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Series 56

From Countdown
Nick Wainwright, the series winner with his trophy.

Series 56 ran from 2 January to 22 June 2007. The first of four series hosted by Des O'Connor, it was won by Nick Wainwright.

This series featured four octochamps but, for the first time since Series 49, none with over 800 points. No. 1 seed Aaron Webber snuck through the first quarter-final on an unsolved conundrum, IDEALSNOG (ALONGSIDE). Jean Webby won comfortably and Nick Wainwright saw off the challenge of No. 6 seed Vivienne Mead. However No. 4 seed Amey Deshpande couldn't join the top three seeds, losing to seven-time winner Anita Freeland. In the semi-finals Freeland continued her run of upsets by beating No. 1 seed Aaron Webber on a crucial conundrum, and Nick Wainwright got his highest ever score in beating Jean Webby. This set up a final between No. 3 seed and No. 5 seed. No woman had won a 15-round series and no player had ever won a series whilst losing a game in the heats. From Series 46 to Series 55, all the series winners were unbeaten. The game was very close with a few mistakes which lead to a low scoring finish with Freeland leading 85 – 79. The conundrum OYFUSSPOT was revealed and it was Wainwright that solved PUSSYFOOT in 1.5 seconds to become Countdown's 56th champion. Freeland was relegated to the runner's-up spot, only the second woman to reach a 15-round series final after Grace Page, but she returned for the Championship of Champions XIII tournament.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Aaron Webber 8 773
2 Jean Webby 8 738
3 Nick Wainwright 8 726
4 Amey Deshpande 8 718
5 Anita Freeland 7 742
6 Vivienne Mead 7 682
7 Dundas Keating 7 661
8 Stewart Gordon 5 553
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

Aaron Webber (1) vs Stewart Gordon (8) Aaron Webber (1) vs Anita Freeland (5) Anita Freeland (5)
vs
Nick Wainwright (3)
Anita Freeland (5) vs Amey Deshpande (4)
Nick Wainwright (3) vs Vivienne Mead (6) Nick Wainwright (3) vs Jean Webby (2)
Dundas Keating (7) vs Jean Webby (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
4263 02/01/2007 P Anita Freeland 80 – 56 Gill Glass Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 132
4264 03/01/2007 P Anita Freeland 103 – 45 Pete Liggett Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 122
4265 04/01/2007 P Anita Freeland 101 – 93 Paul Richards Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 131
4266 05/01/2007 P Anita Freeland 83 – 86 Jon Young Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 140
4267 08/01/2007 P Jon Young 59 – 82 Bradley Cates Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 131
4268 09/01/2007 P Bradley Cates 105 – 68 Katie Gibbins Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 120
4269 10/01/2007 P Bradley Cates 83 – 72 Adrian Lutman Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 142
4270 11/01/2007 P Bradley Cates 63 – 78 Ian Volante Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 117
4271 12/01/2007 P Ian Volante 94 – 64 Lee Collingham Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 131
4272 15/01/2007 P Ian Volante 102 – 93 George Rhodes Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Susie Dent 144
4273 16/01/2007 P Ian Volante 79 – 91 Amey Deshpande Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Susie Dent 118
4274 17/01/2007 P Amey Deshpande 86 – 75 Mandy Bill Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Susie Dent 120
4275 18/01/2007 P Amey Deshpande 79 – 71 Joe McCoy Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Susie Dent 131
4276 19/01/2007 P Amey Deshpande 80 – 66 Mike Smith Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Susie Dent 130
4277 22/01/2007 P Amey Deshpande 98 – 75 Mary Jennings Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 138
4278 23/01/2007 P Amey Deshpande 87 – 50 Sylvia De Rozario Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 131
4279 24/01/2007 P Amey Deshpande 102 – 54 Gareth Evans Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 137
4280 25/01/2007 P Amey Deshpande 95 – 47 Oliver Brennan Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 131
4281 26/01/2007 P Jonathan Rathbone 33 – 84 Leigh Brook Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 115
4282 29/01/2007 P Leigh Brook 67 – 86 Martin May Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 129
4283 30/01/2007 P Martin May 95 – 84 Daniel Giddings Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 141
4284 31/01/2007 P Judith Mills 48 – 87 Mick Barnewell Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 113
4285 01/02/2007 P Mick Barnewell 77 – 58 David Watson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 134
4286 02/02/2007 P Mick Barnewell 78 – 85 Paddy Izod Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jeremy Hardy Susie Dent 133
4287 05/02/2007 P Paddy Izod 94 – 63 Eoin O'Connell Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jeremy Hardy Susie Dent 118
4288 06/02/2007 P Paddy Izod 71 – 62 Margaret Lee Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jeremy Hardy Susie Dent 134
4289 07/02/2007 P Paddy Izod 79 – 82 Vivienne Mead Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jeremy Hardy Susie Dent 143
4290 08/02/2007 P Vivienne Mead 95 – 69 Clive McClelland Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jeremy Hardy Susie Dent 129
