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Difference between revisions of "List of Countdown records"

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* The highest ever score is '''[[Episode 5712|141]]''', held by [[Glen Webb]]. See the [[list of 15-round scores over 125]].
 
* The highest ever score is '''[[Episode 5712|141]]''', held by [[Glen Webb]]. See the [[list of 15-round scores over 125]].
  
* The highest score set by a challenger was '''[[Episode 5673|129]]''', set by [[Giles Hutchings]], which was equalled by [[Jamie Ilett-Jones]] in '''[[Episode 5988]]'''.
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* The highest score set by a challenger was '''[[Episode 5673|129]]''', set by [[Giles Hutchings]], which was equalled by [[Jamie Ilett-Jones]] in '''[[Episode 5988]]''' and [[Robin McKay]] in '''[[Episode 6362]]'''.
  
* The highest ever total score over an [[octochamp]]'s eight preliminary games was '''974''', set by [[Dylan Taylor]]. The only other players to score over 900 are [[Giles Hutchings]] who scored 965, [[Jen Steadman]] who scored 952, [[Glen Webb]] who scored 945, [[Dan McColm]] who scored 942, [[Tom Cappleman]] who scored 927, [[Thomas Carey]] who scored 923, [[Jonathan Wynn]] who scored 922, and [[Mark Murray]] who scored 902. Taylor, Hutchings, Steadman, Cappleman, Carey, Wynn and Murray are the only players to have scored eight [[century|centuries]] in their run of eight games. [[Andy Platt]] scored eight centuries in his run, but half were in the old format and half in the new format. His total was 889.
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* The highest ever total score over an [[octochamp]]'s eight preliminary games was '''974''', set by [[Dylan Taylor]]. The only other players to score over 900 are [[Giles Hutchings]] who scored 965, [[Jen Steadman]] who scored 952, [[Glen Webb]] who scored 945, [[Dan McColm]] who scored 942, [[Tom Cappleman]] who scored 927, [[Paul Erdunast]] who scored 925, [[Thomas Carey]] who scored 923, [[Jonathan Wynn]] who scored 922, and [[Mark Murray]] who scored 902. Taylor, Hutchings, Steadman, Cappleman, Carey, Wynn, Murray and [[Robin McKay]] are the only players to have scored eight [[century|centuries]] in their run of eight games. [[Andy Platt]] scored eight centuries in his run, but half were in the old format and half in the new format. His total was 889.
  
 
* The highest ever total over 11 games, the maximum possible in one series, was 1319 by Dylan Taylor, despite not winning his series. The record for a series winner is 1296 by Series 71 winner [[Dan McColm]].
 
* The highest ever total over 11 games, the maximum possible in one series, was 1319 by Dylan Taylor, despite not winning his series. The record for a series winner is 1296 by Series 71 winner [[Dan McColm]].
  
* The highest possible score was available in '''[[Episode 5844]]''', when four [[niner]]s made for a possible 161. None of the nine letter words were found by the [[contestant]]s, neither of whom managed to score a century. This is the only episode to date in this format in which four nine-letter words have been available.
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* The highest possible score, also the highest in ''any'' daytime ''Countdown'' game, was available in '''[[Episode 6745]]''' in [[Series 78]], when five nines made for a possible 175. Only one of the nine letter words was found by either of the [[contestant]]s, neither of whom achieved a [[century]] in this game; however, three others were spotted by [[Dictionary Corner]]. This and the highest-maxing [[15 round format (old)|"old" 15-rounder]] are the only games to date in which five nines have been available.
  
 
* The record number of nine-letter words spotted by a contestant in one game is '''3'''. This was achieved by [[Tom Cappleman]] and [[Glen Webb]], both of whom found {{word|DIVESTING}}, {{word|FASCINATE}} and {{word|DEVIATORS}} in their [[Championship of Champions XIV]] last-16 match.
 
