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Series 42

From Countdown

Series 42 ran from 3 January to 23 June 2000, following the Championship of Champions X. The forty-second of 53 series presented by Richard Whiteley was won by Michael Calder.

This series has mostly become infamous for its dictionary blunder, which initially introduced the Concise Oxford Dictionary 10th edition. The new dictionary did not include many compound words and was therefore unsuitable for use on Countdown, which became apparent when Helen Wrigglesworth lost a game by just two points after her offering ROADSIDE had been disallowed as it was not given in the dictionary.

The ninth edition was reinstated as the "word bible" at the beginning of the following filming day; the status of the 10th edition was unclear, as some COD10-only words were allowed for the rest of the series, and others not (although the COD10 on Whiteley's desk was not switched for the old version). As a result of the incident, Wrigglesworth was credited with the win and an extra eight points. She was also invited to continue her run later in the series, and although she lost on her "second debut", the extra 43 points was enough to give her a place in the finals.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 David Ballheimer 8 474
2 Michael Calder 8 462
3 Terence O'Farrell 8 435
4 Rodney Marrison 7 455
5 John Hastings 6 372
6 Olive Morgan 6 354
7 Helen Wrigglesworth 5 275
8 Jim Ainsworth 5 261
Jim Ainsworth reached five wins and was undefeated at the end of the heats. Having scored enough points to make eighth seed, he opted to play in the finals rather than resume in the next series.
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

