Series 58

From Countdown

David O'Donnell, the series winner with his trophy.

Series 58 ran from 2 January to 20 June 2008. The third of four series hosted by Des O'Connor, it was won by David O'Donnell.

The series included four octochamps, most notably O'Donnell with 880 points, the fourth highest total ever achieved at the time.

O'Donnell started the quarter-finals as the #1 seed and faced Ben Hanks, a game which O'Donnell won comfortably. #2 seed Michael Macdonald-Cooper couldn't beat #7 seed Peter Davies, and lost the game despite getting the conundrum LANGUIDLY. Tim Reypert lost against Richard Priest, and Jonathan Coles completed the quarter-finals by beating Barry Smith.

In the semi-finals, #4 seed Coles faced #1 seed O'Donnell; O'Donnell was averaging 110 points a game to Coles' 93, but Coles held the higher seed to a crucial conundrum thanks to O'Donnell risking ultimati ☓ when the two plurals of ULTIMATUM are ULTIMATUMS and ULTIMATA. With a three-point lead going into the conundrum, O'Donnell spotted RICEPAPER to advance to the final. Richard Priest and Peter Davies had both beaten octochamps to earn their places in the second semi-final; Priest led 100 – 60 going into the conundrum, but Davies got it and lost 100 – 70.

In the final, the players with the two highest average scores faced off against each other, with Richard Priest having a higher average than three of the octochamps. O'Donnell beat Priest in the first two rounds with STRATA and APOGEES which gave him a commanding lead after five rounds. Priest fought back with MIRADOR, the only 7 in that round, but when O'Donnell got EPIDOTE the game was effectively over, and he became the Series 58 champion by a score of 91 – 61.

Seed table

Rank	Name	Wins	Points
1	David O'Donnell	8	880
2	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	8	780
3	Tim Reypert	8	773
4	Jonathan Coles	8	746
5	Barry Smith	7	648
6	Richard Priest	6	697
7	Peter Davies	6	642
8	Ben Hanks	6	580

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

David O'Donnell (1) vs Ben Hanks (8)	David O'Donnell (1) vs Jonathan Coles (4)	David O'Donnell (1) vs Richard Priest (6)
Barry Smith (5) vs Jonathan Coles (4)
Tim Reypert (3) vs Richard Priest (6)	Richard Priest (6) vs Peter Davies (7)
Peter Davies (7) vs Michael Macdonald-Cooper (2)

