Series 56

From Countdown

Nick Wainwright, the series winner with his trophy.

Series 56 ran from 2 January to 22 June 2007. The first of four series hosted by Des O'Connor, it was won by Nick Wainwright.

This series featured four octochamps but, for the first time since Series 49, none with over 800 points. #1 seed Aaron Webber snuck through the first quarter-final on an unsolved conundrum (ALONGSIDE). Jean Webby won comfortably and Nick Wainwright saw off the challenge of #6 seed Vivienne Mead. However #4 seed Amey Deshpande couldn't join the top three seeds, losing to 7-time winner Anita Freeland. In the semi-finals Freeland continued her run of upsets by beating #1 seed Aaron Webber on a crucial conundrum, and Nick Wainwright got his highest ever score in beating Jean Webby. This set up a final between #3 seed and #5 seed. No woman had won a 15-round series and no player had ever won a series whilst losing a game in the heats. From Series 46 to Series 55, all the series winners were unbeaten. The game was very close with a few mistakes which lead to a low scoring finish with Freeland leading 85 – 79. The conundrum OYFUSSPOT was revealed and it was Wainwright that solved PUSSYFOOT in 1.5 seconds to become Countdown's 56th champion. Freeland was relegated to the runner's-up spot, only the second woman to reach a 15-round series final after Grace Page, but she returned for the Championship of Champions XIII tournament.

Seed table

Rank	Name	Wins	Points
1	Aaron Webber	8	773
2	Jean Webby	8	738
3	Nick Wainwright	8	726
4	Amey Deshpande	8	718
5	Anita Freeland	7	742
6	Vivienne Mead	7	682
7	Dundas Keating	7	661
8	Stewart Gordon	5	553

Between Series 38 and Series 59, players are sorted by number of wins, then by number of points. Points from both wins and losses count. Points from sudden death conundrums are not counted, and players with the same number of wins and points are sorted by highest score.

Finals progress

Aaron Webber (1) vs Stewart Gordon (8)	Aaron Webber (1) vs Anita Freeland (5)	Anita Freeland (5) vs Nick Wainwright (3)
Anita Freeland (5) vs Amey Deshpande (4)
Nick Wainwright (3) vs Vivienne Mead (6)	Nick Wainwright (3) vs Jean Webby (2)
Dundas Keating (7) vs Jean Webby (2)

