Don Reid

Don Reid first appeared on Countdown on 18 February 1993 in the 27th heat of series 25, beating Carolyn Taylor 70-23 in an impressive debut performance. Don went on to win seven more games to become an octochamp with an impressive aggregate score of 487 points, and was by some distance #1 seed for the series. In the final rounds, Don defeated Ralph Mayer and Noel Turner on his way to the final against fellow octochamp James Sinclair. After a close first half, Don broke the deadlock by solving the first conundrum, and romped home the 97-56 winner to become the 25th series champion. Don returned at the start of 1995 for Championship of Champions VII, and continued his impressive form by beating boy wonder Andrew Perry and trouncing Richard Campbell 65-17 on his way to the final against future Countdown producer Damian Eadie. There, Don continued his impressive display of form, comfortably beating Damian 100-73 to become the seventh champion of champions, and only the third ever 'grand slam' winner (octochamp, series and champion of champions) after Harvey Freeman and Nic Brown.

Don returned to Countdown the next year for the supreme championship, entering as one of only two unbeaten players- the other being eventual supreme champion Harvey Freeman. Don entered a spirited performance, beating Olivia Lloyd-Potts and Dick Green before losing to series 11 champion John Clarke after a sudden death conundrum, ending Don's televised winning streak on his seventeenth game.

Preceded by Wayne Summers

Series winner Series 25

Followed by Andy Bodle

Preceded by Wayne Summers

Champion of Champions Championship of Champions VII

Followed by Chris Rogers