The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

#	Date	Type	Contestant 1	Score	Contestant 2	Host	Arithmetician	Guest	Lex	Max
4509	2/01/2008	P	Jason Cullen	64 – 110	Gayle Smith	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Roger Cook	Alison Heard	139
4510	3/01/2008	P	Gayle Smith	108 – 26	Lester Ashton	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Roger Cook	Alison Heard	130
4511	4/01/2008	P	Gayle Smith	73 – 94	Grant Watson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Roger Cook	Alison Heard	131
4512	7/01/2008	P	Grant Watson	94 – 64	Philip Thornton	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Roger Cook	Alison Heard	135
4513	8/01/2008	P	Grant Watson	70 – 87	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Roger Cook	Alison Heard	121
4514	9/01/2008	P	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	92 – 65	John Brewster	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Alison Heard	118
4515	10/01/2008	P	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	84 – 73	Karyn Cooke	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Alison Heard	116
4516	11/01/2008	P	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	126 – 29	Stewart Scott	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Alison Heard	148
4517	14/01/2008	P	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	96 – 49	Jason Meek	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Alison Heard	130
4518	15/01/2008	P	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	103 – 88	William Bailey	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Alison Heard	121
4519	16/01/2008	P	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	100 – 41	Howard Salinger	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Alison Heard	119
4520	17/01/2008	P	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	92 – 85	Garvin Loughrin	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Alison Heard	119
4521	18/01/2008	P	Nick Brannan	75 – 94	Rachel Allenby	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Alison Heard	122
4522	21/01/2008	P	Rachel Allenby	50 – 82	Marjorie Hillman	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Alison Heard	140
4523	22/01/2008	P	Marjorie Hillman	73 – 69	Aidan Wheatley	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Alison Heard	128
4524	23/01/2008	P	Marjorie Hillman	100 – 46	David Reed	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Trudie Goodwin	Alison Heard	121
4525	24/01/2008	P	Marjorie Hillman	54 – 110	David O'Donnell	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Trudie Goodwin	Alison Heard	120
4526	25/01/2008	P	David O'Donnell	97 – 49	Brian Kay	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Trudie Goodwin	Alison Heard	130
4527	28/01/2008	P	David O'Donnell	92 – 62	Martin Smith	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Trudie Goodwin	Alison Heard	119
4528	29/01/2008	P	David O'Donnell	117 – 45	Bill Barrack	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Trudie Goodwin	Alison Heard	121
4529	30/01/2008	P	David O'Donnell	111 – 13	Hazel Wheeler	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Alison Heard	126
4530	31/01/2008	P	David O'Donnell	114 – 44	Rick Ruegg	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Alison Heard	131
4531	1/02/2008	P	David O'Donnell	122 – 62	Ian Browning	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Alison Heard	128
4532	4/02/2008	P	David O'Donnell	117 – 48	Steve Jepp	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Alison Heard	120
4533	5/02/2008	P	Ian Lamb	79* – 69	Sarah Flynn	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Alison Heard	133
4534	6/02/2008	P	Ian Lamb	114 – 49	Beryl Ogley	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	James Whitaker	Susie Dent	131
4535	7/02/2008	P	Ian Lamb	77 – 80	Nichola Sullings	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	James Whitaker	Susie Dent	150
4536	8/02/2008	P	Nichola Sullings	60 – 88	Tim Reypert	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	James Whitaker	Susie Dent	153
4537	11/02/2008	P	Tim Reypert	94 – 64	Michael Quinn	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	James Whitaker	Susie Dent	118
4538	12/02/2008	P	Tim Reypert	100 – 37	Ian Scott	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	James Whitaker	Susie Dent	117
4539	13/02/2008	P	Tim Reypert	101 – 36	Sylvana Carey	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Nicholas Owen	Susie Dent	129
4540	14/02/2008	P	Tim Reypert	89 – 50	Keith Wilcock	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Nicholas Owen	Susie Dent	133
4541	15/02/2008	P	Tim Reypert	96 – 27	John Bryan	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Nicholas Owen	Susie Dent	116
4542	18/02/2008	P	Tim Reypert	92 – 69	Ros Rochester	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Nicholas Owen	Susie Dent	119
4543	19/02/2008	P	Tim Reypert	113 – 40	Jennie Ferris	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Nicholas Owen	Susie Dent	133
4544	20/02/2008	P	Brian Morley	64 – 58	Mike Simons	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Inverdale	Susie Dent	131
