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Series 39

From Countdown

Series 39 ran from 29 June to 25 December 1998. The thirty-ninth of 53 series presented by Richard Whiteley, it was won by Kate Ogilvie, who remains the most recent female series champion of Countdown to this day.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Terry Knowles 8 502
2 Kate Ogilvie 8 417
3 Vic Foster 7 448
4 Richard Saldanha 6 396
5 Nick Buttle 6 374
6 Andrew Lucas 6 357
7 Pat Peacock 5 338
8 Valerie Swanick 4 270
NOTE: Vicky Smith had enough points to qualify for the finals as #7 seed, but couldn't make it for personal reasons. Glynn Leaney was undefeated at the end of the series, but preferred to come back in Series 40, rather than qualify in Series 39 as #7 seed.
Between Series 38 and Series 59, players were sorted by number of wins, then by number of points. Points from both wins and losses count. Points from sudden death conundrums were not counted, and players with the same number of wins and points were sorted by highest score.

Finals progress

Terry Knowles (1) vs Valerie Swanick (8) Terry Knowles (1) vs Richard Saldanha (4) Richard Saldanha (4)
vs
Kate Ogilvie (2)
Nick Buttle (5) vs Richard Saldanha (4)
Vic Foster (3) vs Andrew Lucas (6) Andrew Lucas (6) vs Kate Ogilvie (2)
Pat Peacock (7) vs Kate Ogilvie (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
2293 29/06/1998 P Gillian Galek 40* – 30 Beverley Scott Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Toyah Willcox Mark Nyman 83
2294 30/06/1998 P Gillian Galek 42 – 55 Robert Muir Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Toyah Willcox Mark Nyman 73
2295 01/07/1998 P Robert Muir 52 – 51 Richard Frost Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Toyah Willcox Mark Nyman 73
2296 02/07/1998 P Robert Muir 55 – 32 Arthur Barrow Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Toyah Willcox Mark Nyman 84
2297 03/07/1998 P Robert Muir 42 – 52* Clive Freedman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Toyah Willcox Mark Nyman 80
2298 06/07/1998 P Clive Freedman 42 – 48 Jackie Anderson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Toyah Willcox Mark Nyman 83
2299 07/07/1998 P Jackie Anderson 53 – 35 Manda Osborne Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Mark Nyman 73
2300 08/07/1998 P Jackie Anderson 50 – 37 William Goram Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Mark Nyman 94
2301 09/07/1998 P Jackie Anderson 38 – 59 Steve Metcalf Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Mark Nyman 75
2302 10/07/1998 P Steve Metcalf 61 – 6 Bill Watson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Mark Nyman 85
2303 13/07/1998 P Steve Metcalf 34 – 69 Simon Cobb Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Mark Nyman 86
2304 14/07/1998 P Simon Cobb 65 – 50 Vasudeo Joshi Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Mark Nyman 95
2305 15/07/1998 P Simon Cobb 29 – 64 Pat Peacock Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anne Gregg Hannah Robertson 85
2306 16/07/1998 P Pat Peacock 41 – 26 Edward Doherty Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anne Gregg Hannah Robertson 73
2307 17/07/1998 P Pat Peacock 58 – 27 Danny Sapsford Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anne Gregg Hannah Robertson 84
2308 20/07/1998 P Pat Peacock 57 – 35 Colin Moore Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anne Gregg Hannah Robertson 74
2309 21/07/1998 P Pat Peacock 51 – 36 Val Jamieson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anne Gregg Hannah Robertson 73
2310 22/07/1998 P Pat Peacock 57 – 63 John Deignan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anne Gregg Hannah Robertson 94
2311 23/07/1998 P John Deignan 56 – 41 Rhiannon Williams Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Sisson Hannah Robertson 82
2312 24/07/1998 P John Deignan 37 – 41 Jennie Waite Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Sisson Hannah Robertson 73
2313 27/07/1998 P Jennie Waite 63 – 41 John Jannaway Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Sisson Hannah Robertson 84
2314 28/07/1998 P Jennie Waite 59 – 49 Bob Lansom Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Sisson Hannah Robertson 70
2315 29/07/1998 P Jennie Waite 40 – 49 Brian Stewart Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Sisson Hannah Robertson 72