* The record number of nine-letter words spotted by a contestant in one game is '''3'''. This was achieved by [[Tom Cappleman]] and [[Glen Webb]], both of whom found {{word|DIVESTING}}, {{word|FASCINATE}} and {{word|DEVIATORS}} in their [[Championship of Champions XIV]] last-16 match.
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* [[Dan McColm]] was the first player to get a maximum score in [[15 round format (new)|"new" 15-round format]]. He scored '''[[Episode 6054|123]]''' out of 123 in his [[Series 71]] semi-final against [[George Ford]].
 
* [[Dan McColm]] was the first player to get a maximum score in [[15 round format (new)|"new" 15-round format]]. He scored '''[[Episode 6054|123]]''' out of 123 in his [[Series 71]] semi-final against [[George Ford]].
  
* The largest winning margin ever was in '''[[Episode 5749]]''', where [[Dylan Taylor]] beat [[Leone Mitchell]] by 107 points, {{score|129|22}}. There are only two other games in the new 15-round format that have been won by 100 points or more: Dylan Taylor's (again) {{score|121|17|Episode 5751}} victory over [[Russ Millhouse]], and [[Giles Hutchings]]'s game against [[Mike Lee]], which finished {{score|119|19|Episode 5674}} to the [[Series 68]] Champion.
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* The largest winning margin ever was in '''[[Episode 6109]]''', where [[Tom Cappleman]] beat [[Jack Roberts]] by 112 points, {{score|135|23}}. There are seven other games in the new 15-round format that have been won by 100 points or more: [[Giles Hutchings]]'s game against [[Mike Lee]], which finished {{score|119|19|Episode 5674}} to the [[Series 68]] Champion, Dylan Taylor's {{score|129|22|Episode 5749}} and {{score|121|17|Episode 5751}} victories over [[Leone Mitchell]] and [[Russ Millhouse]] respectively, Tom Cappleman's {{score|117|13|Episode 6108}} win over [[Connor Moorst]], the day before the largest margin, [[Zac Goodman]]'s {{score|114|10|Episode 6234}} victory over [[Ross Lough]], [[Robin McKay]]'s {{score|112|8|Episode 6366}} rout of [[Struan Charters]] (also noted above as the new 15-rounder with the highest max), and [[Stephen Read]]'s {{score|131|21|Episode 6580}} game against [[Alan Jefferson]].
  
 
===Low scores===
 
===Low scores===
 
* The lowest ever score was '''6''', and this was by [[Wendy Cooke]], [[Episode 6076|in her game]] against [[Tracey Mills]] in [[Series 72]]. See the [[list of 15-round scores under 30]].
 
* The lowest ever score was '''6''', and this was by [[Wendy Cooke]], [[Episode 6076|in her game]] against [[Tracey Mills]] in [[Series 72]]. See the [[list of 15-round scores under 30]].
  
* The lowest recorded maximum was '''111''' in [[Episode 6307]].
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* The lowest maximum score for an episode was '''110''' in [[Episode 6423]].
  
 
* The lowest winning score was '''[[Episode 5950|41]]''', set by [[Rob Jennings]] in [[Series 71]].
 
* The lowest winning score was '''[[Episode 5950|41]]''', set by [[Rob Jennings]] in [[Series 71]].
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* The highest ever total over 11 games, the maximum possible in one series, was 1307 by series 48 winner Julian Fell, including the aforementioned scores of 146 and 138.
 
* The highest ever total over 11 games, the maximum possible in one series, was 1307 by series 48 winner Julian Fell, including the aforementioned scores of 146 and 138.
  
* The highest possible score was available in '''[[Episode 3967]]''', when five [[niner]]s and a number of other favourable rounds made for a possible 173. Only one of the nine letter words was found by the [[contestant]]s (oddly by the losing contestant), neither of whom managed to score a century. This is the only episode to date in which five nine-letter words have been available.
+
* The highest possible score was available in '''[[Episode 3967]]''', when five nines and a number of other favourable rounds made for a possible 173. Only one of the nine letter words was found by the [[contestant]]s (oddly by the losing contestant), neither of whom managed to score a century. This and the highest-maxing [[15 round format (new)|"new" 15-rounder]] are the only games to date in which five nines have been available.
  
