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Difference between revisions of "George Ford"

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[[File:Snip.jpg|281px|thumb|right|George Ford in his sixth preliminary match.]]
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{{octostats|Semi-finalist|5|832|5}}
'''George Ford''' was an [[octochamp]] and semi-finalist in [[Series 71]], as well as a participant in [[Championship of Champions XIV]].
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[[File:Snip.jpg|200px|thumb|right|George Ford in [[Series 71]]...]]
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[[File:George Ford.png|thumb|200px|right|...and again in the [[Championship of Champions XIV]]!]]
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[[File:Rsz george solution.jpg|236px|thumb|right|[[Rachel Riley]] left amazed by one of Ford's unorthodox numbers game solves.]]
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'''George Ford''' was an [[octochamp]] and semi-finalist in [[Series 71]], as well as a participant in [[Championship of Champions XIV]]. He is also an [[Apterous|Apterite]].
  
Ford began his [[octochamp]] run with a controversial victory against two-time winner [[Jonny Rye]]. In the game, Rye's offering of {{word|HEADWAYS}} was disallowed by [[Susie Dent]]. This has since been recognised as a mistake by the Countdown team, who will be inviting Rye back to continue his run in [[Series 72]]. Ignoring the controversy, Ford emerged with a strong debut score of 102, the first of seven centuries. His next game proved to be the strongest of his run, spotting the [[niner]] {{word|CAPONIERS}} and by solving a numbers game with a method involving going up to 97,500 and coming back down again. Ford continued his unorthodox numbers solves throughout his run, even managing to stump [[Rachel Riley]] on a few occasions. The remainder of Ford's games were relatively consistent with Ford spotting words such as {{word|AGISTED}}, {{word|CONDUITS}} and {{word|AVIATOR}}. Ford also only dropped below 100 in one game, against [[Stewart Fraser]]. Fraser was also the only [[challenger]] to beat Ford in a numbers game, however Fraser wasn't as strong in the letters rounds and only managed to score 5 over all 10 of the letters rounds - the lowest of any competitor playing under the [[15 round format]]. Despite [[File:Rsz george solution.jpg|236px|thumb|left|[[Rachel Riley]] by one of Ford's unorthodox numbers game solves.]]the lack of [[niner]]s present (only {{word|CAPONIERS}} from his 2nd game), Ford finished his run with a very strong cumulative total of 832 - averaging 104 per game. Despite the strong score, Ford only qualified as 5th seed for the finals, making him both the highest-scoring [[octochamp]] with only one [[niner]] available, as well as the highest-scoring 5th seed in the history of the show. Ford's popularity with viewers during his run sparked the creation of the {{w|Facebook}} group '[https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeFordCountdown The George Ford Fanclub]', which provided fans with summaries of Ford's games, and highlights of his performances.
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==Appearance on the programme==
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===Heat games===
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Ford began his octochamp run with a controversial victory against two-time winner [[Jonny Rye]]. In the game, Rye's offering of {{word|HEADWAYS}} was disallowed by [[Susie Dent]]. This has since been recognised as a mistake by the ''[[Countdown]]'' team. Ignoring the controversy, Ford emerged with a strong debut score of 102, the first of seven [[century|centuries]]. His next game proved to be the strongest of his run, spotting the nine {{word|CAPONIERS}} and by solving a [[numbers game]] with a method involving going up to 97,500 and coming back down again. Ford continued his unorthodox numbers solves throughout his run, even managing to stump [[Rachel Riley]] on a few occasions. The remainder of Ford's games were relatively consistent with Ford spotting words such as {{word|AGISTED}}, {{word|CONDUITS}} and {{word|AVIATOR}}. Ford also only dropped below 100 in one game, against [[Stewart Fraser]]. Fraser was also the only [[contestant|challenger]] to beat Ford in a numbers game; however Fraser wasn't as strong in the [[letters game|letters rounds]] and only managed to score five over all ten of the letters rounds. Despite the lack of nines present (only {{word|CAPONIERS}} from his second game), Ford finished his run with a very strong cumulative total of 832 averaging 104 per game. Despite the strong score, Ford only qualified as No. 5 seed for the finals, making him both the highest-scoring octochamp with only one nine available, as well as the highest-scoring No. 5 seed in the history of the show. Ford's popularity with viewers during his run sparked the creation of the {{w|Facebook}} group '[https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeFordCountdown The George Ford Fanclub]', which provided fans with summaries of Ford's games, and highlights of his performances.
  
