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Series 50

From Countdown

Series 50 ran from 30 June to 19 December 2003. From 15 September, the show’s transmission time shifted from 4:15pm to 3:15pm, as part of a revamp of Channel 4’s daytime schedule. This ended a near 21-year run of the show being transmitted after 4:00 pm. The fiftieth of 53 series presented by Richard Whiteley was won by Chris Cummins.

Series 50 is remembered as a very strong series, with four impressive octochamps in Chris Cummins, Stuart Earl, Stuart Solomons and Jim Bentley, with the former two making the 800 club.

The series finals began as expected with Chris Cummins cruising past eighth seed Brian McKeon and scoring his seventh century in the process. The next match was a nail-biter between Stuart Earl and Eamonn Timmins, with the underrated Timmins snatching the game by a point after a crucial conundrum – the shock of the tournament. Solomons scored an unconvincing victory over Philip Whitnall, while Jim Bentley and Adam Laws went into a crucial conundrum at 78 – 78, with Laws unscrambling NIPPERAID in 11 seconds to earn a place in the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, Cummins again made short work of his opponent, this time scoring "only" 97 to Laws' 59. Solomons was not at his best against Timmins, who had the game wrapped up with two rounds to play. And so it came to the final, with the first seed facing off against the seventh. Timmins gave a creditable performance, including a nine, but Cummins gradually edged away. The game finished 122 – 86, and the froglike Cambridge mathematician was crowned champion.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Chris Cummins 8 858
2 Stuart Earl 8 807
3 Stuart Solomons 8 796
4 Jim Bentley 8 756
5 Adam Laws 6 677
6 Philip Whitnall 5 492
7 Eamonn Timmins 4 441
8 Brian McKeon 4 437
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 Cummins (1) vs Brian McKeon (8) Chris Cummins (1) vs Adam Laws (5) Chris Cummins (1)
vs
Eamonn Timmins (7)
Adam Laws (5) vs Jim Bentley (4)
Stuart Solomons (3) vs Philip Whitnall (6) Stuart Solomons (3) vs Eamonn Timmins (7)
Eamonn Timmins (7) vs Stuart Earl (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
3512 30/06/2003 P Alan Stevens 65 – 98 Stephen Grant Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 140
3513 01/07/2003 P Stephen Grant 89 – 79 Clive Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 128
3514 02/07/2003 P Stephen Grant 59 – 75 Lilian Bland Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 120
3515 03/07/2003 P Lilian Bland 94 – 84 Shelley Heywood Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jason Byrne Susie Dent 120
3516 04/07/2003 P Lilian Bland 64 – 94 Ian Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jason Byrne Susie Dent 119
3517 07/07/2003 P Ian Smith 87 – 75 Simon Robson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jason Byrne Susie Dent 131
3518 08/07/2003 P Ian Smith 99 – 85 Jenny Fenn Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jason Byrne Susie Dent 123
3519 09/07/2003 P Ian Smith 65 – 88 Nick Peel Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jason Byrne Susie Dent 131
3520 10/07/2003 P Nick Peel 95 – 68 Kevin Murphy Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Alison Heard 132
3521 11/07/2003 P Nick Peel 90 – 82 Maureen Miles Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Alison Heard 122
3522 14/07/2003 P Nick Peel 91 – 62 Liz Scott Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Alison Heard 121
3523 15/07/2003 P Nick Peel 54 – 64 Jim Cantle Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Alison Heard 141
3524 16/07/2003 P Jim Cantle 75 – 71 Robin Garstone Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Alison Heard 119
3525 17/07/2003 P Jim Cantle 83 – 60 Anne Pagett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Wilson Susie Dent 141
3526 18/07/2003 P Jim Cantle 81 – 72 Martin Cresdee Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Wilson Susie Dent 118
3527 21/07/2003 P Jim Cantle 81 – 95 Chris Cummins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Wilson Susie Dent 128
3528 22/07/2003 P Chris Cummins 105 – 47 May Fullegar Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Wilson Susie Dent 140
3529 23/07/2003 P Chris Cummins 103 – 69 Graham Tonkin Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Wilson Susie Dent 118
3530 29/07/2003 P Chris Cummins 108 – 38 Andrea Needham Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 131
3531 30/07/2003 P Chris Cummins 117 – 32 Ron Squire Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 132
3532 05/08/2003 P Chris Cummins 91 – 63 June Knott Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 126
3533 06/08/2003 P Chris Cummins 123 – 32 Richard Redman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 137
