Series 1

From Countdown

Joyce Cansfield, the series winner is presented with her dictionaries by Carol, Beverley and Linda.

Naturally enough, Series 1 was the first series. The first of 53 series presented by Richard Whiteley, it ran from November 1982 to December 1982, originally only on Mondays-Thursdays, included just 26 heats and one final, and was won by Joyce Cansfield.

The first episode was a drab affair, with Michael Goldman becoming the first daily champion after a 50 – 27 defeat of Jeff Andrews.

Joyce Cansfield and Michael Wylie qualified for the final with the two highest scores of the series, the final was a close game but Joyce rapped it up 59 – 41. Michael never returned to Countdown as a contestant, but later became the show's producer. Joyce on the other hand had impressive runs in the Championship of Champions I and the Supreme Championship and was invited back for a special in Series 49 but was unable to attend because she had booked a skiing holiday.

The original Countdown set, seen here in February 1985.

The jazz saxophonist and raconteur Benny Green was booked to appear in Dictionary Corner for part of the series but fell ill, leaving Kenneth Williams to do all but the first seven programmes.

The original team of Linda Barrett, Beverley Isherwood, Richard Whiteley, Cathy Hytner and Carol Vorderman, with guests Kenneth Williams and Ted Moult. Williams complained bitterly in his diary about that he had to wait a whole day just to pose for this photo.

[edit] Seed table

Players are seeded by highest scores achieved in the heats. Michael's highest score was 66; Joyce's was 65.

[edit] Episodes

[edit] External links

• Series 1 on The Countdown Database.
• Series 1 on The Countdown Page.