Ford returned to our screens as #5 seed for his quarter-final against #4 seed [[Mark Davies]]. Davies took an early lead when Ford blanked out in the first numbers round, however Ford retaliated in the next round by spotting the eight {{word|PASSIVES}}. The lead then changed back once more when Davies spotted {{word|LACINESS}}, followed by another lead change in the next round when Ford uncovered {{word|NEMATODE}}. From here on Ford scored in every round up until the [[conundrum]] {{word|THESKILOG}}, which Davies unscrambled in just eight seconds to be {{word|GHOSTLIKE}}. Despite Davies' solve, it was Ford that took the game with an impressive score of 90 against 78. The win saw Ford progress to the semi-finals, where he faced the seemingly invincible #1 seed [[Dan McColm]]. Though Ford fought hard against McColm, the invalid offerings {{word|pattie {{x}}}} and {{word|ambroise {{x}}}} along with brilliant spots by McColm such as {{word|RIBOSOME}} and {{word|ROUILLE}} meant that Ford's run had finally come to an end. However, some consolation for Ford is that in this game McColm didn't drop a single point, giving him the 10th perfect game in the history of the show. Ford left the studios with 9 wins and 999 points to his name.
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===Finals===
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Ford returned to our screens as No. 5 seed for his quarter-final against No. 4 seed [[Mark Davies]]. Davies took an early lead when Ford blanked out in the first numbers round, however Ford retaliated in the next round by spotting the eight {{word|PASSIVES}}. The lead then changed back once more when Davies spotted {{word|LACINESS}}, followed by another lead change in the next round when Ford uncovered {{word|NEMATODE}}. From here on Ford scored in every round up until the [[conundrum]] {{word|THESKILOG}}, which Davies unscrambled in just eight seconds to be {{word|GHOSTLIKE}}. Despite Davies' solve, it was Ford that took the game with an impressive score of 90 against 78. The win saw Ford progress to the semi-finals, where he faced the seemingly invincible No. 1 seed [[Dan McColm]]. Though Ford fought hard against McColm, the invalid offerings {{word|pattie {{x}}}} and {{word|ambroise {{x}}}} along with brilliant spots by McColm such as {{word|RIBOSOME}} and {{word|ROUILLE}} meant that Ford's run had finally come to an end. However, some consolation for Ford is that in this game McColm didn't drop a single point, giving him the tenth [[max game]] in the history of the show, and the first in the [[15 round format (new)|new 15 round format]]. Ford left the studios with nine wins and 999 points to his name.
  
Ford returned to Countdown for Championship of Champions XIV in 2016, facing off against fellow University of Exeter alumnus [[Jen Steadman]] in the first round. Steadman emerged victorious in the encounter.
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===Championship of Champions XIV===
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Ford returned to ''Countdown'' for Championship of Champions XIV in 2016, facing off against fellow {{w|University of Exeter}} alumnus [[Jen Steadman]] in the first round. Steadman emerged victorious in the encounter {{score|126|99}}.
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==Appearances on quiz shows==
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Ford appeared on ''{{w|Eggheads (TV series)|Eggheads}}'' on 19 September 2019.
  