3534 08/08/2003 P Chris Cummins 116 – 65 Peter Twydell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 131
3535 11/08/2003 P Colin Askew 92 – 70 David Toll Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 119
3536 12/08/2003 P Colin Askew 79 – 121 Nick Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 131
3537 13/08/2003 P Nick Smith 97 – 58 Janet Baker Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 119
3538 19/08/2003 P Nick Smith 58 – 83 Brian McKeon Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 119
3539 20/08/2003 P Brian McKeon 93 – 51 Reg Harding Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Stilgoe Susie Dent 119
3540 26/08/2003 P Brian McKeon 96 – 88 Pat Seymour Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Pam Ayres Susie Dent 120
3541 27/08/2003 P Brian McKeon 95 – 65 Maggi Mathiesen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Pam Ayres Susie Dent 131
3542 28/08/2003 P Brian McKeon 70 – 79 Jim Bentley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Pam Ayres Susie Dent 116
3543 29/08/2003 P Jim Bentley 101 – 51 Alison Ross Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Pam Ayres Susie Dent 125
3544 01/09/2003 P Jim Bentley 90 – 89 Stuart Lightfoot Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Pam Ayres Susie Dent 120
3545 15/09/2003 P Jim Bentley 112 – 62 Richard Francis Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 125
3546 16/09/2003 P Jim Bentley 82 – 66 Diana Smith Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 131
3547 17/09/2003 P Jim Bentley 83 – 79 David Moore Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 120
3548 18/09/2003 P Jim Bentley 96 – 51 Ruth Edmonds Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 122
3549 19/09/2003 P Jim Bentley 113 – 51 Irvine Henderson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 119
3550 22/09/2003 P Geoff Trinick 71 – 65 Eric McDonnell Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 142
3551 23/09/2003 P Geoff Trinick 72 – 69 John Britton Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 132
3552 24/09/2003 P Geoff Trinick 43 – 77 Bonnie White Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 119
3553 25/09/2003 P Bonnie White 94 – 55 Matt Blason Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 119
3554 26/09/2003 P Bonnie White 78 – 59 Janet Chambers Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 143
3555 29/09/2003 P Bonnie White 95 – 75 Peter Watkins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Griffiths Susie Dent 130
3556 30/09/2003 P Bonnie White 75 – 78 Scott Bowman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Griffiths Susie Dent 125
3557 01/10/2003 P Scott Bowman 102 – 76 Kerry Copland Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Griffiths Susie Dent 135
3558 02/10/2003 P Scott Bowman 78 – 96 Jim Critchley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Griffiths Susie Dent 137
3559 03/10/2003 P Jim Critchley 60 – 84 Philip Whitnall Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Griffiths Susie Dent 130
3560 06/10/2003 P Philip Whitnall 93 – 61 David Burke Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Alison Heard 154
3561 07/10/2003 P Philip Whitnall 71 – 68 Susan Mulkeen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Alison Heard 117
3562 08/10/2003 P Philip Whitnall 100 – 53 Peter Leabourne Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Alison Heard 129
3563 09/10/2003 P Philip Whitnall 95 – 75 Gill Jolly Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Alison Heard 133
3564 10/10/2003 P Philip Whitnall 49 – 97 Ayoola Erinle Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Alison Heard 128
3565 13/10/2003 P Ayoola Erinle 73 – 66 Heather Burger Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Mo Mowlam Susie Dent 131
3566 14/10/2003 P Ayoola Erinle 56 – 73 Paul Trow Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Mo Mowlam Susie Dent 124
3567 15/10/2003 P Paul Trow 90 – 78 Mike Adcock Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Mo Mowlam Susie Dent 127
3568 16/10/2003 P Paul Trow 78 – 82 Bob Selby Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Mo Mowlam Susie Dent 133
3569 17/10/2003 P Bob Selby 63 – 61 Rajesh Kesur Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Mo Mowlam Susie Dent 122
3570 20/10/2003 P Bob Selby 89 – 73 Geoff Buck Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 121
3571 21/10/2003 P Bob Selby 84 – 96 Gail Richman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 120
3572 22/10/2003 P Gail Richman 65 – 82 Eamonn Timmins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 122
3573 23/10/2003 P Eamonn Timmins 95 – 74 Carolyn Lysons Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 131
3574 24/10/2003 P Eamonn Timmins 99 – 59 Stuart Black Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 131