 
* The most nines found by one contestant in one game is four; Julian Fell found {{word|SALMONIDS}}, {{word|DEPORTING}}, {{word|INGATHERS}} and {{word|DEFLATION}} in his [[Episode 3387|record-breaking game]].
 
* The most nines found by one contestant in one game is four; Julian Fell found {{word|SALMONIDS}}, {{word|DEPORTING}}, {{word|INGATHERS}} and {{word|DEFLATION}} in his [[Episode 3387|record-breaking game]].
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* The highest-scoring game with a tie-break conundrum was between [[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies]] and [[David O'Donnell]] in the second round of the [[30th Birthday Championship]]. After the regular conundrum {{word|PATRANGME}}, the scores were neck and neck at {{score|117|117}}, so a second conundrum {{word|BAGOGLORY}} was necessary. O'Donnell solved it to score '''[[Episode 5644|127]]''' after the tie-breaker.
 
* The highest-scoring game with a tie-break conundrum was between [[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies]] and [[David O'Donnell]] in the second round of the [[30th Birthday Championship]]. After the regular conundrum {{word|PATRANGME}}, the scores were neck and neck at {{score|117|117}}, so a second conundrum {{word|BAGOGLORY}} was necessary. O'Donnell solved it to score '''[[Episode 5644|127]]''' after the tie-breaker.
  
* While the all-time record score is 146, [[Jon O'Neill]] holds the record for the highest score with no nine letter words of '''[[episode 5649|122]]''', which also happened to be a perfect game. The highest with one nine is [[Jack Hurst]]'s score of '''[[Episode 5137|133]]''' and the highest with two is [[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies']] '''[[episode 4877|139]]'''. [[Conor Travers]] found three nine in his '''[[episode 5654|146]]''' point game, whilst Julian Fell achieved the same total with four nines in '''[[episode 3387]]'''. Nobody has ever found five nines in one game, largely because this has only been possible once. If you ignore the nine-point bonus for nine-letter words altogether in order to combine these records, Jack Hurst's above score of 133 becomes 124, and is the record score under this system. Interestingly, Julian Fell's equal all-time record score of 146 would only be worth 110. Conor Travers's 146 would be worth 119.
+
* While the all-time record score is 146, [[Jon O'Neill]] holds the record for the highest score with no nine letter words of '''[[episode 5649|122]]''', which also happened to be a perfect game. The highest with one nine is [[Jack Hurst]]'s score of '''[[Episode 5137|133]]''' and the highest with two is [[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies']] '''[[episode 4877|139]]'''. [[Conor Travers]] found three nines in his '''[[episode 5654|146]]''' point game, whilst Julian Fell achieved the same total with four nines in '''[[episode 3387]]'''. Nobody has ever found five nines in one game, largely because this has only been possible once. If you ignore the nine-point bonus for nine-letter words altogether in order to combine these records, Jack Hurst's above score of 133 becomes 124, and is the record score under this system. Interestingly, Julian Fell's equal all-time record score of 146 would only be worth 110. Conor Travers's 146 would be worth 119.
  
 
* [[Kirk Bevins]] was the first player to get a maximum score in a 15 round game. He scored '''[[Episode 4770|126]]''' out of a possible 126 on 4 March 2009. Bevins equalled this feat with his score of '''[[Episode 5636|130]]''' out of 130 during the [[30th Birthday Championship]]. This same mini-series contained four further perfect games. [[Jon O'Neill]] scored '''[[Episode 5649|122]]''' out of 122 in his quarter-final against [[Jack Worsley]], and Conor Travers achieved three consecutive perfect games with '''119''' in his [[Episode 5642|second round]] and [[Episode 5650|quarter-final]] matches, and '''[[Episode 5653|120]]''' against O'Neill to reach the tournament final.
 