 
==Episodes==
 
==Episodes==
 
{{episode table}}
 
{{episode table}}
{{ep | 6017 | 23/10/2014 | P |[[Jonny Rye]]| 92 - 102 |George Ford|[[Dave Myers]]|[[Susie Dent]]|125}}
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{{ep | 6017 | 23/10/2014 | P |[[Jonny Rye]]| 92 102 |George Ford|[[Dave Myers]]|[[Susie Dent]]|125}}
{{ep | 6018 | 24/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 114 - 68 |[[John Payne (Series 71)|John Payne]]|Dave Myers|Susie Dent|132}}
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{{ep | 6018 | 24/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 114 68 |[[John Payne (Series 71)|John Payne]]|Dave Myers|Susie Dent|132}}
{{ep | 6019 | 27/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 101 - 61 |[[Ita Moynihan]]|Dave Myers|Susie Dent|122}}
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{{ep | 6019 | 27/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 101 61 |[[Ita Moynihan]]|Dave Myers|Susie Dent|122}}
{{ep | 6020 | 28/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 100 - 36 |[[Kathy Richland]]|[[John Inverdale]]|Susie Dent|121}}
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{{ep | 6020 | 28/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 100 36 |[[Kathy Richland]]|[[John Inverdale]]|Susie Dent|121}}
{{ep | 6021 | 29/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 95 - 25 |[[Stewart Fraser]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|124}}
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{{ep | 6021 | 29/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 95 25 |[[Stewart Fraser]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|124}}
{{ep | 6022 | 30/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 107 - 56 |[[Jonathan Lee (Series 71)|Jonathan Lee]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|122}}
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{{ep | 6022 | 30/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 107 56 |[[Jonathan Lee (Series 71)|Jonathan Lee]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|122}}
{{ep | 6023 | 31/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 112 - 32 |[[Sue Edgar]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|124}}
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{{ep | 6023 | 31/10/2014 | P |George Ford| 112 32 |[[Sue Edgar]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|124}}
{{ep | 6024 | 3/11/2014 | P |George Ford| 101 - 77 |[[Tom Pettinger]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|118}}
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{{ep | 6024 | 03/11/2014 | P |George Ford| 101 77 |[[Tom Pettinger]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|118}}
{{ep | 6053 | 16/12/2014 | QF |[[Mark Davies]]| 78 - 90 |George Ford|[[David Baddiel]]|Susie Dent|122}}
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{{ep | 6053 | 16/12/2014 | QF |[[Mark Davies]]| 78 90 |George Ford|[[David Baddiel]]|Susie Dent|122}}
{{ep | 6054 | 17/12/2014 | SF |'''[[Dan McColm]]'''| '''123''' - 77 |George Ford|David Baddiel|Susie Dent|'''123'''}}
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{{ep | 6054 | 17/12/2014 | SF |'''[[Dan McColm]]'''| '''123''' 77 |George Ford|David Baddiel|Susie Dent|'''123'''}}
{{ep | 6282 | 8/01/2016 | CP |George Ford| 99 - 126 |[[Jen Steadman]]|[[Gloria Hunniford]]|Susie Dent|137}}
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{{ep | 6282 | 08/01/2016 | CP |George Ford| 99 126 |[[Jen Steadman]]|[[Gloria Hunniford]]|Susie Dent|137}}
 
{{episode table end}}
 
{{episode table end}}
  
===External Links===
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==External Links==
 
*[https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeFordCountdown The George Ford Fan Club], the {{w|Facebook}} group set up by viewers in response to Ford's octorun.
 
*[https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeFordCountdown The George Ford Fan Club], the {{w|Facebook}} group set up by viewers in response to Ford's octorun.
*You can view some of Ford's numbers solutions on {{w|Youtube}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzQSl6CjAoQ here], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTjamQ2RNIM here] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6RA_AVf9D4 here].
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*Watch one of Ford's impressive four-large numbers solutions [https://youtu.be/0q6PT4ad6BY here.]
  
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, George}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, George}}
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[[Category:Octochamps of the 15 round era]]
 
[[Category:Octochamps of the 15 round era]]
 
[[Category:Finalists]]
 
[[Category:Finalists]]
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[[Category:Contestants on other game shows]]

Latest revision as of 17:51, 20 October 2022

George Ford
Octochamp Statistics
Final positionSemi-finalist
Seeding5
Points total832
Conundrums solved5
George Ford in Series 71...
...and again in the Championship of Champions XIV!
Rachel Riley left amazed by one of Ford's unorthodox numbers game solves.