4291 09/02/2007 P Vivienne Mead 82 – 44 Nick Gray Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 132
4292 12/02/2007 P Vivienne Mead 83 – 58 Marie Pegg Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 130
4293 13/02/2007 P Vivienne Mead 76 – 57 Will Howells Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 132
4294 14/02/2007 P Vivienne Mead 106 – 58 Paul Daly Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 132
4295 15/02/2007 P Vivienne Mead 90 – 55 Rosemary Macmullen Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 116
4296 16/02/2007 P Vivienne Mead 68 – 76 Ganesh (Subrahmanyam) Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 153
4297 19/02/2007 P Ganesh (Subrahmanyam) 88 – 63 Mildred French Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 121
4298 20/02/2007 P Ganesh (Subrahmanyam) 81 – 85 David Tuddenham Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 130
4299 21/02/2007 P David Tuddenham 87 – 89 Pauline Woodward Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 129
4300 22/02/2007 P Pauline Woodward 82 – 76 Mike Swift Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 131
4301 23/02/2007 P Pauline Woodward 94 – 61 Jan Rawlings Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 129
4302 26/02/2007 P Pauline Woodward 81 – 96 Jean Webby Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 130
4303 27/02/2007 P Jean Webby 94 – 60 Dorothy Wardle Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 114
4304 28/02/2007 P Jean Webby 98 – 71 Serena Halpin Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 120
4305 01/03/2007 P Jean Webby 96 – 66 Bob Mulholland Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 145
4306 02/03/2007 P Jean Webby 112 – 40 Nicola Crowley Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 119
4307 05/03/2007 P Jean Webby 79 – 66 Barbara Howe Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 131
4308 06/03/2007 P Jean Webby 87 – 45 Richard Murrin Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 129
4309 07/03/2007 P Jean Webby 76 – 55 Beryl Taylor Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 127
4310 08/03/2007 P Elizabeth Anderson 54 – 75 Raj Kailasam Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 131
4311 09/03/2007 P Raj Kailasam 63 – 60 Crispin Salfarlie Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 129
4312 12/03/2007 P Raj Kailasam 85 – 79 Janet Rauch Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 122
4313 19/03/2007 P Raj Kailasam 66 – 77 Sara Kingdom Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 132
4314 20/03/2007 P Sara Kingdom 82 – 50 Steve Gallazzi Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 131
4315 21/03/2007 P Sara Kingdom 73 – 70 Simon Donlan Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 131
4316 22/03/2007 P Sara Kingdom 69 – 83 Judith Carn Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 118
4317 23/03/2007 P Judith Carn 94 – 64 Neil Champs Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 121
4318 26/03/2007 P Judith Carn 81 – 95 Sarah Milsom Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Johnnie Casson Susie Dent 132
4319 27/03/2007 P Sarah Milsom 77* – 67 Brian Kent Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Johnnie Casson Susie Dent 117
4320 28/03/2007 P Sarah Milsom 64 – 79 John Verlaque Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Johnnie Casson Susie Dent 127
4321 29/03/2007 P John Verlaque 79 – 53 Richard Shadbolt Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Johnnie Casson Susie Dent 118
4322 30/03/2007 P John Verlaque 79 – 85 Sheila Booth Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Johnnie Casson Susie Dent 143
4323 02/04/2007 P Sheila Booth 61 – 100 Cathy Cooper Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dennis Taylor Susie Dent 126
4324 03/04/2007 P Cathy Cooper 79 – 71 Tony King Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dennis Taylor Susie Dent 115
4325 04/04/2007 P Cathy Cooper 74 – 62 Ian MacKillop Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dennis Taylor Susie Dent 132
4326 05/04/2007 P Cathy Cooper 71 – 84 Kate McNulty Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dennis Taylor Susie Dent 122
4327 06/04/2007 P Kate McNulty 56 – 88 Chris Dufton Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dennis Taylor Susie Dent 139
4328 09/04/2007 P Chris Dufton 74 – 75 Norma Fisher Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 120
4329 10/04/2007 P Norma Fisher 50 – 89 Robin Scott Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 128
4330 11/04/2007 P Robin Scott 81 – 54 Kim Green Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 105
4331 12/04/2007 P Robin Scott 87 – 63 Wayne Swan Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 124
4332 13/04/2007 P Robin Scott 86 – 63 Wendy Woodward Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 143
4333 16/04/2007 P Robin Scott 76 – 82 Pam Smith Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Kaye Adams Susie Dent 128
4334 17/04/2007 P Pam Smith 70 – 67 Michael Batty Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Kaye Adams Susie Dent 154
4335 18/04/2007 P Pam Smith 79 – 61 Jeff Lomax Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Kaye Adams Susie Dent 128
4336 19/04/2007 P Pam Smith 98 – 74 Tamsin Johnston Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Kaye Adams Susie Dent 124