* [[Kirk Bevins]] was the first player to get a maximum score in a 15 round game. He scored '''[[Episode 4770|126]]''' out of a possible 126 on 4 March 2009. Bevins equalled this feat with his score of '''[[Episode 5636|130]]''' out of 130 during the [[30th Birthday Championship]]. This same mini-series contained four further perfect games. [[Jon O'Neill]] scored '''[[Episode 5649|122]]''' out of 122 in his quarter-final against [[Jack Worsley]], and Conor Travers achieved three consecutive perfect games with '''119''' in his [[Episode 5642|second round]] and [[Episode 5650|quarter-final]] matches, and '''[[Episode 5653|120]]''' against O'Neill to reach the tournament final.
  
* The largest winning margin ever was in '''[[episode 5264]]''', where [[Tom Barnes]] beat [[Christine Buffrey]] by 112 points, {{score|119|7}}, which was also notable for Buffrey's record-breaking low score, as you can see below. Only on 3 other occasions have games been won by over 100 points; [[episode 3349]], where Julian Fell beat [[Carl McDermott]] by 109 points, {{score|138|29}}, including three niners: {{word|VALORISED}}, {{word|REPULSION}} and {{word|ANTIPODES}}, and [[episode 5188]], when [[Adam Gillard]] beat [[Mavis Riley]] by 102 points, with the score {{score|125|23}}. By coincedence, both these records were set when Fell and Gillard were on their 8th preliminary match. The others were when [[Graeme Cole]] beat [[Mike Linnell]] by 106 points, with the score {{score|125|19|episode 5285}} and [[Andy Platt]]'s crushing victory over [[Carl Anderson]] by a score of {{score|109|7|Episode 5665}} (notably in the final match of the 'old' 15 round format).
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* The largest winning margin ever was in '''[[episode 5264]]''', where [[Tom Barnes]] beat [[Christine Buffrey]] by 112 points, {{score|119|7}}, which was also notable for Buffrey's record-breaking low score, as you can see below. Only on 3 other occasions have games been won by over 100 points; [[episode 3349]], where Julian Fell beat [[Carl McDermott]] by 109 points, {{score|138|29}}, including three nines: {{word|VALORISED}}, {{word|REPULSION}} and {{word|ANTIPODES}}, and [[episode 5188]], when [[Adam Gillard]] beat [[Mavis Riley]] by 102 points, with the score {{score|125|23}}. By coincidence, both these records were set when Fell and Gillard were on their 8th preliminary match. The others were when [[Graeme Cole]] beat [[Mike Linnell]] by 106 points, with the score {{score|125|19|episode 5285}} and [[Andy Platt]]'s crushing victory over [[Carl Anderson]] by a score of {{score|109|7|Episode 5665}} (notably in the final match of the 'old' 15 round format).
  
 
===Low scores===
 
===Low scores===
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* The lowest score in the finals of a series was '''[[Episode 5392|21]]''', by [[David Butcher]] in his quarter-final game against [[Mark Deeks]] in [[Series 65]].
 
* The lowest score in the finals of a series was '''[[Episode 5392|21]]''', by [[David Butcher]] in his quarter-final game against [[Mark Deeks]] in [[Series 65]].
 
  
 
==9 rounds==
 
==9 rounds==
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* The highest losing score was '''[[Episode 817|70]]'''. In the [[Championship of Champions IV]], [[Tony Vick]] beat [[Steve Williams]] by a score of {{score|80|70}}. Williams was leading {{score|60|70}} after 8 rounds but Vick got the conundrum to set up a {{score|70|70}} tie. A second conundrum was used to separate them, and it was Vick that spotted {{word|IMPOUNDED}} to win with a score of 80.  In [[Series 4]], [[Robert Richland]] beat [[Stuart Schofield]] by a score of {{score|75|70}} in '''[[episode 152]]'''.
 
* The highest losing score was '''[[Episode 817|70]]'''. In the [[Championship of Champions IV]], [[Tony Vick]] beat [[Steve Williams]] by a score of {{score|80|70}}. Williams was leading {{score|60|70}} after 8 rounds but Vick got the conundrum to set up a {{score|70|70}} tie. A second conundrum was used to separate them, and it was Vick that spotted {{word|IMPOUNDED}} to win with a score of 80.  In [[Series 4]], [[Robert Richland]] beat [[Stuart Schofield]] by a score of {{score|75|70}} in '''[[episode 152]]'''.
  
