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Series 40

From Countdown

Series 40 ran from 28 December 1998 to 25 June 1999. The fortieth of 53 series presented by Richard Whiteley, it was won by Terence English. This was also the first series in which the Countdown teapot was added into the daily champion's goody bag.

The quarter-final line-up for this series was notable as two contestants from the previous series qualified for the quarter-finals of this series; Glynn Leaney had qualified for the Series 39 quarter-finals as number eight seed by winning the last six games of the series, but had opted instead to return and start the new series as champion. In winning the first two games, he became an octochamp and qualified for the quarter-finals of this series as number two seed; Vicky Smith, meanwhile, had qualified as number six seed for this series without actually appearing outright in a single episode of Series 40. She had six wins from seven games during Series 39 to qualify for the quarter-finals as number seven seed, but was unable to make the studio dates due to illness, so her score was carried forward into this series.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Peter Hutchings 8 422
2 Glynn Leaney 8 405
3 Pamela Roud 6 409
4 Ricky Cohen 6 390
5 Terence English 6 371
6 Vicky Smith 6 346
7 Nancy Roberts 6 308
8 Stan Arnott 5 308
Vicky Smith appeared in Series 39 but was unable to make the final recordings and so was invited back to the finals of Series 40.
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

Peter Hutchings (1) vs Stan Arnott (8) Peter Hutchings (1) vs Terence English (5) Terence English (5)
vs
Glynn Leaney (2)
Terence English (5) vs Ricky Cohen (4)
Pamela Roud (3) vs Vicky Smith (6) Pamela Roud (3) vs Glynn Leaney (2)
Nancy Roberts (7) vs Glynn Leaney (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
2423 28/12/1998 P Glynn Leaney 62 – 61 Luke Living Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 84
2424 29/12/1998 P Glynn Leaney 55 – 34 Liz Alsford Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 70
2425 30/12/1998 P Dave Benham 44 – 49 Barry Landman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 73
2426 31/12/1998 P Barry Landman 33 – 53 Emma Brown Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 84
2427 01/01/1999 P Emma Brown 55 – 65 Ted Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 83
2428 04/01/1999 P Ted Smith 59 – 36 Richard Benham Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 73
2429 05/01/1999 P Ted Smith 47 – 42 Bridget Holroyd Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Christopher Timothy Damian Eadie 82
2430 06/01/1999 P Ted Smith 41 – 51 Tom Rock Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Christopher Timothy Damian Eadie 74
2431 07/01/1999 P Tom Rock 51 – 22 Janet Payne Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Christopher Timothy Damian Eadie 68
2432 08/01/1999 P Tom Rock 31 – 40 Andrew Thompson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Christopher Timothy Damian Eadie 69
2433 11/01/1999 P Andrew Thompson 52 – 59 Michael Gildersleve Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Christopher Timothy Damian Eadie 74
2434 12/01/1999 P Michael Gildersleve 54 – 40 Sheila Davis Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Christopher Timothy Damian Eadie 83
2435 13/01/1999 P Michael Gildersleve 48 – 33 Jacqui Marshall Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 72
2436 14/01/1999 P Michael Gildersleve 35 – 54 Geoff Wilson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 72
2437 15/01/1999 P Geoff Wilson 29 – 61 John Holton Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 74
2438 18/01/1999 P John Holton 48 – 40 Theresa Clark Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 70
2439 19/01/1999 P John Holton 54 – 34 Chris Hutchinson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 74
2440 20/01/1999 P John Holton 35 – 30 Sue Mills Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 82
2441 21/01/1999 P John Holton 34 – 70 Terence English Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Denis Norden Susie Dent 85
2442 22/01/1999 P Terence English 54 – 19 Charles Downs Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Denis Norden Susie Dent 80
2443 25/01/1999 P Terence English 45 – 33 Tess Jones Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Denis Norden Susie Dent 74