David Ballheimer (1) vs Jim Ainsworth (8) David Ballheimer (1) vs John Hastings (5) John Hastings (5)
vs
Michael Calder (2)
John Hastings (5) vs Rodney Marrison (4)
Terence O'Farrell (3) vs Olive Morgan (6) Terence O'Farrell (3) vs Michael Calder (2)
Helen Wrigglesworth (7) vs Michael Calder (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
27–31 December 1999: Championship of Champions X
2679 03/01/2000 P Helen Wrigglesworth 53 – 40 Joanna Newman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Mark Nyman 73
2680 04/01/2000 P Helen Wrigglesworth 42 – 20 Colin Sanders Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Mark Nyman 75
2681 05/01/2000 P Helen Wrigglesworth 49 – 19 Michael Heptinstall Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Mark Nyman 76
2682 06/01/2000 P Helen Wrigglesworth 38 – 40 Malcolm McInnes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Mark Nyman 72
2683 07/01/2000 P Malcolm McInnes 49 – 23 Sandra Perrett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Mark Nyman 84
2684 10/01/2000 P Malcolm McInnes 22 – 49 Alan Jenkins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Mark Nyman 66
2685 11/01/2000 P Alan Jenkins 50 – 36 Pascal Richard Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roy Hudd Susie Dent 74
2686 12/01/2000 P Alan Jenkins 31 – 39 Olive Morgan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roy Hudd Susie Dent 72
2687 13/01/2000 P Olive Morgan 68 – 38 Judy Meekings Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roy Hudd Susie Dent 76
2688 14/01/2000 P Olive Morgan 52 – 38 Matthew Eagles Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roy Hudd Susie Dent 72
2689 17/01/2000 P Olive Morgan 37 – 34 Brian Murray Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roy Hudd Susie Dent 85
2690 18/01/2000 P Olive Morgan 59 – 28 Terence Skuse Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roy Hudd Susie Dent 74
2691 19/01/2000 P Olive Morgan 60 – 48 Clare Cowan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Susie Dent 95
2692 20/01/2000 P Olive Morgan 39 – 48 John Snedden Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Susie Dent 70
2693 21/01/2000 P John Snedden 80 – 38 Amey Deshpande Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Susie Dent 93
2694 24/01/2000 P John Snedden 58 – 26 Peter Taylor Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Susie Dent 73
2695 25/01/2000 P John Snedden 51 – 33 Simon Cluskey Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Susie Dent 84
2696 26/01/2000 P John Snedden 45 – 60 Joel Davey Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Susie Dent 74
2697 27/01/2000 P Joel Davey 41 – 43 Peter Hindes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Susie Dent 71
2698 28/01/2000 P Peter Hindes 56 – 26 Gemma Bannon Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Susie Dent 85
2699 31/01/2000 P Peter Hindes 49 – 59* Michael Calder Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Susie Dent 70
2700 01/02/2000 P Michael Calder 64 – 40 Carol Hogan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Susie Dent 74
2701 02/02/2000 P Michael Calder 56* – 46 Clarissa Caröe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Susie Dent 72
2702 03/02/2000 P Michael Calder 50 – 46 Gerry Ratzin Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 84
2703 04/02/2000 P Michael Calder 64 – 37 Sue Meredith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 72
2704 07/02/2000 P Michael Calder 54 – 49 Daniel Green Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 74
2705 08/02/2000 P Michael Calder 58 – 32 Marjorie Clark Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 72
2706 09/02/2000 P Michael Calder 57 – 47 Andrew Hulme Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 74
2707 10/02/2000 P Barbara Rogers 58 – 43 Steve Booth Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 73
2708 11/02/2000 P Barbara Rogers 30 – 65 Daniel Vanniasingham Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 73
2709 14/02/2000 P Daniel Vanniasingham 53 – 58 David Ballheimer Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 83
2710 15/02/2000 P David Ballheimer 55 – 15 Janet Nettleship Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 70
2711 16/02/2000 P David Ballheimer 53 – 43 Ravi Choudhary Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 84
2712 17/02/2000 P David Ballheimer 72 – 62 Jason Witcher Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 75
2713 18/02/2000 P David Ballheimer 60 – 22 Maureen Graham Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 94
2714 21/02/2000 P David Ballheimer 65 – 29 Mark Stubberfield Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Damian Eadie 72
2715 22/02/2000 P David Ballheimer 40 – 28 Barbara Curr Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Damian Eadie 75
2716 23/02/2000 P David Ballheimer 71 – 23 Sue Downing Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Damian Eadie 73
2717 24/02/2000 P Helen Wrigglesworth 43 – 54 Andy Brown Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Damian Eadie 76
2718 25/02/2000 P Andy Brown 57 – 26 James McIntosh Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Damian Eadie 71
2719 28/02/2000 P Andy Brown 46 – 33 Tony Kershaw Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Penny Smith Damian Eadie 76
2720 29/02/2000 P Andy Brown 70 – 60 Barry Scaum Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Catherine Clarke 72
2721 01/03/2000 P Andy Brown 39 – 56 Russell Gaines Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Catherine Clarke 72
2722 02/03/2000 P Russell Gaines 60 – 28 Ken Glover Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Catherine Clarke 65
2723 03/03/2000 P Russell Gaines 59 – 29 Nett Steinson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Catherine Clarke 72
2724 06/03/2000 P Russell Gaines 59 – 30 Eric Birtwell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Catherine Clarke 84
2725 07/03/2000 P Russell Gaines 30 – 60 Lisa Hermann Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Catherine Clarke 74
2726 08/03/2000 P Lisa Hermann 57 – 29 Geoffrey Masters Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 75
2727 09/03/2000 P Lisa Hermann 64 – 29 Hilary Shearer Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 90
2728 10/03/2000 P Lisa Hermann 49 – 59* Dot Morris Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 81
2729 13/03/2000 P Dot Morris 31 – 28 Les Gibbons Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 72
2730 14/03/2000 P Dot Morris 37 – 57 Wil Ransome Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 75
2731 15/03/2000 P Wil Ransome 54 – 26 Lynn McNichol Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Stephen Fry Mark Nyman 74
2732 16/03/2000 P Wil Ransome 42 – 40 Derek Crawford Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gabby Yorath Mark Nyman 83
2733 17/03/2000 P Wil Ransome 39 – 48 Terence O'Farrell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gabby Yorath Mark Nyman 84
2734 20/03/2000 P Terence O'Farrell 63 – 43 Melanie Brown Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gabby Yorath Mark Nyman 85
2735 21/03/2000 P Terence O'Farrell 48 – 33 Ted Doggett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gabby Yorath Mark Nyman 76
2736 22/03/2000 P Terence O'Farrell 71 – 22 Gaynor Morgan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gabby Yorath Mark Nyman 75
2737 23/03/2000 P Terence O'Farrell 53 – 38 Leon Farley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gabby Yorath Mark Nyman 84