* The highest known max score for a 9 round game is '''[[Episode 538|106]]'''. This included three niners, {{word|EXTENSION}}, {{word|CRUDITIES/DIURETICS}} and {{word|GUARDIANS}}. The [[Richard Whiteley]] [[Gotcha]] episode actually also had a max of 106, but this is not usually considered to count because the rounds were set up to include certain words.
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* The highest known max score for a 9 round game is '''[[Episode 538|106]]'''. This included three nines, {{word|EXTENSION}}, {{word|CRUDITIES/DIURETICS}} and {{word|GUARDIANS}}. The [[Richard Whiteley]] [[Gotcha]] episode actually also had a max of 106, but this is not usually considered to count because the rounds were set up to include certain words.
  
 
* The highest known 9-round score with no nine-letter words is '''75''' points; this record is shared by Harvey Freeman, achieving this score in [[Episode 466]], and [[Richard Campbell]], who got it in [[Episode 1504]]. If the 9-point bonus for nine-letter words were excluded, these would also have been the joint highest 9-round scores of all time.
 
* The highest known 9-round score with no nine-letter words is '''75''' points; this record is shared by Harvey Freeman, achieving this score in [[Episode 466]], and [[Richard Campbell]], who got it in [[Episode 1504]]. If the 9-point bonus for nine-letter words were excluded, these would also have been the joint highest 9-round scores of all time.
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* The lowest known maximum score for a 9-round game is '''59''' points, shared by Episodes [[Episode 1211|1211]] and [[Episode 1999|1999]].
 
* The lowest known maximum score for a 9-round game is '''59''' points, shared by Episodes [[Episode 1211|1211]] and [[Episode 1999|1999]].
  
* The lowest score in the finals of a 9-round series was '''[[Episode 1061|10]]''', by [[Denys Hollis]] against [[Derek Coombs]] in [[Series 20]]. However, [[Dictionary Corner]] mistakenly awarded Coombs points for an invalid word, so Hollis's correct score should have been 14, not 10.
+
* The lowest score in the finals of a 9-round series was '''[[Episode 1061|10]]''', by [[Denys Hollis]] against [[Derek Coombs]] in [[Series 20]].
  
 
===Other===
 
===Other===
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* In all forms out of Countdown (except the ''8 out of 10 Cats'' series), [[Nita Marr]] holds the record for the most defeats. In total she's lost six times: in the heats of [[Series 13]], the finals of [[Series 13]], the [[Championship of Champions IV]], the [[Series 33|Supreme Championship]], a Masters game against [[Jenny Haldane]] and [[Episode S17|a special]] against [[Mike Brown (debut episode 3328)|Mike Brown]]. [[Debbi Flack]] holds the record for the most ''consecutive'' defeats, with four in a row: in her [[Episode 4665|seventh heat game]] against [[Mike Lambert]], her [[Episode 4729|series quarter-final]] against [[Kai Laddiman]], her [[Episode 4740|first-round Championship of Champions match]] against [[Steven Briers|Steve Briers]] and her [[Episode S31|special episode]] against [[Claudia Tyson]].
 
* In all forms out of Countdown (except the ''8 out of 10 Cats'' series), [[Nita Marr]] holds the record for the most defeats. In total she's lost six times: in the heats of [[Series 13]], the finals of [[Series 13]], the [[Championship of Champions IV]], the [[Series 33|Supreme Championship]], a Masters game against [[Jenny Haldane]] and [[Episode S17|a special]] against [[Mike Brown (debut episode 3328)|Mike Brown]]. [[Debbi Flack]] holds the record for the most ''consecutive'' defeats, with four in a row: in her [[Episode 4665|seventh heat game]] against [[Mike Lambert]], her [[Episode 4729|series quarter-final]] against [[Kai Laddiman]], her [[Episode 4740|first-round Championship of Champions match]] against [[Steven Briers|Steve Briers]] and her [[Episode S31|special episode]] against [[Claudia Tyson]].
  
