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Series 47

From Countdown
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Series 47 ran from 26 December 2001 to 28 June 2002, reverting back to the six-month calendar span used since Series 38. The forty-seventh of 53 series presented by Richard Whiteley, it was the second series to use the 15 round format and was won by Chris Wills.

Series 47 was the first series in which eight contestants became octochamps. This record would be held for 15 years until Series 77 in 2017; however, Series 47 remains the only series in which all eight contestants entered the finals unbeaten, because in all series that have had eight or more octochamps since then, at least one of them has been a returnee who was defeated in a previous appearance.

The series also contained three seven-time winners who therefore did not appear in the series finals: David Franks, Peter Coutts, and Julia Wilkinson. Almost three-quarters of Series 47 preliminaries involved either an octochamp or a seven-time winner. Wilkinson won her seventh heat game on the day immediately prior to the first quarter-final, and therefore chose to continue her run in Series 48, where she qualified for the series finals as #5 seed.

Wills played Jolley in the first quarter-final of Series 47, and whilst both scored 30 out of 30 on the numbers rounds Wills beat Jolley in two letters rounds and unravelled the conundrum CELERYFIT to win 110 – 86. In the second quarter-final between Pullin and Hargreaves, the lead changed hands three times before Hargreaves won on a crucial conundrum. Two further crucial conundrums enabled Thurlow to defeat Hartley, and Stokoe to win against Roe. Stokoe returned the following day to play Wills in the first semi-final, but he lost three consecutive letters rounds to go 22 points behind by Round 7, with Wills winning comfortably by 118 points to 78. In the second semi-final, Hargraves dropped just three points across the first 14 rounds, and dispatched Thurlow despite failing to solve the conundrum OUTERSUNS. In the series final, Hargraves had roadsail ☓ disallowed in Round 4 and by the second commercial break, he had fallen 25 points behind. Both players missed the nine-letter word VIDEOTAPE in Round 11, effectively ending Hargreaves chances as Wills ran out the ENDVICTOR by 110 – 67.

In March 2002, approximately halfway through Series 47, there was a three day break from the main competition to make way for the Junior Championship. This three day mini-tournament featured four contestants who were aged 8–12 years old upon their original appearance. The four contestants were Perry Fung from Series 40, Amey Deshpande and Andrew Hulme from Series 42, and Bruce Lambert from Series 43. Hulme beat Fung in the final by 53 points to 41 after a crucial conundrum. He returned to Countdown as an adult, becoming the runner-up of Series 61 and participating in the 30th Birthday Championship.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Chris Wills 8 875
2 Tom Hargreaves 8 850
3 Lee Hartley 8 811
4 Wendy Roe 8 781
5 Rupert Stokoe 8 776
6 Kevin Thurlow 8 769
7 Mike Pullin 8 756
8 Brenda Jolley 8 718
Between Series 38 and Series 59, players were sorted by number of wins, then by number of points. Points from both wins and losses count. Points from sudden death conundrums were not counted, and players with the same number of wins and points were sorted by highest score.

