Huw Morgan

Huw Morgan

Huw Morgan was the champion of Series 34, and a participant in Championship of Champions IX. He was from Swansea.

He first appeared on Countdown on 14 February 1997, where he beat Stuart Jones 46 – 44. He won two more games before losing to Steve Coberman, but his three wins were enough to earn him an invitation back for the finals as number six seed. He 'gained his revenge' on Steve Coberman in the quarter-finals, beating him 54 – 28, before beating Paul Peters 61 – 45 in the semi-finals. In the grand final, Morgan started very much as the underdog, as he was awaited by the number five seed Harshan Lamabadusuriya, who had recorded the highest score of the series after a brilliant performance his quarter-final, and then convincingly defeated the unbeaten number one seed James Martin in his semi-final – however, in a commanding performance, it was Morgan who romped home the winner to become the 34th champion of Countdown, surviving a late comeback by Lamabadusuriya to win by 79 – 65. Notably, it was Morgan narrowly beating Lamabadusuriya to the buzzer on the first conundrum that really did the damage in this game, as this put Morgan 24 points ahead, by 47 – 23, at half time – had Morgan not got to the buzzer first, the final result would in fact have eventually gone in Lamabadusuriya's favour by 75 – 69.

Morgan returned for Championship of Champions IX, but was beaten in the first round by Simon Pryde.

Outside of Countdown, he was a dedicated Scrabble player.

Morgan died on 13 January 2011, aged 54, after complications whilst being treated for swine flu.

Preceded by Harvey Freeman

Series winner Series 34

Followed by Pete Cashmore

Episodes

#	Date	Type	Contestant 1	Score	Contestant 2	Presenters				Guest	Lex	Max
1942	14/02/1997	P	Stuart Jones	44 – 46	Huw Morgan	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Jan Harvey	Susie Dent	83
1943	17/02/1997	P	David Nixon	45 – 59	Huw Morgan	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Jan Harvey	Susie Dent	74
1944	18/02/1997	P	Christine McAdam	47 – 50	Huw Morgan	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Tim Rice	Susie Dent	73
1945	19/02/1997	P	Steve Coberman	56 – 52	Huw Morgan	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Tim Rice	Susie Dent	75
1968	24/03/1997	QF	Huw Morgan	54 – 28	Steve Coberman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Richard Digance	Rob Scriven	70
1971	27/03/1997	SF	Huw Morgan	61 – 45	Paul Peters	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Richard Digance	Rob Scriven	75
1972	28/03/1997	GF	Harshan Lamabadusuriya	65 – 79	Huw Morgan	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Richard Digance	Rob Scriven	116
2165	31/12/1997	CP	Huw Morgan	49 – 67	Simon Pryde	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Denis Norden	Mark Nyman	75