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Simon Pryde

From Countdown

Simon Pryde was a semi-finalist from Series 36 in 1997.

A 25-year-old newsreader for Metro Radio in his hometown of Newcastle-upon-Tyne at the time, he beat Ann Franklin in his first appearance and won a further five games before losing by a single point to Steve Barry after a crucial conundrum. Pryde returned for the final rounds as #3 seed, and beat Philip Logie in the quarter-finals before losing to Maria Boyes on a crucial conundrum in the semis.

Pryde returned for Championship of Champions IX, and pulled off a minor upset by beating Series 34 champion Huw Morgan in the first round to set up a rematch with Maria Boyes in the quarter-finals. This time, Pryde emerged triumphant and progressed to the semi-finals, where he was beaten 47 – 41 by Pete Cashmore, on a crucial conundrum.

Although he was unable to proceed past the semi-finals of Series 36 or Championship of Champions IX, Pryde was one of the most consistent series finalists in the History of Countdown who never either reached or won a series or Championship of Champions grand final, as he was one of only a very few such contenders not to ever face a non-crucial conundrum where he had already lost the game. In all three of his defeats he lost on a crucial conundrum when behind on the scoreboard after neither player was able to solve the conundrum.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
2076 21/08/1997 P Simon Pryde 51 – 23 Ann Franklin Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Peter Sweasey 80
2077 22/08/1997 P Simon Pryde 66 – 29 Geneviève Chan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Peter Sweasey 74
2078 25/08/1997 P Simon Pryde 52 – 49 Bill Rodwell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Peter Sweasey 71
2079 26/08/1997 P Simon Pryde 64 – 35 Clive Doe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gyles Brandreth Peter Sweasey 70
2080 27/08/1997 P Simon Pryde 55 – 39 Margaret Blott Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Derek Nimmo Peter Sweasey 82
2081 28/08/1997 P Simon Pryde 54 – 45 Robin Lawson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Derek Nimmo Peter Sweasey 72
2082 29/08/1997 P Simon Pryde 42 – 43 Steve Barry Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Derek Nimmo Peter Sweasey 73
2098 22/09/1997 QF Simon Pryde 58 – 39 Philip Logie Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nicholas Parsons Hannah Robertson 71
2101 25/09/1997 SF Maria Boyes 43 – 40 Simon Pryde Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nicholas Parsons Hannah Robertson 73
2165 31/12/1997 CP Huw Morgan 49 – 67 Simon Pryde Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Denis Norden Mark Nyman 75
2171 8/01/1998 CQF Simon Pryde 41 – 33 Maria Boyes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Gloria Hunniford Mark Nyman 76
2175 14/01/1998 CSF Simon Pryde 41 – 47 Pete Cashmore Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Mark Nyman 73