The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

#	Date	Type	Contestant 1	Score	Contestant 2	Host	Arithmetician	Guest	Lex	Max
4263	2/01/2007	P	Anita Freeland	80 – 56	Gill Glass	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Tom O'Connor	Susie Dent	132
4264	3/01/2007	P	Anita Freeland	103 – 45	Pete Liggett	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Tom O'Connor	Susie Dent	122
4265	4/01/2007	P	Anita Freeland	101 – 93	Paul Richards	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Tom O'Connor	Susie Dent	131
4266	5/01/2007	P	Anita Freeland	83 – 86	Jon Young	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Tom O'Connor	Susie Dent	140
4267	8/01/2007	P	Jon Young	59 – 82	Bradley Cates	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	131
4268	9/01/2007	P	Bradley Cates	105 – 68	Katie Gibbins	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	120
4269	10/01/2007	P	Bradley Cates	83 – 72	Adrian Lutman	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	142
4270	11/01/2007	P	Bradley Cates	63 – 78	Ian Volante	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	117
4271	12/01/2007	P	Ian Volante	94 – 64	Lee Collingham	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	131
4272	15/01/2007	P	Ian Volante	102 – 93	George Rhodes	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Barry Cryer	Susie Dent	144
4273	16/01/2007	P	Ian Volante	79 – 91	Amey Deshpande	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Barry Cryer	Susie Dent	118
4274	17/01/2007	P	Amey Deshpande	86 – 75	Mandy Bill	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Barry Cryer	Susie Dent	120
4275	18/01/2007	P	Amey Deshpande	79 – 71	Joe McCoy	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Barry Cryer	Susie Dent	131
4276	19/01/2007	P	Amey Deshpande	80 – 66	Mike Smith	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Barry Cryer	Susie Dent	130
4277	22/01/2007	P	Amey Deshpande	98 – 75	Mary Jennings	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	138
4278	23/01/2007	P	Amey Deshpande	87 – 50	Sylvia De Rozario	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	131
4279	24/01/2007	P	Amey Deshpande	102 – 54	Gareth Evans	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	137
4280	25/01/2007	P	Amey Deshpande	95 – 47	Oliver Brennan	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	131
4281	26/01/2007	P	Jonathan Rathbone	33 – 84	Leigh Brook	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	115
4282	29/01/2007	P	Leigh Brook	67 – 86	Martin May	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	129
4283	30/01/2007	P	Martin May	95 – 84	Daniel Giddings	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	141
4284	31/01/2007	P	Judith Mills	48 – 87	Mick Barnewell	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	113
4285	1/02/2007	P	Mick Barnewell	77 – 58	David Watson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	134
4286	2/02/2007	P	Mick Barnewell	78 – 85	Paddy Izod	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jeremy Hardy	Susie Dent	133
4287	5/02/2007	P	Paddy Izod	94 – 63	Eoin O'Connell	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jeremy Hardy	Susie Dent	118
4288	6/02/2007	P	Paddy Izod	71 – 62	Margaret Lee	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jeremy Hardy	Susie Dent	134
4289	7/02/2007	P	Paddy Izod	79 – 82	Vivienne Mead	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jeremy Hardy	Susie Dent	143
4290	8/02/2007	P	Vivienne Mead	95 – 69	Clive McClelland	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jeremy Hardy	Susie Dent	129
4291	9/02/2007	P	Vivienne Mead	82 – 44	Nick Gray	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	132
4292	12/02/2007	P	Vivienne Mead	83 – 58	Marie Pegg	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	130
4293	13/02/2007	P	Vivienne Mead	76 – 57	Will Howells	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	132
4294	14/02/2007	P	Vivienne Mead	106 – 58	Paul Daly	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	132
4295	15/02/2007	P	Vivienne Mead	90 – 55	Rosemary Macmullen	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	116
4296	16/02/2007	P	Vivienne Mead	68 – 76	Ganesh (Subrahmanyam)	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	153
4297	19/02/2007	P	Ganesh (Subrahmanyam)	88 – 63	Mildred French	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	121
4298	20/02/2007	P	Ganesh (Subrahmanyam)	81 – 85	David Tuddenham	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	130
4299	21/02/2007	P	David Tuddenham	87 – 89	Pauline Woodward	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	129
4300	22/02/2007	P	Pauline Woodward	82 – 76	Mike Swift	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	131
4301	23/02/2007	P	Pauline Woodward	94 – 61	Jan Rawlings	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	129
4302	26/02/2007	P	Pauline Woodward	81 – 96	Jean Webby	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	130
