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Series 2

From Countdown

Series 2 ran from April 1983 to July 1983, at the later time of 5:30pm. The second of 53 series presented by Richard Whiteley, this time it was broadcast on Tuesdays to Fridays, apart from the final week, which was Monday to Saturday. It was won by Ash Haji.

Series 2 is also unusual for having sixteen finalists, especially as there were only 38 contestants in the whole series, meaning that nearly half the contestants qualified for the finals. All but the opening heat game of Series 2 contained at least one player who would go on to make the finals.

Angela O'Dougherty filled in for Cathy Hytner for five episodes in this series, adding to a presentation structure that Carol Vorderman later described as "Richard and five or six other people".

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Russell Byers 4 207
2 Philip Nelkon 2+1 150
3 Ivy Baird 4 198
4 Sheila Mann 6 273
5 Maurice Packman 2 108
6 Peter Finley 2 107
7 Ash Haji 2 103
8 Gary Roussak 2 93
9 Maureen Kelly 2 86
10 Bobbie Bennett 2 81
11 Joan Ross 2 83
12 Ingram Wilcox 2 74
13 Norma Nicholson 1 69
14 Michael Firth 1 52
15 Philip Appleby 1 43
16 David Myerscough 0 0
Numbers after "+" signs in the Wins column represent drawn games.

The method by which seedings for this series were calculated is not known for certain, but it is possible that the top four were decided by average scores, not including losses, with 5th-15th decided by total points, although this does not accommodate for Bobbie Bennett and Joan Ross's seedings. Sheila Mann had the highest number of points and the most wins, but was rated as only the fourth seed. David Myerscough was given a seeding place for his score of 50, the highest losing score of the series. It appears that Geoffrey Weeks may not have been able to attend the finals, as his 1 win and 66 points should have been enough to qualify. In all cases, winning and drawing scores are counted, but losing scores are not.