George Ford was an octochamp and semi-finalist in Series 71, as well as a participant in Championship of Champions XIV. He is also an Apterite.

Appearance on the programme

Heat games

Ford began his octochamp run with a controversial victory against two-time winner Jonny Rye. In the game, Rye's offering of HEADWAYS was disallowed by Susie Dent. This has since been recognised as a mistake by the Countdown team. Ignoring the controversy, Ford emerged with a strong debut score of 102, the first of seven centuries. His next game proved to be the strongest of his run, spotting the nine CAPONIERS and by solving a numbers game with a method involving going up to 97,500 and coming back down again. Ford continued his unorthodox numbers solves throughout his run, even managing to stump Rachel Riley on a few occasions. The remainder of Ford's games were relatively consistent with Ford spotting words such as AGISTED, CONDUITS and AVIATOR. Ford also only dropped below 100 in one game, against Stewart Fraser. Fraser was also the only challenger to beat Ford in a numbers game; however Fraser wasn't as strong in the letters rounds and only managed to score five over all ten of the letters rounds. Despite the lack of nines present (only CAPONIERS from his second game), Ford finished his run with a very strong cumulative total of 832 – averaging 104 per game. Despite the strong score, Ford only qualified as No. 5 seed for the finals, making him both the highest-scoring octochamp with only one nine available, as well as the highest-scoring No. 5 seed in the history of the show. Ford's popularity with viewers during his run sparked the creation of the Facebook group 'The George Ford Fanclub', which provided fans with summaries of Ford's games, and highlights of his performances.

Finals

Ford returned to our screens as No. 5 seed for his quarter-final against No. 4 seed Mark Davies. Davies took an early lead when Ford blanked out in the first numbers round, however Ford retaliated in the next round by spotting the eight PASSIVES. The lead then changed back once more when Davies spotted LACINESS, followed by another lead change in the next round when Ford uncovered NEMATODE. From here on Ford scored in every round up until the conundrum THESKILOG, which Davies unscrambled in just eight seconds to be GHOSTLIKE. Despite Davies' solve, it was Ford that took the game with an impressive score of 90 against 78. The win saw Ford progress to the semi-finals, where he faced the seemingly invincible No. 1 seed Dan McColm. Though Ford fought hard against McColm, the invalid offerings pattie ☓ and ambroise ☓ along with brilliant spots by McColm such as RIBOSOME and ROUILLE meant that Ford's run had finally come to an end. However, some consolation for Ford is that in this game McColm didn't drop a single point, giving him the tenth max game in the history of the show, and the first in the new 15 round format. Ford left the studios with nine wins and 999 points to his name.

Championship of Champions XIV

Ford returned to Countdown for Championship of Champions XIV in 2016, facing off against fellow University of Exeter alumnus Jen Steadman in the first round. Steadman emerged victorious in the encounter 126 – 99.

Appearances on quiz shows

Ford appeared on Eggheads on 19 September 2019.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
6017 23/10/2014 P Jonny Rye 92 – 102 George Ford Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dave Myers Susie Dent 125
6018 24/10/2014 P George Ford 114 – 68 John Payne Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dave Myers Susie Dent 132
6019 27/10/2014 P George Ford 101 – 61 Ita Moynihan Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dave Myers Susie Dent 122
6020 28/10/2014 P George Ford 100 – 36 Kathy Richland Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 121
6021 29/10/2014 P George Ford 95 – 25 Stewart Fraser Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 124
6022 30/10/2014 P George Ford 107 – 56 Jonathan Lee Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 122
6023 31/10/2014 P George Ford 112 – 32 Sue Edgar Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 124
6024 03/11/2014 P George Ford 101 – 77 Tom Pettinger Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 118
6053 16/12/2014 QF Mark Davies 78 – 90 George Ford Nick Hewer Rachel Riley David Baddiel Susie Dent 122
6054 17/12/2014 SF Dan McColm 123 – 77 George Ford Nick Hewer Rachel Riley David Baddiel Susie Dent 123
6282 08/01/2016 CP George Ford 99 – 126 Jen Steadman Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 137

External Links