* The longest word to come up in reverse order on the letters board was the [[niner]] {{word|DECANTERS}} in '''[[Episode 4523]]'''.  Neither contestant spotted it, but [[Carol Vorderman|Carol]] did and additionally commented on its perfect reverse ordering.
+
* The longest word to come up in reverse order on the letters board was the nine {{word|DECANTERS}} in '''[[Episode 4523]]'''.  Neither contestant spotted it, but [[Carol Vorderman|Carol]] did and additionally commented on its perfect reverse ordering.
  
 
* Unofficially, the highest ever score was achieved in [[8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 5, Episode 3|the 3rd episode]] of the 5th series of the ''[[8 out of 10 Cats Mash-ups Series 5|8 out of 10 Cats Mash-ups]]'', when [[Jon Richardson]] and [[Jack Whitehall]] defeated [[Sean Lock]] and [[Roisin Conaty]] by a score of {{score|890|28}}, which also makes it the highest winning margin of all time. This was primarily achieved because the [[conundrum]] in this episode was worth 843 points, instead of the normal 10. This beat the record set in [[8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 1, Episode 5|the 5th episode]] of the 1st series, when [[Jon Richardson]] and [[Adam Hills]] defeated [[Lee Mack]] and [[Bob Mortimer]] by a score of {{score|153|0}}. In this game the [[conundrum]] was worth 100 points.
 
* Unofficially, the highest ever score was achieved in [[8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 5, Episode 3|the 3rd episode]] of the 5th series of the ''[[8 out of 10 Cats Mash-ups Series 5|8 out of 10 Cats Mash-ups]]'', when [[Jon Richardson]] and [[Jack Whitehall]] defeated [[Sean Lock]] and [[Roisin Conaty]] by a score of {{score|890|28}}, which also makes it the highest winning margin of all time. This was primarily achieved because the [[conundrum]] in this episode was worth 843 points, instead of the normal 10. This beat the record set in [[8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 1, Episode 5|the 5th episode]] of the 1st series, when [[Jon Richardson]] and [[Adam Hills]] defeated [[Lee Mack]] and [[Bob Mortimer]] by a score of {{score|153|0}}. In this game the [[conundrum]] was worth 100 points.
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* The [[numbers game]] that has been furthest away from being solvable occurred in Round 8 of [[Episode 2722]]. It featured the six small numbers 1,2,2,3,3,7 and the closest reachable value was 378, 596 away from the target of 974.
 
* The [[numbers game]] that has been furthest away from being solvable occurred in Round 8 of [[Episode 2722]]. It featured the six small numbers 1,2,2,3,3,7 and the closest reachable value was 378, 596 away from the target of 974.
  
* The numbers game with the lowest starting numbers appeared in Round 9 of [[Episode 6307]], also notable as the [[15 round format (new)|new 15-rounder]] with the lowest max score. The small numbers were 1,1,2,2,3,4, making the highest target achievable with them 108.
+
* The numbers game with the lowest starting numbers appeared in Round 9 of [[Episode 6307]]. The small numbers were 1,1,2,2,3,4, making the highest target achievable with them 108.
  
 
[[Category:Countdown|Records]]
 
[[Category:Countdown|Records]]
 
[[Category:Lists|Lists]]
 
[[Category:Lists|Lists]]

Revision as of 18:37, 19 January 2018

The following is a list of Countdown records compiled using The Countdown Corral, The Countdown Page, Countdown Update UK and automated and human research from this wiki. Much of the list is divided up into records from the 15 round era, the 9 round era and the 14 round finals, since the considerable differences between these formats make it almost impossible to compare the games like for like. This is particularly difficult when comparing the classic 15 round format to the current one, where differences of just a few points per game are to be expected.