2444 26/01/1999 P Terence English 52 – 51 Nigel Fox Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Denis Norden Susie Dent 84
2445 27/01/1999 P Terence English 51 – 13 David De Saxe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Denis Norden Susie Dent 73
2446 28/01/1999 P Terence English 53 – 27 Jean Lunn Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Denis Norden Susie Dent 73
2447 29/01/1999 P Terence English 46 – 73 Barry Lyons Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman John Dunn Damian Eadie 85
2448 01/02/1999 P Barry Lyons 61 – 24 Kathryn Wilkie Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman John Dunn Damian Eadie 82
2449 02/02/1999 P Barry Lyons 49 – 57 Keith Kan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman John Dunn Damian Eadie 87
2450 03/02/1999 P Keith Kan 35 – 49 Gill Russell Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman John Dunn Damian Eadie 73
2451 04/02/1999 P Gill Russell Smith 56 – 43 James Illingworth Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman John Dunn Damian Eadie 73
2452 05/02/1999 P Gill Russell Smith 21 – 61 Pauline Latham Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman John Dunn Damian Eadie 72
2453 08/02/1999 P Pauline Latham 55 – 26 Pete Church Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Arthur Smith Mark Nyman 82
2454 09/02/1999 P Pauline Latham 42 – 45 Lester Mak Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Arthur Smith Mark Nyman 83
2455 10/02/1999 P Lester Mak 15 – 43 Jayne Parslow Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Arthur Smith Mark Nyman 72
2456 11/02/1999 P Jayne Parslow 32 – 45 Alan Williams Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Arthur Smith Mark Nyman 71
2457 12/02/1999 P Alan Williams 48 – 20 Lillias Thompson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Arthur Smith Mark Nyman 74
2458 15/02/1999 P Alan Williams 38 – 44 David Andrew Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Arthur Smith Mark Nyman 82
2459 16/02/1999 P David Andrew 45 – 23 Harry Hulme Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Damian Eadie 73
2460 17/02/1999 P David Andrew 51 – 47 Maryse Sargent Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Damian Eadie 72
2461 18/02/1999 P David Andrew 57 – 34 Ian Knox Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Damian Eadie 70
2462 19/02/1999 P David Andrew 51 – 56 Ricky Cohen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Damian Eadie 71
2463 22/02/1999 P Ricky Cohen 46 – 26 Sue Rose Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Damian Eadie 72
2464 23/02/1999 P Ricky Cohen 69 – 35 Raymond Devey Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gwen Taylor Damian Eadie 73
2465 24/02/1999 P Ricky Cohen 47 – 34 Mary George Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 74
2466 25/02/1999 P Ricky Cohen 60 – 46 Brian Bull Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 92
2467 26/02/1999 P Ricky Cohen 67 – 43 Michael Rollings Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 75
2468 01/03/1999 P Ricky Cohen 45 – 49 Jill Miller Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 73
2469 02/03/1999 P Jill Miller 38 – 55 Christopher Russon Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 73
2470 03/03/1999 P Christopher Russon 43 – 42 Dave Price Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 70
2471 04/03/1999 P Christopher Russon 43 – 21 Steve Day Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Mark Nyman 75
2472 05/03/1999 P Christopher Russon 55 – 29 Ann Slee Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Mark Nyman 72
2473 08/03/1999 P Christopher Russon 39 – 52 John Wright Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Mark Nyman 72
2474 09/03/1999 P John Wright 41 – 58 Stan Arnott Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Mark Nyman 73
2475 10/03/1999 P Stan Arnott 61 – 41 Phil O'Gorman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Mark Nyman 75
2476 11/03/1999 P Stan Arnott 59 – 41 Sue Jackson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Mark Nyman 70
2477 12/03/1999 P Stan Arnott 49 – 43 Steve Jacobs Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Damian Eadie 72
2478 15/03/1999 P Stan Arnott 53 – 28 Pamela Roberts Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Damian Eadie 73
2479 16/03/1999 P Stan Arnott 28 – 40 Ben Furness Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Damian Eadie 72
2480 17/03/1999 P Ben Furness 27 – 53 Andrew Booth Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Damian Eadie 73