2316 30/07/1998 P Brian Stewart 50 – 48 Alan Crabtree Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Sisson Hannah Robertson 71
2317 31/07/1998 P Brian Stewart 50 – 60 Nick Buttle Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Mark Nyman 73
2318 03/08/1998 P Nick Buttle 56 – 26 Philip Wegener Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Mark Nyman 72
2319 04/08/1998 P Nick Buttle 51 – 46 Mike Moran Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Mark Nyman 73
2320 05/08/1998 P Nick Buttle 51 – 41 Shirley Wright Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Mark Nyman 83
2321 06/08/1998 P Nick Buttle 57 – 32 Ronald Hamblyn Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Mark Nyman 71
2322 07/08/1998 P Nick Buttle 55 – 51 Bob Berry Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Mark Nyman 71
2323 10/08/1998 P Nick Buttle 44 – 45 Andrew Lucas Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Mark Nyman 94
2324 11/08/1998 P Andrew Lucas 48 – 23 James Hendy Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Mark Nyman 76
2325 12/08/1998 P Andrew Lucas 45 – 43 Gwen Clark Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Mark Nyman 70
2326 13/08/1998 P Andrew Lucas 72 – 34 Brian Foreman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Mark Nyman 96
2327 14/08/1998 P Andrew Lucas 54 – 50 Graham Highton Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Mark Nyman 73
2328 17/08/1998 P Andrew Lucas 39 – 34 Jean Jillings-Warner Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Mark Nyman 71
2329 18/08/1998 P Andrew Lucas 54 – 58 Douglas Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Susie Dent 73
2330 19/08/1998 P Douglas Smith 36 – 52 Iain Forbes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Susie Dent 74
2331 20/08/1998 P Iain Forbes 25 – 50 Zoran Blackie Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Susie Dent 74
2332 21/08/1998 P Zoran Blackie 32 – 55 Vic Foster Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Susie Dent 71
2333 24/08/1998 P Vic Foster 65 – 45 Chris Evans Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Susie Dent 76
2334 25/08/1998 P Vic Foster 59 – 38 Alan Brindley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Susie Dent 74
2335 26/08/1998 P Vic Foster 58 – 26 June Salt Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Hannah Robertson 74
2336 27/08/1998 P Vic Foster 70 – 47 Neil Chambers Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Hannah Robertson 75
2337 28/08/1998 P Vic Foster 49 – 42 Jack Byrne Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Hannah Robertson 81
2338 31/08/1998 P Vic Foster 49 – 17 Fiona Cuthbertson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Hannah Robertson 83
2339 01/09/1998 P Vic Foster 43 – 46 Alan Bailey Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Hannah Robertson 74
2340 02/09/1998 P Alan Bailey 38 – 48 Mike Jones Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Hannah Robertson 74
2341 03/09/1998 P Mike Jones 54 – 43 Alex Davis Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Anna Hall 74
2342 04/09/1998 P Mike Jones 51 – 40 Junaid Mubeen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Anna Hall 70
2343 07/09/1998 P Mike Jones 51 – 0 Sylvia Pitman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Anna Hall 74
2344 08/09/1998 P Mike Jones 32 – 50 Neil Doherty Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Anna Hall 71
2345 09/09/1998 P Neil Doherty 25 – 18 Bob Wright Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Anna Hall 72
2346 10/09/1998 P Neil Doherty 47 – 37 Sandy Fergusson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Anna Hall 72
2347 11/09/1998 P Neil Doherty 42 – 48 Kate Ogilvie Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Diane Keen Mark Nyman 86
2348 14/09/1998 P Kate Ogilvie 50 – 38 Roy Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Diane Keen Mark Nyman 74
2349 15/09/1998 P Kate Ogilvie 64 – 42 Phyllis Gilmour Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Diane Keen Mark Nyman 85
2350 16/09/1998 P Kate Ogilvie 44 – 43 John Saunders Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Diane Keen Mark Nyman 72
2351 17/09/1998 P Kate Ogilvie 54 – 35 Jane Gordon-Cumming Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Diane Keen Mark Nyman 75