Progress

Russell Byers (1) vs David Myerscough (16) Russell Byers (1) vs Gary Roussak (8) Russell Byers (1)
vs
Norma Nicholson (13)
Russell Byers (1)
vs
Ash Haji (7)
Gary Roussak (8) vs Maureen Kelly (9)
Joan Ross (11) vs Peter Finley (6) Peter Finley (6) vs Norma Nicholson (13)
Norma Nicholson (13) vs Sheila Mann (4)
Ivy Baird (3) vs Michael Firth (14) Ivy Baird (3) vs Maurice Packman (5) Maurice Packman (5)
vs
Ash Haji (7)
Maurice Packman (5) vs Ingram Wilcox (12)
Ash Haji (7) vs Bobbie Bennett (10) Ash Haji (7) vs Philip Nelkon (2)
Philip Appleby (15) vs Philip Nelkon (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
28 05/04/1983 P Hugh Fraser 42 – 40 Jane McLeman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams Joyce Hawkins 72
29 06/04/1983 P Sheila Mann 39 – 36 Hugh Fraser Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 69
30 07/04/1983 P Sheila Mann 48 – 47 Lance Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 72
31 12/04/1983 P Sheila Mann 52 – 50 David Myerscough Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 71
32 13/04/1983 P Sheila Mann 44 – 30 Vic Cooper Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 69
33 14/04/1983 P Sheila Mann 53 – 38 James Lawless Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 71
34 15/04/1983 P Sheila Mann 37 – ? Ann Dennis Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams ??
35 19/04/1983 P Sheila Mann 26 – 62 Peter Finley Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 71
36 20/04/1983 P Ruth Erskine 41 – 45 Peter Finley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 73
37 21/04/1983 P Geoffrey Weeks 66 – ? Peter Finley Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 71
38 22/04/1983 P Geoffrey Weeks 42 – 61 Maurice Packman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 70
39 26/04/1983 P Catherine Byfield 14 – 47 Maurice Packman Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 75
40 27/04/1983 P Philip Appleby 43 – 28 Maurice Packman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 73
41 28/04/1983 P Philip Appleby 37 – 69 Norma Nicholson Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 70
42 29/04/1983 P Ash Haji 45 – 37 Norma Nicholson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 68
43 03/05/1983 P Ash Haji 58 – 18 Gray Robertson Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 71
44 04/05/1983 P Ash Haji 30 – 59 Russell Byers Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 69
45 05/05/1983 P Philip Goddard 40 – 44 Russell Byers Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 70
46 06/05/1983 P Margaret Reid 32 – 50 Russell Byers Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 75
47 10/05/1983 P Sue White 30 – 54 Russell Byers Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 68
48 11/05/1983 P Michael Firth 52 – 37 Russell Byers Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 71
49 12/05/1983 P Michael Firth 40 – 45 Gary Roussak Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 73
50 13/05/1983 P Ruth Lowy 28 – 48 Gary Roussak Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 77
51 17/05/1983 P Bobbie Bennett 49 – 39 Gary Roussak Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 71
52 18/05/1983 P Bobbie Bennett 32 – 26 Eric Lamprell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 71
53 19/05/1983 P Bobbie Bennett 23 – 42 Maureen Kelly Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 73
54 20/05/1983 P Andrew Dyson 38 – 44 Maureen Kelly Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 70
55 24/05/1983 P Ivy Baird 62 – 35 Maureen Kelly Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 74
56 25/05/1983 P Ivy Baird 40 – 39 Paul Rose Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 71
57 26/05/1983 P Ivy Baird 45 – 31 David Dougan Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 69
58 27/05/1983 P Ivy Baird 51 – 32 Isabelle Higgie Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 75
59 31/05/1983 P Ivy Baird 39 – 40 Ingram Wilcox Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 74
60 01/06/1983 P Beryl Blacheter 31 – 34 Ingram Wilcox Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 66
61 02/06/1983 P Joan Ross 41 – 28 Ingram Wilcox Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 70
62 03/06/1983 P Joan Ross 42 – 41 Brian Sugar Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 73
63 07/06/1983 P Joan Ross 17 – 53 Philip Nelkon Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 67
64 08/06/1983 P David Wright 40 – 40 Philip Nelkon Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 68
65 09/06/1983 P David Wright 18 – 57 Philip Nelkon Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 72
66 10/06/1983 QP Russell Byers 54 – 39 David Myerscough Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 67
67 14/06/1983 QP Gary Roussak 48* – 38 Maureen Kelly Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 69
68 15/06/1983 QP Peter Finley 60 – 24 Joan Ross Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 72
69 16/06/1983 QP Sheila Mann 39 – 52 Norma Nicholson Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 68
70 17/06/1983 QP Ivy Baird 40 – 39 Michael Firth Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 69
71 21/06/1983 QP Maurice Packman 57 – 32 Ingram Wilcox Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams 72
72 22/06/1983 QP Ash Haji 49 – 26 Bobbie Bennett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 68
73 23/06/1983 QP Philip Nelkon 57 – 45 Philip Appleby Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth 69
74 24/06/1983 QF Gary Roussak 39 – 47 Russell Byers Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Gyles Brandreth Lesley Burnett 72
75 27/06/1983 QF Peter Finley 37 – 49 Norma Nicholson Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Angela O'Dougherty Gyles Brandreth Lesley Burnett 69
76 28/06/1983 QF Ivy Baird 30 – 57 Maurice Packman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Angela O'Dougherty Kenneth Williams Lesley Burnett 68
77 29/06/1983 QF Ash Haji 68 – 39 Philip Nelkon Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Angela O'Dougherty Gyles Brandreth Lesley Burnett 83
78 30/06/1983 SF Russell Byers 67 – 43 Norma Nicholson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Angela O'Dougherty Kenneth Williams Lesley Burnett 72
79 01/07/1983 SF Ash Haji 41 – 35 Maurice Packman Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett Beverley Isherwood Angela O'Dougherty Gyles Brandreth Lesley Burnett 72
80 02/07/1983 GF Ash Haji 71 – 70 Russell Byers Richard Whiteley Dr Linda Barrett, Carol Vorderman Beverley Isherwood Cathy Hytner Kenneth Williams, Gyles Brandreth Lesley Burnett 114
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

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