Finals progress

Chris Wills (1) vs Brenda Jolley (8) Chris Wills (1) vs Rupert Stokoe (5) Chris Wills (1)
vs
Tom Hargreaves (2)
Rupert Stokoe (5) vs Wendy Roe (4)
Lee Hartley (3) vs Kevin Thurlow (6) Kevin Thurlow (6) vs Tom Hargreaves (2)
Mike Pullin (7) vs Tom Hargreaves (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
3153 26/12/2001 P Terance Carey 67 – 110 Tom Hargreaves Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Clare Pemberton 132
3154 27/12/2001 P Tom Hargreaves 111 – 73 Terry McHugh Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Clare Pemberton 123
3155 28/12/2001 P Tom Hargreaves 110 – 64 Alan Wright Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Clare Pemberton 120
3156 31/12/2001 P Tom Hargreaves 106 – 83 Lindy Moffat Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Richard Samson 134
3157 01/01/2002 P Tom Hargreaves 103 – 92 Elfie Winterton Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Richard Samson 121
3158 02/01/2002 P Tom Hargreaves 101 – 44 Terry Thomas Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Richard Samson 123
3159 03/01/2002 P Tom Hargreaves 111 – 82 Carol Merchant Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Richard Samson 142
3160 04/01/2002 P Tom Hargreaves 98 – 50 Janet Bernstein Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Joan Bakewell Richard Samson 120
3161 07/01/2002 P Daniel Leonard 46 – 101 Shubeer Chaudhuri Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Richard Samson 120
3162 08/01/2002 P Shubeer Chaudhuri 57 – 81 Hazel Khan Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Richard Samson 129
3163 09/01/2002 P Hazel Khan 69 – 88 Jeremy Slaney Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Richard Samson 123
3164 10/01/2002 P Jeremy Slaney 74 – 43 Pat Collins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Richard Samson 123
3165 11/01/2002 P Jeremy Slaney 81 – 77 Tracey Mills Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Don Black Richard Samson 137
3166 14/01/2002 P Jeremy Slaney 66 – 107 Chris Wills Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 153
3167 15/01/2002 P Chris Wills 118 – 44 Floraidh Campbell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 127
3168 16/01/2002 P Chris Wills 103 – 68 Jeff Baines Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 123
3169 17/01/2002 P Chris Wills 129 – 77 April Carlin Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 131
3170 18/01/2002 P Chris Wills 103 – 47 David Shaw Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 120
3171 21/01/2002 P Chris Wills 120 – 107 Terry Rattle Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 152
3172 22/01/2002 P Chris Wills 103 – 48 Len Barker Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 139
3173 23/01/2002 P Chris Wills 92 – 52 Agnes Budis Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 140
3174 24/01/2002 P Geoffrey Lawrance 90 – 75 Scott Hunter Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 123
3175 25/01/2002 P Geoffrey Lawrance 53 – 91 Deanne Meeres Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 129
3176 28/01/2002 P Deanne Meeres 72 – 123 Kevin Thurlow Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Phiona Stanley 130
3177 29/01/2002 P Kevin Thurlow 100 – 60 Shelagh Addis Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Phiona Stanley 132
3178 30/01/2002 P Kevin Thurlow 113 – 64 Norman Schofield Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Phiona Stanley 122
3179 31/01/2002 P Kevin Thurlow 75 – 57 Sheila Riley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Phiona Stanley 119
3180 01/02/2002 P Kevin Thurlow 78 – 68 Philip Jarvis Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Phiona Stanley 117
3181 04/02/2002 P Kevin Thurlow 108 – 93 Peter Lee Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Richard Samson 122
3182 05/02/2002 P Kevin Thurlow 72 – 51 Jean Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Richard Samson 130
3183 06/02/2002 P Kevin Thurlow 100 – 67 Tony Painter Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Richard Samson 120
3184 07/02/2002 P Maureen Taylor 30 – 90 David Franks Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Richard Samson 131
3185 08/02/2002 P David Franks 102 – 70 Zena Gooding Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Richard Samson 128
3186 11/02/2002 P David Franks 90 – 38 Virginia Fraser Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roger McGough Richard Samson 150
3187 12/02/2002 P David Franks 95 – 56 Jeremy Kimber Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roger McGough Richard Samson 120
3188 13/02/2002 P David Franks 108 – 73 Tony McManus Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roger McGough Richard Samson 118
3189 14/02/2002 P David Franks 99 – 74 Jillian Shorthose Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roger McGough Richard Samson 120
3190 15/02/2002 P David Franks 91 – 25 Julie Cotton Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Roger McGough Richard Samson 119
3191 18/02/2002 P David Franks 69 – 117 Lee Hartley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Melvyn Hayes Kay Celtel 122
3192 19/02/2002 P Lee Hartley 72 – 42 Beryl Ridehalgh Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Melvyn Hayes Kay Celtel 118