4337 20/04/2007 P Pam Smith 82 – 56 Joe Burge Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Kaye Adams Susie Dent 119
4338 23/04/2007 P Pam Smith 75 – 111 Aaron Webber Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 135
4339 24/04/2007 P Aaron Webber 96 – 47 Christina Dow Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 132
4340 25/04/2007 P Aaron Webber 93 – 40 Richard Wakefield Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 118
4341 26/04/2007 P Aaron Webber 86 – 47 Nina Walters Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 127
4342 27/04/2007 P Aaron Webber 98 – 45 Ken Hudson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 116
4343 30/04/2007 P Aaron Webber 104 – 51 Dorothy Massey Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Thelma Barlow Susie Dent 140
4344 01/05/2007 P Aaron Webber 75 – 28 David Butler Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Thelma Barlow Susie Dent 127
4345 02/05/2007 P Aaron Webber 110 – 39 Bill Blades Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Thelma Barlow Susie Dent 132
4346 03/05/2007 P Madeleine Hicks 96 – 49 Linda Jackson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Thelma Barlow Susie Dent 122
4347 04/05/2007 P Madeleine Hicks 53 – 90 Rob Waters Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Thelma Barlow Susie Dent 133
4348 07/05/2007 P Rob Waters 94 – 99 Nick Wainwright Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 124
4349 08/05/2007 P Nick Wainwright 90 – 64 Sue Faulkner Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 131
4350 09/05/2007 P Nick Wainwright 91 – 65 Matthew Dixon Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Michael Wylie 140
4351 10/05/2007 P Nick Wainwright 76 – 33 David Senior Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Michael Wylie 122
4352 11/05/2007 P Nick Wainwright 99 – 83 Eileen Organ Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Michael Wylie 118
4353 14/05/2007 P Nick Wainwright 99 – 46 Michala Stabbins Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 136
4354 15/05/2007 P Nick Wainwright 91 – 88 Michael Lord Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 133
4355 16/05/2007 P Nick Wainwright 81 – 58 Helen Miller Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 141
4356 17/05/2007 P Stuart Watts 75 – 79 Rob Bennie Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 133
4357 18/05/2007 P Rob Bennie 50 – 82 Chris Walledge Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 121
4358 21/05/2007 P Chris Walledge 74 – 95 Stewart Gordon Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 142
4359 22/05/2007 P Stewart Gordon 106 – 76 Andrew Sweet Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 131
4360 23/05/2007 P Stewart Gordon 93 – 67 Matt Watts Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 122
4361 24/05/2007 P Stewart Gordon 96 – 47 Julie Gellatly Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 146
4362 25/05/2007 P Stewart Gordon 94 – 58 Dave Fay Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 120
4363 28/05/2007 P Stewart Gordon 69 – 79 Dundas Keating Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ken Bruce Susie Dent 129
4364 29/05/2007 P Dundas Keating 71 – 68 Fliss Carlton Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ken Bruce Susie Dent 131
4365 30/05/2007 P Dundas Keating 99 – 83 Darren Gleave Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ken Bruce Susie Dent 134
4366 31/05/2007 P Dundas Keating 88 – 54 Pam Linington Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ken Bruce Susie Dent 123
4367 01/06/2007 P Dundas Keating 70 – 68 Dave Tilley Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ken Bruce Susie Dent 119
4368 04/06/2007 P Dundas Keating 101 – 68 Ian Hartley Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 131
4369 05/06/2007 P Dundas Keating 92 – 55 Christine Hunt Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 122
4370 06/06/2007 P Dundas Keating 61 – 92 John Holland Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 132
4371 07/06/2007 P John Holland 67 – 121 James Hurrell Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 141
4372 08/06/2007 P James Hurrell 100 – 75 Kathleen McAulay Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 129
4373 11/06/2007 P James Hurrell 113 – 48 Phil Robertshaw Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 120
4374 12/06/2007 P James Hurrell 88 – 34 Eileen Blackburn Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 121
4375 13/06/2007 P James Hurrell 101 – 60 Peter Palfrey Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 131
4376 14/06/2007 QF Stewart Gordon 81 – 85 Aaron Webber Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 129
4377 15/06/2007 QF Dundas Keating 58 – 84 Jean Webby Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Susie Dent 140
4378 18/06/2007 QF Nick Wainwright 104 – 74 Vivienne Mead Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 124
4379 19/06/2007 QF Amey Deshpande 71 – 86 Anita Freeland Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 127
4380 20/06/2007 SF Anita Freeland 97 – 86 Aaron Webber Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 128
4381 21/06/2007 SF Jean Webby 74 – 107 Nick Wainwright Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 134
4382 22/06/2007 GF Nick Wainwright 89 – 85 Anita Freeland Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 116
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links