4545	21/02/2008	P	Brian Morley	53 – 69	Barbara Fletcher	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Inverdale	Susie Dent	118
4546	22/02/2008	P	Barbara Fletcher	90 – 42	Ronnie Clark	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Inverdale	Susie Dent	120
4547	25/02/2008	P	Barbara Fletcher	61 – 77	Nick Chamberlain	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Inverdale	Susie Dent	123
4548	26/02/2008	P	Nick Chamberlain	61 – 58	Jean Simpson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Inverdale	Susie Dent	116
4549	27/02/2008	P	Nick Chamberlain	71 – 79	Barry Smith	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	119
4550	28/02/2008	P	Barry Smith	80 – 75	Nikki Cooper	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	129
4551	29/02/2008	P	Barry Smith	84 – 52	Karen Butcher	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	121
4552	3/03/2008	P	Barry Smith	75 – 63	Vic Goodall	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	128
4553	4/03/2008	P	Barry Smith	79 – 49	Mary Ridout	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Rick Wakeman	Susie Dent	130
4554	5/03/2008	P	Barry Smith	83 – 53	Anne Hellier	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Sergeant	Susie Dent	123
4555	6/03/2008	P	Barry Smith	109 – 55	Helen Saddler	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Sergeant	Susie Dent	118
4556	7/03/2008	P	Barry Smith	59 – 70	Bob O'Keefe	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Sergeant	Susie Dent	122
4557	10/03/2008	P	Bob O'Keefe	80 – 52	Richard Coombs	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Sergeant	Susie Dent	131
4558	17/03/2008	P	Bob O'Keefe	62 – 94	Joe Denniss	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	John Sergeant	Susie Dent	120
4559	18/03/2008	P	Joe Denniss	54 – 90	Andrew Swale	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dennis Taylor	Susie Dent	131
4560	19/03/2008	P	Andrew Swale	96 – 106*	Tony Durrant	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dennis Taylor	Susie Dent	116
4561	20/03/2008	P	Tony Durrant	98 – 73	Keith Brown	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dennis Taylor	Susie Dent	141
4562	21/03/2008	P	Tony Durrant	98 – 70	Colin Beck	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dennis Taylor	Susie Dent	128
4563	24/03/2008	P	Tony Durrant	87 – 110	Richard Priest	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	131
4564	25/03/2008	P	Richard Priest	91 – 75	Gill Ford	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	130
4565	26/03/2008	P	Richard Priest	109 – 59	Angus McGregor	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	135
4566	27/03/2008	P	Richard Priest	105 – 60	Sandra Gray	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	118
4567	28/03/2008	P	Richard Priest	101 – 25	Matt Wate	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	123
4568	31/03/2008	P	Richard Priest	98 – 20	Richard Wilson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Lynda Baron	Susie Dent	120
4569	1/04/2008	P	Richard Priest	83 – 85	Nigel Davies	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Lynda Baron	Susie Dent	120
4570	2/04/2008	P	Nigel Davies	90 – 38	Chris Smith	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Lynda Baron	Susie Dent	116
4571	3/04/2008	P	Nigel Davies	93 – 65	Mary Dickson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Lynda Baron	Susie Dent	119
4572	4/04/2008	P	Nigel Davies	73 – 91	Matthew Coates	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Lynda Baron	Susie Dent	118
4573	7/04/2008	P	Matthew Coates	105 – 42	Susan Wilson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	140
4574	8/04/2008	P	Matthew Coates	106 – 37	Richard James	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	143
4575	9/04/2008	P	Matthew Coates	87 – 97*	David Sandbach	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	116
4576	10/04/2008	P	David Sandbach	81 – 94	Julie Gregory	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	119
4577	11/04/2008	P	Julie Gregory	82 – 91	Hugh Shand	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	133
4578	14/04/2008	P	Hugh Shand	73 – 78	Carole Algie	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	130
4579	15/04/2008	P	Carole Algie	75 – 76	Diana Coull	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	123
4580	16/04/2008	P	Diana Coull	77 – 68	Peter Davey	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	128
4581	17/04/2008	P	Diana Coull	74 – 84	Len Marshall	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	130
4582	18/04/2008	P	Len Marshall	92 – 101	Ben Hanks	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jo Brand	Susie Dent	128
4583	21/04/2008	P	Ben Hanks	81 – 58	John Morrell	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	118
4584	22/04/2008	P	Ben Hanks	78 – 52	Melinda Ehlert	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	138
4585	23/04/2008	P	Ben Hanks	79 – 78	David Collingham	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	132
4586	24/04/2008	P	Ben Hanks	96 – 70	Mervyn Ward	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	131
4587	25/04/2008	P	Ben Hanks	79 – 40	Harry Barnett	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Paul Zenon	Susie Dent	128