3193 20/02/2002 P Lee Hartley 114 – 68 Liz Roper Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Melvyn Hayes Kay Celtel 129
3194 21/02/2002 P Lee Hartley 117 – 54 Peter Dimond Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Melvyn Hayes Kay Celtel 121
3195 22/02/2002 P Lee Hartley 93 – 46 Andy Cooper Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Melvyn Hayes Kay Celtel 120
3196 25/02/2002 P Lee Hartley 93 – 50 Jane Williams Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jan Harvey Susie Dent 117
3197 26/02/2002 P Lee Hartley 100 – 41 Philip Whitehead Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jan Harvey Susie Dent 123
3198 27/02/2002 P Lee Hartley 105 – 42 Bob Sainsbury Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jan Harvey Susie Dent 129
3199 28/02/2002 P Terry Matthewman 81 – 57 Wendy Barker Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jan Harvey Susie Dent 122
3200 01/03/2002 P Terry Matthewman 78 – 85 Brenda Jolley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jan Harvey Susie Dent 120
3201 04/03/2002 P Brenda Jolley 95 – 47 Janet Arnold Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Raj Persaud Phiona Stanley 128
3202 05/03/2002 P Brenda Jolley 99 – 80 Gillian Clements Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Raj Persaud Phiona Stanley 142
3203 06/03/2002 P Brenda Jolley 101 – 64 Michael Clewett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Raj Persaud Phiona Stanley 117
3204 07/03/2002 P Brenda Jolley 89 – 56 Barbara Harris Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Raj Persaud Phiona Stanley 131
3205 08/03/2002 P Brenda Jolley 77 – 45 Robbie Robertson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Raj Persaud Phiona Stanley 139
3206 11/03/2002 P Brenda Jolley 85 – 69 Peter Brinkley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Andi Peters Phiona Stanley 131
12–14 March 2002: Junior Championship
3210 15/03/2002 P Brenda Jolley 87 – 69 Geoff Baker Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Andi Peters Phiona Stanley 133
3211 18/03/2002 P Stuart Robertshaw 64 – 90 Tony Harding Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Patrick Mower Susie Dent 119
3212 19/03/2002 P Tony Harding 87 – 83 Paul Burlinson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Patrick Mower Susie Dent 129
3213 20/03/2002 P Tony Harding 80 – 79 Gordon Innes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Patrick Mower Susie Dent 123
3214 21/03/2002 P Tony Harding 86 – 53 Hazel Mell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Patrick Mower Susie Dent 121
3215 22/03/2002 P Tony Harding 92 – 63 Beryl Tuck Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Patrick Mower Susie Dent 143
3216 25/03/2002 P Tony Harding 93 – 117 Rupert Stokoe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 133
3217 26/03/2002 P Rupert Stokoe 105 – 48 Dennis Brown Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 123
3218 27/03/2002 P Rupert Stokoe 94 – 69 Margaret Sambrooks Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 129
3219 28/03/2002 P Rupert Stokoe 82 – 60 Alex Rossiter Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 114
3220 29/03/2002 P Rupert Stokoe 93 – 80 Rebecca Pine Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 125
3221 01/04/2002 P Rupert Stokoe 86 – 47 Judi Boutle Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Tania Styles 119
3222 02/04/2002 P Rupert Stokoe 97 – 80 Joe Radcliffe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Tania Styles 131
3223 03/04/2002 P Rupert Stokoe 102 – 88 Julian Lyons Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Tania Styles 143
3224 04/04/2002 P Peter Coutts 74 – 61 Erica Hamer Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Tania Styles 120
3225 05/04/2002 P Peter Coutts 82 – 79 Andrew Alden Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Tania Styles 121
3226 08/04/2002 P Peter Coutts 102 – 37 Lee Fisher Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Simon Hoggart Richard Samson 130
3227 09/04/2002 P Peter Coutts 68 – 55 Karen Meredith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Simon Hoggart Richard Samson 122
3228 10/04/2002 P Peter Coutts 81 – 67 Chris Young Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Simon Hoggart Richard Samson 118
3229 11/04/2002 P Peter Coutts 94 – 55 Liz Johnson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Simon Hoggart Richard Samson 121
3230 12/04/2002 P Peter Coutts 85 – 76 Billy Whitehead Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Simon Hoggart Richard Samson 141
3231 15/04/2002 P Peter Coutts 76 – 78 David Stainer Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lionel Blair Richard Samson 131
3232 16/04/2002 P David Stainer 100 – 73 Leslie Ellison Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lionel Blair Richard Samson 130
3233 17/04/2002 P David Stainer 102 – 35 Margaret Shephard Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lionel Blair Richard Samson 127
3234 18/04/2002 P David Stainer 100 – 39 Sheila Mackay Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lionel Blair Damian Eadie 117
3235 19/04/2002 P David Stainer 80 – 96 Cyril Cohen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lionel Blair Damian Eadie 117
3236 22/04/2002 P Cyril Cohen 66 – 74 Jim Page Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Esther Rantzen Phiona Stanley 131
