Mark Nyman

Mark Nyman.

Mark Nyman (born 14 October 1966) appeared in Series 3 at the age of 16, becoming the second octochamp in the show's history, and became the series' runner up. He was also the first Champion of Champions. He became Countdown's executive producer in 1990, a role he held until 2002, and so modestly did not invite himself to appear in the Supreme Championship of 1996.

Leeds-based Nyman also excels as a Scrabble player. As of August 2007, he is rated 22nd in Britain, with a rating of 185 [1]. He is most widely known as the first, and to date only, British player to win the World Scrabble Championship, which he accomplished in 1993. Nyman played Canadian Joel Wapnick in the 1993 WSC final, in which he came back from 2-1 behind to win 3-2, including winning one game having been 174 behind. The two met again in the 1999 WSC final, and this time Wapnick was victorious, winning a nail-biting decider by just a single point; 403 to 402.

Nyman has also made 290 appearances in the role of lexicographer, the last being in Series 42.

He married in 2004 and has two children, Max and Kizzy.

Preceded by N/A

Champion of Champions Championship of Champions I

Followed by Clive Freedman

Episodes

#	Date	Type	Contestant 1	Score	Contestant 2	Presenters				Guest	Lex	Max
113	14/11/1983	P	David Lawton	23 – 59	Mark Nyman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman	Beverley Isherwood	Cathy Hytner	Gyles Brandreth	[[]]
114	15/11/1983	P	Mark Nyman	54 – 44	Alan Morris	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman	Beverley Isherwood	Cathy Hytner	William Rushton
115	16/11/1983	P	Mark Nyman	57 – 4	Fred Jean	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman	Beverley Isherwood	Cathy Hytner	William Rushton
116	17/11/1983	P	David Hughes	40 – 57	Mark Nyman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman	Beverley Isherwood	Cathy Hytner	William Rushton
117	21/11/1983	P	Mark Nyman	43 – 36	Roy Davenport	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman	Beverley Isherwood	Cathy Hytner	William Rushton
118	22/11/1983	P	Mark Nyman	62 – 22	Heather Twidle	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Ned Sherrin
119	23/11/1983	P	Mark Nyman	40 – 35	Myra Mayor	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Ned Sherrin
120	24/11/1983	P	Peter Richardson	46 – 55	Mark Nyman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Ned Sherrin
126	06/12/1983	QF	Mark Nyman	79 – 18	Ted Wiles	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Ned Sherrin	Julia Swannel
130	13/12/1983	SF	Mark Nyman	56 – 51	Esther Byers	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Ned Sherrin	Julia Swannel
132	15/12/1983	GF	Andrew Guy	92 – 85	Mark Nyman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Ned Sherrin, Gyles Brandreth	Julia Swannel
185	15/10/1984	CQF	William Bradford	28 – 54	Mark Nyman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Ned Sherrin	Yvonne Warberton
189	19/10/1984	CSF	Ash Haji	34 – 61	Mark Nyman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Ned Sherrin	Yvonne Warberton
191	23/10/1984	CGF	Joyce Cansfield	34 – 65	Mark Nyman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Ned Sherrin, Nigel Rees	Yvonne Warberton
445	13/10/1986	CCC	Clive Freedman	67 – 76	Mark Nyman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman			Cathy Hytner	Gyles Brandreth, Bill Tidy	Catherine Clarke