2481 18/03/1999 P Andrew Booth 39 – 32 Aileen Bell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Damian Eadie 71
2482 19/03/1999 P Andrew Booth 25 – 45 Mark Darch Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Angela Rippon Damian Eadie 71
2483 22/03/1999 P Mark Darch 71 – 33 Jonathan Hancox Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Marc Freden Susie Dent 83
2484 23/03/1999 P Mark Darch 33 – 47 Nancy Roberts Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Marc Freden Susie Dent 73
2485 24/03/1999 P Nancy Roberts 39 – 33 George Lane Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Marc Freden Susie Dent 70
2486 25/03/1999 P Nancy Roberts 47 – 44 Patricia Sly Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Marc Freden Susie Dent 74
2487 26/03/1999 P Nancy Roberts 50 – 44 Hamish Williamson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Marc Freden Susie Dent 73
2488 29/03/1999 P Nancy Roberts 43 – 31 Philip Rees Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Marc Freden Susie Dent 83
2489 30/03/1999 P Nancy Roberts 55 – 41 Alec Everitt Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 72
2490 31/03/1999 P Nancy Roberts 27 – 50 Daniel Holloway Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 72
2491 01/04/1999 P Daniel Holloway 53 – 43 Sylvia Walton Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 73
2492 02/04/1999 P Daniel Holloway 52 – 28 Sefton Park Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 74
2493 05/04/1999 P Daniel Holloway 53 – 45 Chris Kennedy Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Mark Nyman 73
2494 06/04/1999 P Daniel Holloway 54 – 42 Anne Langford Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Mark Nyman 83
2495 07/04/1999 P Daniel Holloway 38 – 50 David McCarron Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sarah Kennedy Mark Nyman 72
2496 08/04/1999 P David McCarron 56 – 36 Jane Taylor Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sarah Kennedy Mark Nyman 77
2497 09/04/1999 P David McCarron 51 – 33 Brian Hazlett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sarah Kennedy Mark Nyman 70
2498 12/04/1999 P David McCarron 47 – 42 Connie Gittins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sarah Kennedy Mark Nyman 82
2499 13/04/1999 P David McCarron 28 – 47 Robert Sell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sarah Kennedy Mark Nyman 81
2500 14/04/1999 P Robert Sell 38 – 42 Jim Allen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sarah Kennedy Mark Nyman 84
2501 15/04/1999 P Jim Allen 50 – 46 Elaine Grayson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 72
2502 16/04/1999 P Jim Allen 41 – 37 Perry Fung Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 74
2503 19/04/1999 P Jim Allen 50 – 57 Dorian Jeffrey Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 74
2504 20/04/1999 P Dorian Jeffrey 57 – 55 Tessa Phelan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 85
2505 21/04/1999 P Dorian Jeffrey 24 – 55 Carol Larkins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 72
2506 22/04/1999 P Carol Larkins 38 – 23 Ben Oliver Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 74
2507 23/04/1999 P Carol Larkins 34 – 65 Stephen Dodds Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 74
2508 26/04/1999 P Stephen Dodds 45 – 27 Helen George Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 72
2509 27/04/1999 P Stephen Dodds 56 – 21 Andrew Wilson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 73
2510 28/04/1999 P Stephen Dodds 63 – 33 Jenny Williamson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 73
2511 29/04/1999 P Stephen Dodds 52 – 62* Keith Loveys Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Mark Nyman 74
2512 30/04/1999 P Keith Loveys 66 – 36 Marian Mosby Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Mark Nyman 82
2513 03/05/1999 P Keith Loveys 56 – 64 Colin Sinnett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Mark Nyman 84
2514 04/05/1999 P Colin Sinnett 32 – 51 John Morrison Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Mark Nyman 73
2515 05/05/1999 P John Morrison 52 – 33 Catherine Dobson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Mark Nyman 73
2516 06/05/1999 P John Morrison 52 – 44 Sridhar Narayan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Mark Nyman 83
2517 07/05/1999 P John Morrison 55 – 38 Jackie Humphries Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Mark Nyman 80