4588	28/04/2008	P	Ben Hanks	66 – 71	David Preedy	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	126
4589	29/04/2008	P	David Preedy	65 – 72	Ellen Hill	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	119
4590	30/04/2008	P	Ellen Hill	62 – 90	Allannah Steadman	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	122
4591	1/05/2008	P	Allannah Steadman	71 – 98	Peter Davies	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	120
4592	2/05/2008	P	Peter Davies	103 – 37	Andy Fawcett	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Keith Barron	Susie Dent	132
4593	5/05/2008	P	Peter Davies	96 – 49	Mike Nelson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jennie Bond	Susie Dent	143
4594	6/05/2008	P	Peter Davies	93 – 67	Stephen Rooney	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jennie Bond	Susie Dent	116
4595	7/05/2008	P	Peter Davies	89 – 54	Sue Stevenson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jennie Bond	Susie Dent	149
4596	8/05/2008	P	Peter Davies	81 – 55	David Dunnington	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jennie Bond	Susie Dent	120
4597	9/05/2008	P	Peter Davies	82 – 89	Don Gill	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Jennie Bond	Susie Dent	116
4598	12/05/2008	P	Don Gill	71 – 82	Tony Betts	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	144
4599	13/05/2008	P	Tony Betts	44 – 73	Philippa Griffin	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	117
4600	14/05/2008	P	Philippa Griffin	92 – 45	Eunice Campbell	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	118
4601	15/05/2008	P	Philippa Griffin	67 – 78	Ross Watt	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	120
4602	16/05/2008	P	Ross Watt	81 – 60	Ben Simmons	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Martin Jarvis	Susie Dent	123
4603	19/05/2008	P	Ross Watt	61 – 85	Carl Dundas	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	119
4604	20/05/2008	P	Carl Dundas	76 – 65	Nick Horton	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	153
4605	21/05/2008	P	Carl Dundas	94 – 31	Neil Meynell	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	131
4606	22/05/2008	P	Carl Dundas	80 – 82	Barbara Cleggett	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	141
4607	23/05/2008	P	Barbara Cleggett	52 – 61	Lee Bailey	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Richard Digance	Susie Dent	151
4608	26/05/2008	P	Lee Bailey	66 – 58	Terry Godden	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Tom O'Connor	Susie Dent	122
4609	27/05/2008	P	Lee Bailey	39 – 124	Jonathan Coles	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Tom O'Connor	Susie Dent	143
4610	28/05/2008	P	Jonathan Coles	79 – 36	Connie Hird	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Tom O'Connor	Susie Dent	132
4611	29/05/2008	P	Jonathan Coles	87 – 59	Kath Hollis	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Tom O'Connor	Susie Dent	124
4612	30/05/2008	P	Jonathan Coles	89 – 72	Simon Jackson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Tom O'Connor	Susie Dent	112
4613	2/06/2008	P	Jonathan Coles	96 – 32	Kathy Craig	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	128
4614	3/06/2008	P	Jonathan Coles	75 – 57	Connie Watson	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	119
4615	4/06/2008	P	Jonathan Coles	97 – 76	Alan Carling	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	129
4616	5/06/2008	P	Jonathan Coles	99 – 41	Charlie Picken	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	128
4617	6/06/2008	P	Neil Sneddon	67 – 45	Tim Marsh	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Ricky Tomlinson	Susie Dent	129
4618	9/06/2008	P	Neil Sneddon	83 – 57	David Beale	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Susie Dent	132
4619	10/06/2008	P	Neil Sneddon	89 – 56	John Nuttall	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Susie Dent	117
4620	11/06/2008	P	Neil Sneddon	65 – 86	Tony Gilgun	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Susie Dent	131
4621	12/06/2008	QF	David O'Donnell	92 – 46	Ben Hanks	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Susie Dent	118
4622	13/06/2008	QF	Peter Davies	83 – 77	Michael Macdonald-Cooper	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Alastair Stewart	Susie Dent	123
4623	16/06/2008	QF	Tim Reypert	53 – 90	Richard Priest	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	116
4624	17/06/2008	QF	Jonathan Coles	101 – 75	Barry Smith	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	129
4625	18/06/2008	SF	David O'Donnell	95 – 82	Jonathan Coles	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	119
4626	19/06/2008	SF	Richard Priest	100 – 70	Peter Davies	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	124
4627	20/06/2008	GF	David O'Donnell	91 – 61	Richard Priest	{{{10}}}	{{{11}}}	Dr Phil Hammond	Susie Dent	118

* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links

Series 58 on The Countdown Database.
Series 58 on The Countdown Page.

Series 58

From Countdown

Contents

Seed table

Finals progress

Episodes

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