2352 18/09/1998 P Kate Ogilvie 54 – 35 Declan Cahill Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Diane Keen Mark Nyman 73
2353 21/09/1998 P Kate Ogilvie 53 – 30 Mark Duffield Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 83
2354 22/09/1998 P Kate Ogilvie 50 – 44 Steven Prior Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 74
2355 23/09/1998 P Pat Magana 27 – 68 Alan Dyson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 73
2356 24/09/1998 P Alan Dyson 39 – 46 Peter Preston Igweke Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 74
2357 25/09/1998 P Peter Preston Igweke 45 – 56 Vicky Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 75
2358 28/09/1998 P Vicky Smith 56 – 40 Rex Rowe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 73
2359 29/09/1998 P Vicky Smith 54 – 42 Brian Fell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 73
2360 30/09/1998 P Vicky Smith 52 – 40 George Griffiths Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 77
2361 01/10/1998 P Vicky Smith 41 – 26 Rita Belding Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 72
2362 02/10/1998 P Vicky Smith 47 – 45 Brian Binns Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 74
2363 05/10/1998 P Vicky Smith 40 – 45 Sally Hutchings Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 73
2364 06/10/1998 P Sally Hutchings 49 – 47 David Eccleshall Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 84
2365 07/10/1998 P Sally Hutchings 53 – 68 Joe Bridal Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Colin Baker Mark Nyman 83
2366 08/10/1998 P Joe Bridal 46 – 29 Bill Briscoe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Colin Baker Mark Nyman 75
2367 09/10/1998 P Joe Bridal 52 – 41 Colette Murphy Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Colin Baker Mark Nyman 94
2368 12/10/1998 P Joe Bridal 50 – 49 Ben McFarlane Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Colin Baker Mark Nyman 71
2369 13/10/1998 P Joe Bridal 45 – 55 Valerie Swanick Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Colin Baker Mark Nyman 73
2370 14/10/1998 P Valerie Swanick 57 – 30 Shanker Menon Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Colin Baker Mark Nyman 70
2371 15/10/1998 P Valerie Swanick 60 – 42 Graham Robertson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Mark Nyman 74
2372 16/10/1998 P Valerie Swanick 54 – 44 Judith Turner Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Mark Nyman 83
2373 19/10/1998 P Valerie Swanick 44 – 49 Kenneth Horne Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Mark Nyman 73
2374 20/10/1998 P Kenneth Horne 51 – 28 Pauline Lennon Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Mark Nyman 81
2375 21/10/1998 P Kenneth Horne 60 – 41 Tony Browne Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Mark Nyman 72
2376 22/10/1998 P Kenneth Horne 59 – 13 Brian Plant Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Mark Nyman 75
2377 23/10/1998 P Kenneth Horne 48 – 53 Gill Scott Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 94
2378 26/10/1998 P Gill Scott 52 – 59 Richard Saldanha Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 73
2379 27/10/1998 P Richard Saldanha 62 – 38 John Coy Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 84
2380 28/10/1998 P Richard Saldanha 57 – 53 Sara Macintosh Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 71
2381 29/10/1998 P Richard Saldanha 54* – 44 Ross Mackenzie Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 67
2382 30/10/1998 P Richard Saldanha 50 – 32 Brian Wright Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 84
2383 02/11/1998 P Richard Saldanha 73 – 39 David Parfitt Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Anna Hall 87
2384 03/11/1998 P Richard Saldanha 41 – 58 Richard Saddington Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Anna Hall 63
2385 04/11/1998 P Richard Saddington 34 – 48 Clare Dobbs Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Anna Hall 72
2386 05/11/1998 P Clare Dobbs 60 – 33 Ian Lightbody Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Anna Hall 74
2387 06/11/1998 P Clare Dobbs 54 – 50 Anne Hughes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Anna Hall 76
2388 09/11/1998 P Clare Dobbs 42 – 46 Freddie Marshall Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Anna Hall 69