2518 10/05/1999 P John Morrison 60 – 41 Cameron Johnson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Mark Nyman 82
2519 11/05/1999 P John Morrison 35 – 54 Peter Hutchings Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman David Steel Anna Hall 75
2520 12/05/1999 P Peter Hutchings 45 – 42 May Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman David Steel Anna Hall 72
2521 13/05/1999 P Peter Hutchings 60 – 33 Tom Read Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman David Steel Anna Hall 74
2522 14/05/1999 P Peter Hutchings 59 – 34 Jenny Shorley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman David Steel Anna Hall 76
2523 17/05/1999 P Peter Hutchings 73 – 38 Humphrey Lewis Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman David Steel Anna Hall 74
2524 18/05/1999 P Peter Hutchings 59 – 35 Edward Bagshaw Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman David Steel Anna Hall 81
2525 19/05/1999 P Peter Hutchings 51 – 43 Dawn Medcalf Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Hannah Robertson 73
2526 20/05/1999 P Peter Hutchings 21 – 11 Jimmy Neil Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Hannah Robertson 76
2527 21/05/1999 P Phil Hazell 23 – 69 Susan Shilton Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Hannah Robertson 74
2528 24/05/1999 P Susan Shilton 70 – 17 Andrew Murphy Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Hannah Robertson 75
2529 25/05/1999 P Susan Shilton 63 – 41 Joan Trinder Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Hannah Robertson 73
2530 26/05/1999 P Susan Shilton 51 – 55 Malcolm Seddons Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Magnus Magnusson Hannah Robertson 81
2531 27/05/1999 P Malcolm Seddons 55 – 46 James Squires Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Helen Lederer Damian Eadie 71
2532 28/05/1999 P Malcolm Seddons 46 – 44 Gerald Knight Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Helen Lederer Damian Eadie 73
2533 31/05/1999 P Malcolm Seddons 43 – 58 Pamela Roud Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Helen Lederer Damian Eadie 74
2534 01/06/1999 P Pamela Roud 50 – 32 Chris Keeley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Helen Lederer Damian Eadie 83
2535 02/06/1999 P Pamela Roud 50 – 38 Alison Austin Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Helen Lederer Damian Eadie 73
2536 03/06/1999 P Pamela Roud 56 – 37 Femi Awowade Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Helen Lederer Damian Eadie 73
2537 04/06/1999 P Pamela Roud 76 – 56 Tracy Schneider Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Carol Barnes Mark Nyman 86
2538 07/06/1999 P Pamela Roud 69 – 52 Lex Johnston Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Carol Barnes Mark Nyman 73
2539 08/06/1999 P Pamela Roud 50 – 51 Paul Kerry Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Carol Barnes Mark Nyman 95
2540 09/06/1999 P Paul Kerry 45 – 40 Becky Smithson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Carol Barnes Mark Nyman 72
2541 10/06/1999 P Paul Kerry 48 – 27 Joan Airey Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Carol Barnes Mark Nyman 74
2542 11/06/1999 P Paul Kerry 40 – 10 Paul Servé-Wells Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Carol Barnes Mark Nyman 70
2543 14/06/1999 P Paul Kerry 53 – 43 Peter Hazelwood Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 75
2544 15/06/1999 P Paul Kerry 44 – 46 Bobby Johnson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 70
2545 16/06/1999 P Bobby Johnson 54 – 35 Marie Rocco Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 83
2546 17/06/1999 QF Peter Hutchings 42 – 39 Stan Arnott Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 75
2547 18/06/1999 QF Glynn Leaney 60 – 29 Nancy Roberts Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 104
2548 21/06/1999 QF Ricky Cohen 65 – 75 Terence English Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 82
2549 22/06/1999 QF Pamela Roud 74 – 54 Vicky Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 84
2550 23/06/1999 SF Peter Hutchings 30 – 67 Terence English Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 73
2551 24/06/1999 SF Glynn Leaney 49 – 40 Pamela Roud Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 73
2552 25/06/1999 GF Glynn Leaney 77 – 81 Terence English Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 118
* includes 10 points from a tiebreak conundrum

External Links