The 8 Out Of 10 Cats regulars will return to play a second full series of words-and-numbers quiz Countdown in January.

Host Jimmy Carr and team captains Sean Lock and Jon Richardson will feature in a new six-part series, launching on Friday 3rd January 2014.

A previous full series was broadcast earlier this summer, which rated well. This in turn was following a number of well-received individual specials, the first of which was broadcast during The Channel 4 Mash Up on Monday 2nd January 2012.

The regulars will be joined again by Countdown resident lexicographer Susie Dent, sums expert Rachel Riley, and Joe Wilkinson, as Rachel's supposed assistant.

Four of the episodes will be recorded later this month, on Thursday 12th and Monday 16th December at the MediaCity studios in Salford. Tickets are available now via our free tickets page.

It was revealed earlier today that 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown has been nominated for a British Comedy Award. The hybrid format goes up against A League of Their Own, Have I Got News For You and Would I Lie To You? in the panel show category. Meanwhile Jon Richardson has been nominated in the Best TV Comic category for his performances on the show.

Here is a clip from an early special episode of the show, in which Sean Lock attempts to solve the Countdown Conundrum.