15 rounds (New)

High scores

  • The highest ever total over 11 games, the maximum possible in one series, was 1319 by Dylan Taylor, despite not winning his series. The record for a series winner is 1296 by Series 71 winner Dan McColm.
  • The highest possible score, also the highest in any daytime Countdown game, was available in Episode 6745 in Series 78, when five nines made for a possible 175. Only one of the nine letter words was found by either of the contestants, neither of whom achieved a century in this game; however, three others were spotted by Dictionary Corner. This and the highest-maxing "old" 15-rounder are the only games to date in which five nines have been available.
  • The highest ever losing score was Andy Platt's 125 against Dylan Taylor in a quarter-final of Championship of Champions XIV. The game was poised 125 – 117 in Platt's favour going into the conundrum MINUTEPUN which Taylor solved, leaving Platt as the loser with 125 points. Interestingly, prior to this match, Taylor had been the holder of this record, having achieved a losing score of 116 in the Series 69 grand final.
A few other losing scores over 100 have been recorded: Ciaran McCarthy is the only player to have lost on his début whilst scoring over 100, with a score of 104.
  • The highest-scoring game with a tie-break conundrum was between John Hinchliffe and Dave Costello in Series 74. After the regular conundrum RINGSUSIE, the scores were neck and neck at 93 – 93, so a second conundrum BAGELCHIN was necessary. Costello solved this to score 103 after the tie-breaker.
  • While the all-time record score is 141, Dylan Taylor holds the record for the highest score with no nine letter words of 124. The highest with one nine is Dan McColm's score of 137 and the highest with two is Glen Webb's 141, which is also the overall record score. If you ignore the nine-point bonus for nine-letter words altogether in order to combine these records, Dan McColm's above score of 137 becomes 128, and is the record score under this system. Glen Webb's all-time record score of 141 would be worth 123.

Low scores

  • The lowest maximum score for an episode was 110 in Episode 6423.

Other

15 rounds (Old)

High scores

  • The highest score set by a challenger was 134 by Hamish Williamson. The highest score for a debutant was 124, set by Jonathan Coles. Williamson had already appeared once before in Series 40, so the matter of who holds the record for highest debut score is somewhat controversial.
  • The highest ever total score over an octochamp's eight preliminary games was 946, set by Jack Hurst. The only other players to score over 900 are Andrew Hulme who scored 930, Kirk Bevins who scored 925 points, Julian Fell who scored 924, Craig Beevers who amassed 907, and Adam Gillard who achieved 903. The next highest total is 898 by Eoin Monaghan. Hurst, Hulme, Fell, Beevers, Gillard and Monaghan are the only players to have scored eight centuries in their run of eight games. Andy Platt scored eight centuries in his run, but half were in the old format and half in the new format. His total was 889.
  • The highest ever total over 11 games, the maximum possible in one series, was 1307 by series 48 winner Julian Fell, including the aforementioned scores of 146 and 138.
  • The highest possible score was available in Episode 3967, when five nines and a number of other favourable rounds made for a possible 173. Only one of the nine letter words was found by the contestants (oddly by the losing contestant), neither of whom managed to score a century. This and the highest-maxing "new" 15-rounder are the only games to date in which five nines have been available.
  • The most nines found by one contestant in one game is four; Julian Fell found SALMONIDS, DEPORTING, INGATHERS and DEFLATION in his record-breaking game.
A few other losing scores over 100 have been recorded: Terry Rattle lost with a score of 107 in Series 47, which was later beaten by David Williams's losing score of 113 – 111. Both Rattle and Williams lost to Chris Wills. Rattle and Lesley Hines are the only players ever to have lost on their début whilst scoring over 100, Hines getting 104 in Series 61.
In the 30th Birthday Championship, no fewer than 8 matches ended with the defeated contestant scoring 100 or more. They were: Mark Deeks (losing to Jack Hurst 108 – 103), Nick Deller (losing to Mark Tournoff 101 – 100), Chris Davies (losing to David O'Donnell 127 – 117), Innis Carson (losing to Kirk Bevins 112 – 102), Jack Worsley (losing to Jon O'Neill 122 – 104), Jonathan Rawlinson (losing to Jack Hurst 116 – 105), Jon O'Neill (losing to Conor Travers 120 – 102) and Jack Hurst (losing to Conor Travers 146 – 111).
  • The highest-scoring game with a tie-break conundrum was between Chris Davies and David O'Donnell in the second round of the 30th Birthday Championship. After the regular conundrum PATRANGME, the scores were neck and neck at 117 – 117, so a second conundrum BAGOGLORY was necessary. O'Donnell solved it to score 127 after the tie-breaker.
  • While the all-time record score is 146, Jon O'Neill holds the record for the highest score with no nine letter words of 122, which also happened to be a perfect game. The highest with one nine is Jack Hurst's score of 133 and the highest with two is Chris Davies' 139. Conor Travers found three nines in his 146 point game, whilst Julian Fell achieved the same total with four nines in episode 3387. Nobody has ever found five nines in one game, largely because this has only been possible once. If you ignore the nine-point bonus for nine-letter words altogether in order to combine these records, Jack Hurst's above score of 133 becomes 124, and is the record score under this system. Interestingly, Julian Fell's equal all-time record score of 146 would only be worth 110. Conor Travers's 146 would be worth 119.
  • Kirk Bevins was the first player to get a maximum score in a 15 round game. He scored 126 out of a possible 126 on 4 March 2009. Bevins equalled this feat with his score of 130 out of 130 during the 30th Birthday Championship. This same mini-series contained four further perfect games. Jon O'Neill scored 122 out of 122 in his quarter-final against Jack Worsley, and Conor Travers achieved three consecutive perfect games with 119 in his second round and quarter-final matches, and 120 against O'Neill to reach the tournament final.

