The 30-year-old Countdown champion is charged with stabbing a competitor at a tournament

A Channel 4 Countdown champion has been charged with stabbing a competitor at a tournament.

John Cowen, 30, was arrested after he allegedly attacked his opponent with a knife at the Countdown to Blackpool 2024 event in Blackpool, Lancashire, on September 14.

He was charged with wounding with intent under Section 18 and possession of a bladed article while the victim, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital for treatment.

Cowen, a maths graduate, made his debut on the Channel 4 show in 2017, where he achieved the third-highest total score of the entire series and discovered the nine-letter word ‘spreading’.

The Blackpool Countdown 2024 event is an annual tournament where former winners of the Channel 4 game show compete against each other

He then appeared in another eleven episodes, winning eight consecutive competitions before finally being defeated.

During this run, Cowen entered the Series 77 final in December 2017 as the third seed, losing to Bradley Horrocks in the semi-final.

Two years later he returned for the Championship of Champions XV series, losing again to Mr Horrocks in the quarter-finals.

The Blackpool Countdown 2024 event is an annual tournament where former winners of the Channel 4 game show compete against each other.

Cowen, from Morecambe, Lancashire, was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Preston Crown Court on Monday.