2738 24/03/2000 P Terence O'Farrell 45 – 38 Neil McHale Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Catherine Clarke 76
2739 27/03/2000 P Terence O'Farrell 59 – 43 Doris Perley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Catherine Clarke 74
2740 28/03/2000 P Terence O'Farrell 48 – 39 Don Johnston Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Catherine Clarke 73
2741 29/03/2000 P Rachel Plumridge 53 – 21 Terry Willcocks Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Catherine Clarke 74
2742 30/03/2000 P Rachel Plumridge 55 – 41 John Rogers Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Catherine Clarke 74
2743 31/03/2000 P Rachel Plumridge 65 – 32 Jack Kitchen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Catherine Clarke 80
2744 03/04/2000 P Rachel Plumridge 47 – 51 Haydn Thompson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Catherine Clarke 73
2745 04/04/2000 P Haydn Thompson 27 – 36 Margaret Shuttleworth Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Catherine Clarke 73
2746 05/04/2000 P Margaret Shuttleworth 42 – 34 David Anderson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Catherine Clarke 72
2747 06/04/2000 P Margaret Shuttleworth 43 – 49 John Hastings Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Catherine Clarke 75
2748 07/04/2000 P John Hastings 50 – 29 Sue Kennedy Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Catherine Clarke 74
2749 10/04/2000 P John Hastings 49 – 42 Les Noble Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Catherine Clarke 73
2750 11/04/2000 P John Hastings 54 – 53 Joan Bullock Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 85
2751 12/04/2000 P John Hastings 54 – 51 Vic Fisk Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 82
2752 13/04/2000 P John Hastings 59 – 30 Calum Pearson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 73
2753 14/04/2000 P John Hastings 57 – 67 Jane Wheeler Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 71
2754 17/04/2000 P Jane Wheeler 37 – 52 Rodney Marrison Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 75
2755 18/04/2000 P Rodney Marrison 60 – 50 Colin Northmore Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Damian Eadie 84
2756 19/04/2000 P Rodney Marrison 48 – 44 Ann Keelan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Damian Eadie 75
2757 20/04/2000 P Rodney Marrison 68 – 34 Roger Allison Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Damian Eadie 72
2758 21/04/2000 P Rodney Marrison 62 – 35 Hugh McIver Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Damian Eadie 74
2759 24/04/2000 P Rodney Marrison 61 – 34 Bhavna Trivedi Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Damian Eadie 74
2760 25/04/2000 P Rodney Marrison 59 – 40 Gerry Doyle Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Damian Eadie 73
2761 26/04/2000 P Rodney Marrison 45 – 58 Denis Allan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Philip Franks Damian Eadie 73
2762 27/04/2000 P Denis Allan 69 – 29 Sue Chatten Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Catherine Clarke 76
2763 28/04/2000 P Denis Allan 63 – 36 Chris Manchester Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Catherine Clarke 73
2764 01/05/2000 P Denis Allan 49 – 48 Jane Manning Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Catherine Clarke 72
2765 02/05/2000 P Denis Allan 42 – 60 Graham Persson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Catherine Clarke 73
2766 03/05/2000 P Graham Persson 51 – 49 Daphne Barker Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Catherine Clarke 73
2767 04/05/2000 P Graham Persson 52 – 54 Mick Dimaline Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Catherine Clarke 74
2768 05/05/2000 P Mick Dimaline 49 – 44 Bill Semple Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Catherine Clarke 74
2769 08/05/2000 P Mick Dimaline 15 – 31 David Evers Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Graham Mark Nyman 92
2770 09/05/2000 P David Evers 34 – 52 Davina Forrester Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Graham Mark Nyman 73
2771 10/05/2000 P Davina Forrester 57 – 46 Mark Labbett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Graham Mark Nyman 85
2772 11/05/2000 P Davina Forrester 57 – 29 John Barnes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Graham Mark Nyman 83
2773 12/05/2000 P Davina Forrester 55 – 56 Naomi Thorburn Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Graham Mark Nyman 74
2774 15/05/2000 P Naomi Thorburn 47 – 46 Jeremy Rowe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Graham Mark Nyman 74
2775 16/05/2000 P Naomi Thorburn 31 – 56 Peter McGuigan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Siân Lloyd Mark Nyman 74
2776 17/05/2000 P Peter McGuigan 65 – 41 Chris Harris Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Siân Lloyd Mark Nyman 73
2777 23/05/2000 P Peter McGuigan 59 – 21 Sara Lapalme Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Siân Lloyd Mark Nyman 74
2778 24/05/2000 P Peter McGuigan 69 – 28 Val Astles Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Siân Lloyd Mark Nyman 92
2779 25/05/2000 P Peter McGuigan 31 – 49 Mei Ling Simons Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Siân Lloyd Mark Nyman 72
2780 26/05/2000 P Mei Ling Simons 53 – 52 Colin Dunn Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Siân Lloyd Mark Nyman 73
2781 29/05/2000 P Mei Ling Simons 54 – 57 Jacqueline Carter Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Tania Styles 75
2782 30/05/2000 P Jacqueline Carter 62 – 57 Eddy Ignace Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Tania Styles 74
2783 31/05/2000 P Jacqueline Carter 42 – 52 Rhonda Bolton Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Tania Styles 74
2784 01/06/2000 P Rhonda Bolton 52 – 50 Michael Balfour Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Tania Styles 71
2785 02/06/2000 P Rhonda Bolton 39 – 41 Helena Winocour Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Tania Styles 86
2786 05/06/2000 P Helena Winocour 54 – 57 Jim Ainsworth Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Tania Styles 71
2787 06/06/2000 P Jim Ainsworth 42 – 26 Paul Beesley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Ned Sherrin Damian Eadie 83
2788 07/06/2000 P Jim Ainsworth 52 – 31 Hilary Wignell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Ned Sherrin Damian Eadie 89
2789 08/06/2000 P Jim Ainsworth 53 – 51 Neil Parrack Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Ned Sherrin Damian Eadie 75
2790 09/06/2000 P Jim Ainsworth 57 – 28 Chris Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Ned Sherrin Damian Eadie 87
2791 12/06/2000 QF David Ballheimer 63 – 60 Jim Ainsworth Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Ned Sherrin Damian Eadie 71
2792 13/06/2000 QF Michael Calder 55 – 29 Helen Wrigglesworth Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Ned Sherrin Damian Eadie 95
2793 14/06/2000 QF Terence O'Farrell 63 – 42 Olive Morgan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Damian Eadie 74
2794 20/06/2000 QF Rodney Marrison 56 – 66* John Hastings Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Damian Eadie 84
2795 21/06/2000 SF David Ballheimer 45 – 46 John Hastings Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Damian Eadie 75
2796 22/06/2000 SF Michael Calder 55 – 40 Terence O'Farrell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Damian Eadie 72
2797 23/06/2000 GF Michael Calder 101 – 72 John Hastings Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Damian Eadie 126
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links