Low scores

  • The lowest recorded maximum was 105, which included a numbers game in which no points were available and a series of difficult letters rounds. The Championship of Champions XI final had a maximum of 106, only one point more.

9 rounds

High scores

  • At least two contestants found two nine letter words in a nine round game. Jill Bright scored 81 in her second game. She got two nine letter words in rounds 1 and 2, but failed to solve the conundrum and could have beaten the highest ever score by 8 points. Similarly, John Snedden found two nine-letter words in Episode 2693 and scored 80 points before the conundrum, but also failed to break the high score record. See the list of 9-round scores over 75.
  • The highest ever eight game total was 535, achieved by David Williams. This beat Harvey Freeman's total of 523 in Series 10. The highest ever total over the maximum eleven possible games in one series was 760, also set by Harvey Freeman. This includes 10 9 round games and a 14 round final.
  • The highest known max score for a 9 round game is 106. This included three nines, EXTENSION, CRUDITIES/DIURETICS and GUARDIANS. The Richard Whiteley Gotcha episode actually also had a max of 106, but this is not usually considered to count because the rounds were set up to include certain words.
  • The highest known 9-round score with no nine-letter words is 75 points; this record is shared by Harvey Freeman, achieving this score in Episode 466, and Richard Campbell, who got it in Episode 1504. If the 9-point bonus for nine-letter words were excluded, these would also have been the joint highest 9-round scores of all time.

Low scores

  • The lowest known maximum score for a 9-round game is 59 points, shared by Episodes 1211 and 1999.

Other

  • The longest for which the contestants have remained on equal scores is probably Episode 1734, in which the score was tied from the beginning up until a second tie-break conundrum finally separated them.

14 rounds

Other

  • Conor Travers holds the record for the most Countdown appearances since the introduction of the 15 round format. In 20 appearances, in which he has won 19 of them, he's scored 2,279 points; this is the highest ever total, though players who have played more games than Travers did so in the shorter format. For this reason, Travers also holds the record for the most airtime, with 900 minutes or 15 hours. He averaged 113.95 points per game.
  • The longest word to come up in reverse order on the letters board was the nine DECANTERS in Episode 4523. Neither contestant spotted it, but Carol did and additionally commented on its perfect reverse ordering.
  • The numbers game that has been furthest away from being solvable occurred in Round 8 of Episode 2722. It featured the six small numbers 1,2,2,3,3,7 and the closest reachable value was 378, 596 away from the target of 974.
  • The numbers game with the lowest starting numbers appeared in Round 9 of Episode 6307. The small numbers were 1,1,2,2,3,4, making the highest target achievable with them 108.