3575 27/10/2003 P Eamonn Timmins 95 – 66 Mary Holgate Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Garrett Susie Dent 121
3576 28/10/2003 P Eamonn Timmins 70 – 105 Stuart Solomons Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Garrett Susie Dent 164
3577 29/10/2003 P Stuart Solomons 96 – 31 Barry Gray Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Garrett Susie Dent 122
3578 30/10/2003 P Stuart Solomons 104 – 34 Sheila Bearfield Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Garrett Susie Dent 131
3579 31/10/2003 P Stuart Solomons 117 – 25 Sue Hearn Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lesley Garrett Susie Dent 129
3580 03/11/2003 P Stuart Solomons 97 – 78 Ajaz Iqbal Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Susie Dent 123
3581 04/11/2003 P Stuart Solomons 99 – 73 Tricia Cooper Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Susie Dent 132
3582 05/11/2003 P Stuart Solomons 86 – 54 Alex Fish Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Susie Dent 120
3583 06/11/2003 P Stuart Solomons 92 – 76 Bob Brock Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Susie Dent 120
3584 07/11/2003 P Simon Chapman 84 – 69 Margaret Swaffield Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Susie Dent 120
3585 10/11/2003 P Simon Chapman 85 – 78 Philip Milne Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Peter Baldwin Susie Dent 120
3586 11/11/2003 P Simon Chapman 47 – 83 Mark Pavey Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Peter Baldwin Susie Dent 119
3587 12/11/2003 P Mark Pavey 100 – 36 Sheila Travers Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Peter Baldwin Susie Dent 122
3588 13/11/2003 P Mark Pavey 92 – 70 Gareth Johnson Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Peter Baldwin Susie Dent 133
3589 14/11/2003 P Mark Pavey 68 – 83 Stuart Earl Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Peter Baldwin Susie Dent 121
3590 17/11/2003 P Stuart Earl 112 – 63 Josie Tapp Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sue MacGregor Richard Samson 140
3591 18/11/2003 P Stuart Earl 98 – 90 Paul Skingsley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sue MacGregor Richard Samson 119
3592 19/11/2003 P Stuart Earl 98 – 85 Jason Reed Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sue MacGregor Richard Samson 121
3593 20/11/2003 P Stuart Earl 107 – 53 Helen O'Rourke Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sue MacGregor Richard Samson 134
3594 21/11/2003 P Stuart Earl 85 – 69 Neil Green Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Sue MacGregor Richard Samson 119
3595 24/11/2003 P Stuart Earl 111 – 64 Peter Deakin Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 120
3596 25/11/2003 P Stuart Earl 113 – 35 Barbara Taylor Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 130
3597 26/11/2003 P Jane Chand 49 – 108 Adam Laws Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 118
3598 27/11/2003 P Adam Laws 89 – 86 John Charleston-Stokes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 121
3599 28/11/2003 P Adam Laws 92 – 54 Rebecca Pasha Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Geoffrey Durham Susie Dent 119
3600 01/12/2003 P Adam Laws 83 – 72 Dudley Turner Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 118
3601 02/12/2003 P Adam Laws 93 – 57 Kevin Chandler Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 121
3602 03/12/2003 P Adam Laws 123 – 38 Bob Gardiner Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 125
3603 04/12/2003 P Adam Laws 89 – 90 Lynda House Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 137
3604 05/12/2003 P Lynda House 70 – 56 Brian Bottomley Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 142
3605 08/12/2003 P Lynda House 78 – 95 Steve Graston Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 140
3606 09/12/2003 P Steve Graston 95 – 59 Carol Bestwick Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 120
3607 10/12/2003 P Steve Graston 105 – 20 Robin Barnett Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 153
3608 11/12/2003 QF Brian McKeon 58 – 107 Chris Cummins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 121
3609 12/12/2003 QF Stuart Earl 87 – 88 Eamonn Timmins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tim Rice Susie Dent 117
3610 15/12/2003 QF Stuart Solomons 87 – 69 Philip Whitnall Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 118
3611 16/12/2003 QF Jim Bentley 78 – 88 Adam Laws Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 118
3612 17/12/2003 SF Adam Laws 59 – 97 Chris Cummins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 111
3613 18/12/2003 SF Eamonn Timmins 96 – 85 Stuart Solomons Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 121
3614 19/12/2003 GF Chris Cummins 122 – 86 Eamonn Timmins Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 133

External Links

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