2389 10/11/1998 P Freddie Marshall 17 – 64 Terry Knowles Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Mark Nyman 81
2390 11/11/1998 P Terry Knowles 58 – 33 Tony Guidoboni Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Mark Nyman 72
2391 12/11/1998 P Terry Knowles 60 – 39 Liz Annison Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Mark Nyman 71
2392 13/11/1998 P Terry Knowles 72 – 35 Quin Collier Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Mark Nyman 74
2393 16/11/1998 P Terry Knowles 58 – 27 John Docherty Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Mark Nyman 73
2394 17/11/1998 P Terry Knowles 55 – 25 Margaret Chester-Barnett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Mark Nyman 72
2395 18/11/1998 P Terry Knowles 71 – 38 John Brady Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 77
2396 19/11/1998 P Terry Knowles 64 – 55 Juliet Montague Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 74
2397 20/11/1998 P William Reilly 30 – 52 Alan Sharland Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 76
2398 23/11/1998 P Alan Sharland 67 – 34 Brian Bedford Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 73
2399 24/11/1998 P Alan Sharland 38 – 55 Mark Jeary Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 69
2400 25/11/1998 P Mark Jeary 46 – 56* Chris Diamond Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Russell Hunter Hannah Robertson 73
2401 26/11/1998 P Chris Diamond 29 – 62 Anne Haley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Russell Hunter Hannah Robertson 73
2402 27/11/1998 P Anne Haley 60 – 40 Elsie Craw Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Russell Hunter Hannah Robertson 84
2403 30/11/1998 P Anne Haley 52 – 50 David Hart Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Russell Hunter Hannah Robertson 83
2404 01/12/1998 P Anne Haley 43 – 58 Phil Hunt Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Russell Hunter Hannah Robertson 72
2405 02/12/1998 P Phil Hunt 60 – 55 Claire O'Neil Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Russell Hunter Hannah Robertson 73
2406 03/12/1998 P Phil Hunt 34 – 46 Kate O'Connor Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Hannah Robertson 66
2407 04/12/1998 P Kate O'Connor 43 – 59 Noel Godson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Hannah Robertson 74
2408 07/12/1998 P Noel Godson 42 – 40 Marc Hughes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Hannah Robertson 94
2409 08/12/1998 P Noel Godson 57 – 47 Susan Thompson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Hannah Robertson 70
2410 09/12/1998 P Noel Godson 33 – 41 Glynn Leaney Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Hannah Robertson 72
2411 10/12/1998 P Glynn Leaney 57 – 35 Norman Humphries Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Hannah Robertson 71
2412 11/12/1998 P Glynn Leaney 45 – 38 Mark Daulby Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Mark Nyman 72
2413 14/12/1998 P Glynn Leaney 53 – 41 Gerard McCarthy Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Mark Nyman 85
2414 15/12/1998 P Glynn Leaney 45 – 43 Clare Ockwell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Mark Nyman 74
2415 16/12/1998 P Glynn Leaney 47 – 44 Andrew Slocombe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Mark Nyman 85
2416 17/12/1998 QF Terry Knowles 65 – 33 Val Swanick Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Mark Nyman 74
2417 18/12/1998 QF Kate Ogilvie 61 – 46 Pat Peacock Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Mark Nyman 71
2418 21/12/1998 QF Vic Foster 36 – 46* Andrew Lucas Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gloria Hunniford Mark Nyman 73
2419 22/12/1998 QF Richard Saldanha 63 – 55 Nick Buttle Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gloria Hunniford Mark Nyman 72
2420 23/12/1998 SF Terry Knowles 41 – 51 Richard Saldanha Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gloria Hunniford Mark Nyman 70
2421 24/12/1998 SF Kate Ogilvie 52 – 39 Andrew Lucas Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gloria Hunniford Mark Nyman 83
2422 25/12/1998 GF Kate Ogilvie 83 – 81 Richard Saldanha Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gloria Hunniford Mark Nyman 118
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links