Asyia Iftikhar
Published November 26, 2025 12:14pm
Updated November 26, 2025 12:30pm
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Channel 4 Countdown star John Cowen was handed an ‘indefinite hospital order’ in court today (Picture: Channel 4)
Former Countdown winner John Cowen has been handed an ‘indefinite hospital order’ after a stabbing incident in 2024.
The Channel 4 contestant, 31, who appeared on the show in 2017, attended an unofficial Countdown tournament in September 2024, where it is said he ran across the room with a knife and wounded rival Thomas Carey in the arm.
CCTV footage capturing Cowen as he entered the room at the Wainwright Social Club in Blackpool, Lancashire, shortly after 11.30am was shown to the jury at Preston Crown Court in September.
‘You were in possession of two kitchen knives and already held one of them in your hand – clearly to be used as a weapon,” Judge Guy Mathieson said.
‘This was a terrifying incident of deliberate violence with a knife which could have caused far more serious injury and possible lethality.’
Cowen was arrested at the scene and later charged with a wounding offence and two counts of possessing a bladed article in a public place.
It was ruled he was ‘unfit to stand trial’ (Picture: Channel 4)
Victim Thomas Carey has been attending the fan club since 2011 and has crossed paths with Cowen before (Picture: YouTube)
Mr Carey was treated in hospital for a stab wound to his left bicep.
In September, it was ruled that Cowen was ‘unfit to stand trial’ based on an assessment by two psychiatrists.
This meant Cowen, who is ‘seriously mentally unwell’, was attending Wednesday’s fact-finding hearing via videolink from the Guild Lodge psychiatric hospital in Preston, where he is receiving medical treatment.
‘The one matter that was tentatively put to Mr Carey was that there had been some ongoing disagreement between you, Mr Cowen, and others on the use of an app to play or help with playing Countdown,’ Judge Mathieson said during the hearing on Wednesday.
‘Mr Carey was at a complete loss as to why he had been singled out for this attack.’
Cowen will be treated for schizophrenia after being given an indefinite hospital order now a jury has found that Cowen, from Morecambe, had committed the act of wounding as charged
‘Your attitude to that treatment remains hostile and so any potential treatment and monitoring in the community would not be effective as you would not engage,” Judge Mathieson said.
‘I am satisfied that you, Mr Cowen, are suffering from a mental disorder of such a nature that it is appropriate for you to be detained in hospital for medical treatment.’
He appeared on Countdown in 2017 (Picture: Channel 4 / Countdown)
Cowen is also under a restriction order, so his discharge from hospital would require the consent of the Secretary of State for Justice.
According to the NHS website, a hospital order is under section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
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The site explains: ‘You cannot be discharged from hospital unless the Secretary of State for Justice or a Tribunal says you can leave, and your discharge may be subject to certain conditions that would be explained to you nearer the time.’
It is understood Mr Carey had been a member of the fan club since 2011 and knew Cowen from previous events.
Cowen appeared on Countdown in 2017 where he scored the third highest total of the series in which he was a contestant, including spotting the nine-letter word SPREADING.
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He competed in a further 11 episodes, winning eight consecutive contests, before he was finally defeated.
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