on 30 january 2002, carlisle was awarded the accolade of "britain's brainiest footballer" in a television quiz. carlisle appeared as a contestant on the channel 4 game show "countdown" on 24 february 2010, winning his first match against the defending champion to stay on the show for the following programme. carlisle then won his second contest, achieving a larger score than the previous day to stay on for another match. in his third match on 26 february 2010, he was defeated by three points. he was banned from driving for one year and eight months and fined £2,365 after pleading guilty of drink driving at bury magistrates court on 11 october 2011.