rachel Riley smiles after spelling out the nine-letter word “Megab***h”Channel 4

Parris is currently filling in for Susie Dent in the famous Dictionary Corner so was able to look up if her guess was correct – and it was.

“I’m just checking it is a word,” Paris said while laughing. “But yes, there’s a nine there with ‘megab***h.’”

Host Anne Robinson was stunned and replied: “Really?”

“Yes,” Parris responded, as the audience gave the high scoring discovery a round of applause.

“Gosh, that’s astonishing and it’s perfectly acceptable? You can say it in the afternoon?” Robinson continued.

“Sure,” Parris continued, remarking: “It’s quite a good band name as well.”

Presenter and numbers expert Rachel Riley could then be seen rearranging the jumbled letters “CBHEAWIGTM” into the cheeky nine-letter word.

Of course, people on Twitter had a field day when “megab***h” came up on the Channel 4 show.

TV regulator Ofcom describes “b***h” as “medium language” and “potentially unacceptable pre-watershed.”

It adds that the impact is heightened if there is “more aggression or specific intent to hurt.”

Robinson, the former Weakest Link host, began fronting the daytime show on June 28 as a replacement for Nick Hewer.

Her position as host of the programme means that, for the first time in the show’s 39 year history, there is an all-female line-up.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Robinson said: “There are too many snowflakes today. In the 1970s it was the tougher women who adapted to a male world.”

She continued: “Now, thankfully, clever women of all shapes and sizes are in the workplace, but it means they don’t have steel armour and are more easily upset.”