4303	27/02/2007	P	Jean Webby	94 – 60	Dorothy Wardle	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	114
4304	28/02/2007	P	Jean Webby	98 – 71	Serena Halpin	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	120
4305	1/03/2007	P	Jean Webby	96 – 66	Bob Mulholland	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	145
4306	2/03/2007	P	Jean Webby	112 – 40	Nicola Crowley	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	119
4307	5/03/2007	P	Jean Webby	79 – 66	Barbara Howe	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	131
4308	6/03/2007	P	Jean Webby	87 – 45	Richard Murrin	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	129
4309	7/03/2007	P	Jean Webby	76 – 55	Beryl Taylor	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	127
4310	8/03/2007	P	Elizabeth Anderson	54 – 75	Raj Kailasam	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	131
4311	9/03/2007	P	Raj Kailasam	63 – 60	Crispin Salfarlie	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	129
4312	12/03/2007	P	Raj Kailasam	85 – 79	Janet Rauch	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	122
4313	19/03/2007	P	Raj Kailasam	66 – 77	Sara Kingdom	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	132
4314	20/03/2007	P	Sara Kingdom	82 – 50	Steve Gallazzi	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	131
4315	21/03/2007	P	Sara Kingdom	73 – 70	Simon Donlan	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	131
4316	22/03/2007	P	Sara Kingdom	69 – 83	Judith Carn	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	118
4317	23/03/2007	P	Judith Carn	94 – 64	Neil Champs	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	121
4318	26/03/2007	P	Judith Carn	81 – 95	Sarah Milsom	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Johnnie Casson	Susie Dent	132
4319	27/03/2007	P	Sarah Milsom	77* – 67	Brian Kent	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Johnnie Casson	Susie Dent	117
4320	28/03/2007	P	Sarah Milsom	64 – 79	John Verlaque	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Johnnie Casson	Susie Dent	127
4321	29/03/2007	P	John Verlaque	79 – 53	Richard Shadbolt	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Johnnie Casson	Susie Dent	118
4322	30/03/2007	P	John Verlaque	79 – 85	Sheila Booth	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Johnnie Casson	Susie Dent	143
4323	2/04/2007	P	Sheila Booth	61 – 100	Cathy Cooper	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dennis Taylor	Susie Dent	126
4324	3/04/2007	P	Cathy Cooper	79 – 71	Tony King	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dennis Taylor	Susie Dent	115
4325	4/04/2007	P	Cathy Cooper	74 – 62	Ian MacKillop	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dennis Taylor	Susie Dent	132
4326	5/04/2007	P	Cathy Cooper	71 – 84	Kate McNulty	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dennis Taylor	Susie Dent	122
4327	6/04/2007	P	Kate McNulty	56 – 88	Chris Dufton	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dennis Taylor	Susie Dent	139
4328	9/04/2007	P	Chris Dufton	74 – 75	Norma Fisher	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	120
4329	10/04/2007	P	Norma Fisher	50 – 89	Robin Scott	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	128
4330	11/04/2007	P	Robin Scott	81 – 54	Kim Green	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	105
4331	12/04/2007	P	Robin Scott	87 – 63	Wayne Swan	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	124
4332	13/04/2007	P	Robin Scott	86 – 63	Wendy Woodward	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	143
4333	16/04/2007	P	Robin Scott	76 – 82	Pam Smith	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Kaye Adams	Susie Dent	128
4334	17/04/2007	P	Pam Smith	70 – 67	Michael Batty	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Kaye Adams	Susie Dent	154
4335	18/04/2007	P	Pam Smith	79 – 61	Jeff Lomax	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Kaye Adams	Susie Dent	128
4336	19/04/2007	P	Pam Smith	98 – 74	Tamsin Johnston	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Kaye Adams	Susie Dent	124
4337	20/04/2007	P	Pam Smith	82 – 56	Joe Burge	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Kaye Adams	Susie Dent	119
4338	23/04/2007	P	Pam Smith	75 – 111	Aaron Webber	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	135
4339	24/04/2007	P	Aaron Webber	96 – 47	Christina Dow	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	132
4340	25/04/2007	P	Aaron Webber	93 – 40	Richard Wakefield	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	118
4341	26/04/2007	P	Aaron Webber	86 – 47	Nina Walters	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	127
4342	27/04/2007	P	Aaron Webber	98 – 45	Ken Hudson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	116
4343	30/04/2007	P	Aaron Webber	104 – 51	Dorothy Massey	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Thelma Barlow	Susie Dent	140