3237 23/04/2002 P Jim Page 42 – 123 Wendy Roe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Esther Rantzen Phiona Stanley 128
3238 24/04/2002 P Wendy Roe 79 – 72 Nick Morley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Esther Rantzen Phiona Stanley 121
3239 25/04/2002 P Wendy Roe 96 – 56 Alastair Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Esther Rantzen Phiona Stanley 126
3240 26/04/2002 P Wendy Roe 93 – 67 Gill Lyons Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Esther Rantzen Phiona Stanley 143
3241 29/04/2002 P Wendy Roe 103 – 68 John Povey Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Tania Styles 130
3242 30/04/2002 P Wendy Roe 98 – 54 Julie Bennett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Tania Styles 118
3243 01/05/2002 P Wendy Roe 92 – 66 Gerard Askins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Tania Styles 114
3244 02/05/2002 P Wendy Roe 97 – 68 Audrey Rumney Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Tania Styles 131
3245 03/05/2002 P John Daly 75 – 80 Damian Cook Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Tania Styles 118
3246 06/05/2002 P Damian Cook 71 – 103 Alistair Baker Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anna Raeburn Tania Styles 129
3247 07/05/2002 P Alistair Baker 68 – 51 Becca Dobson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anna Raeburn Tania Styles 121
3248 08/05/2002 P Alistair Baker 71 – 97 Tony Lawford Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anna Raeburn Tania Styles 129
3249 09/05/2002 P Tony Lawford 69 – 66 Trevor Douglas Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anna Raeburn Tania Styles 120
3250 10/05/2002 P Tony Lawford 76 – 98 Mike Pullin Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Anna Raeburn Tania Styles 131
3251 13/05/2002 P Mike Pullin 92 – 49 Peter Slack Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Brooke-Taylor Phiona Stanley 129
3252 14/05/2002 P Mike Pullin 95 – 74 Tudor Radcliffe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Brooke-Taylor Phiona Stanley 135
3253 15/05/2002 P Mike Pullin 88 – 41 Christina Walmsley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Brooke-Taylor Phiona Stanley 118
3254 21/05/2002 P Mike Pullin 76 – 54 Eric Grace Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Brooke-Taylor Phiona Stanley 118
3255 22/05/2002 P Mike Pullin 89 – 53 Alan Sowter Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Brooke-Taylor Phiona Stanley 142
3256 23/05/2002 P Mike Pullin 114 – 61 Gary Eaglestone Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Kay Celtel 132
3257 24/05/2002 P Mike Pullin 104 – 58 Andrew Griffiths Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Kay Celtel 133
3258 27/05/2002 P Susan Moore 59 – 86 Alan Swift Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Kay Celtel 126
3259 28/05/2002 P Alan Swift 110 – 34 Mary Duffy Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Kay Celtel 130
3260 29/05/2002 P Alan Swift 80 – 94 Alan Galt Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Kay Celtel 123
3261 30/05/2002 P Alan Galt 93 – 88 Barry Kibble Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 124
3262 31/05/2002 P Alan Galt 85 – 67 Jane Kempton Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 121
3263 03/06/2002 P Alan Galt 35 – 103 John Mitchell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 119
3264 04/06/2002 P John Mitchell 92 – 39 Tryphena Barnes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 121
3265 05/06/2002 P John Mitchell 92 – 83 Steve Gamble Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Damian Eadie 111
3266 06/06/2002 P John Mitchell 82 – 90 Julia Wilkinson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 141
3267 07/06/2002 P Julia Wilkinson 91 – 72 David Coombs Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 118
3268 10/06/2002 P Julia Wilkinson 96 – 86 Alan Cooper Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 129
3269 11/06/2002 P Julia Wilkinson 80 – 78 Moira Bulcraig Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 131
3270 12/06/2002 P Julia Wilkinson 88 – 41 Geoff Daniel Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Kathryn Apanowicz Susie Dent 133
3271 18/06/2002 P Julia Wilkinson 96 – 35 Shirley Light Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 131
3272 19/06/2002 P Julia Wilkinson 81 – 77 Roger Johnson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 141
3273 20/06/2002 QF Chris Wills 110 – 86 Brenda Jolley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 120
3274 21/06/2002 QF Mike Pullin 89 – 106 Tom Hargreaves Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 118
3275 24/06/2002 QF Kevin Thurlow 106 – 93 Lee Hartley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 145
3276 25/06/2002 QF Rupert Stokoe 99 – 80 Wendy Roe Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Damian Eadie 130
3277 26/06/2002 SF Rupert Stokoe 78 – 118 Chris Wills Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Damian Eadie 130
3278 27/06/2002 SF Kevin Thurlow 93 – 109 Tom Hargreaves Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Damian Eadie 122
3279 28/06/2002 GF Tom Hargreaves 67 – 110 Chris Wills Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Damian Eadie 129

External Links