Richard Brittain

Richard Brittain was the overall champion of series 55. He accumulated 820 points in his Octochamp run, but went into the finals as second seed to Steven Briers (840 points). Steven Briers however then narrowly lost his quarter-final against eighth seed Phil Watson, a match which Brittain, watching from the audience, called 'an enthralling spectacle'. Brittain then comfortably won his quarter-final against Andrew Blades, but only narrowly beat Stu Horsey in the semi-finals before he trounced an off-form Tony Warren in the final, 103-60.

Richard Brittain also appeared on the now-defunct gameshow Brainteaser in January 2007, less than a month after winning Countdown. He won the show and pocketed £1500. Brittain currently studies Aeronautical Engineering at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, the same institute at which Phil Watson (see above) was educated in mathematics.

Preceded by Conor Travers

Series winner Series 55

Followed by Nick Wainwright