4344	1/05/2007	P	Aaron Webber	75 – 28	David Butler	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Thelma Barlow	Susie Dent	127
4345	2/05/2007	P	Aaron Webber	110 – 39	Bill Blades	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Thelma Barlow	Susie Dent	132
4346	3/05/2007	P	Madeleine Hicks	96 – 49	Linda Jackson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Thelma Barlow	Susie Dent	122
4347	4/05/2007	P	Madeleine Hicks	53 – 90	Rob Waters	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Thelma Barlow	Susie Dent	133
4348	7/05/2007	P	Rob Waters	94 – 99	Nick Wainwright	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	124
4349	8/05/2007	P	Nick Wainwright	90 – 64	Sue Faulkner	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	131
4350	9/05/2007	P	Nick Wainwright	91 – 65	Matthew Dixon	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Michael Wylie	140
4351	10/05/2007	P	Nick Wainwright	76 – 33	David Senior	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Michael Wylie	122
4352	11/05/2007	P	Nick Wainwright	99 – 83	Eileen Organ	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Michael Wylie	118
4353	14/05/2007	P	Nick Wainwright	99 – 46	Michala Stabbins	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	136
4354	15/05/2007	P	Nick Wainwright	91 – 88	Michael Lord	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	133
4355	16/05/2007	P	Nick Wainwright	81 – 58	Helen Miller	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	141
4356	17/05/2007	P	Stuart Watts	75 – 79	Rob Bennie	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	133
4357	18/05/2007	P	Rob Bennie	50 – 82	Chris Walledge	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	121
4358	21/05/2007	P	Chris Walledge	74 – 95	Stewart Gordon	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	142
4359	22/05/2007	P	Stewart Gordon	106 – 76	Andrew Sweet	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	131
4360	23/05/2007	P	Stewart Gordon	93 – 67	Matt Watts	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	122
4361	24/05/2007	P	Stewart Gordon	96 – 47	Julie Gellatly	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	146
4362	25/05/2007	P	Stewart Gordon	94 – 58	Dave Fay	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	120
4363	28/05/2007	P	Stewart Gordon	69 – 79	Dundas Keating	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ken Bruce	Susie Dent	129
4364	29/05/2007	P	Dundas Keating	71 – 68	Fliss Carlton	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ken Bruce	Susie Dent	131
4365	30/05/2007	P	Dundas Keating	99 – 83	Darren Gleave	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ken Bruce	Susie Dent	134
4366	31/05/2007	P	Dundas Keating	88 – 54	Pam Linington	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ken Bruce	Susie Dent	123
4367	1/06/2007	P	Dundas Keating	70 – 68	Dave Tilley	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ken Bruce	Susie Dent	119
4368	4/06/2007	P	Dundas Keating	101 – 68	Ian Hartley	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	131
4369	5/06/2007	P	Dundas Keating	92 – 55	Christine Hunt	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	122
4370	6/06/2007	P	Dundas Keating	61 – 92	John Holland	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	132
4371	7/06/2007	P	John Holland	67 – 121	James Hurrell	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	141
4372	8/06/2007	P	James Hurrell	100 – 75	Kathleen McAulay	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	129
4373	11/06/2007	P	James Hurrell	113 – 48	Phil Robertshaw	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	120
4374	12/06/2007	P	James Hurrell	88 – 34	Eileen Blackburn	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	121
4375	13/06/2007	P	James Hurrell	101 – 60	Peter Palfrey	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	131
4376	14/06/2007	QF	Stewart Gordon	81 – 85	Aaron Webber	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	129
4377	15/06/2007	QF	Dundas Keating	58 – 84	Jean Webby	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Gyles Brandreth	Susie Dent	140
4378	18/06/2007	QF	Nick Wainwright	104 – 74	Vivienne Mead	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	124
4379	19/06/2007	QF	Amey Deshpande	71 – 86	Anita Freeland	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	127
4380	20/06/2007	SF	Anita Freeland	97 – 86	Aaron Webber	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	128
4381	21/06/2007	SF	Jean Webby	74 – 107	Nick Wainwright	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	134
4382	22/06/2007	GF	Nick Wainwright	89 – 85	Anita Freeland	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	116

* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links

Series 56 on The Countdown Database.
Series 56 on The Countdown Page.

Series 56

From Countdown

Contents

Seed table

Finals progress

Episodes

External Links

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