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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 seven 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 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

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 Presenters Guest Lex Max
4509 02/01/2008 P Jason Cullen 64 – 110 Gayle Smith Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Roger Cook Alison Heard 139
4510 03/01/2008 P Gayle Smith 108 – 26 Lester Ashton Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Roger Cook Alison Heard 130
4511 04/01/2008 P Gayle Smith 73 – 94 Grant Watson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Roger Cook Alison Heard 131
4512 07/01/2008 P Grant Watson 94 – 64 Philip Thornton Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Roger Cook Alison Heard 135
4513 08/01/2008 P Grant Watson 70 – 87 Michael Macdonald-Cooper Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Roger Cook Alison Heard 121
4514 09/01/2008 P Michael Macdonald-Cooper 92 – 65 John Brewster Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Alison Heard 118
4515 10/01/2008 P Michael Macdonald-Cooper 84 – 73 Karyn Cooke Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Alison Heard 116
4516 11/01/2008 P Michael Macdonald-Cooper 126 – 29 Stewart Scott Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Alison Heard 148
4517 14/01/2008 P Michael Macdonald-Cooper 96 – 49 Jason Meek Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Alison Heard 130
4518 15/01/2008 P Michael Macdonald-Cooper 103 – 88 William Bailey Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Alison Heard 121
4519 16/01/2008 P Michael Macdonald-Cooper 100 – 41 Howard Salinger Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Alison Heard 119
4520 17/01/2008 P Michael Macdonald-Cooper 92 – 85 Garvin Loughrin Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Alison Heard 119
4521 18/01/2008 P Nick Brannan 75 – 94 Rachel Allenby Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Alison Heard 122
4522 21/01/2008 P Rachel Allenby 50 – 82 Marjorie Hillman Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Alison Heard 140
4523 22/01/2008 P Marjorie Hillman 73 – 69 Aidan Wheatley Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Alison Heard 128
4524 23/01/2008 P Marjorie Hillman 100 – 46 David Reed Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Trudie Goodwin Alison Heard 121
4525 24/01/2008 P Marjorie Hillman 54 – 110 David O'Donnell Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Trudie Goodwin Alison Heard 120
4526 25/01/2008 P David O'Donnell 97 – 49 Brian Kay Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Trudie Goodwin Alison Heard 130
4527 28/01/2008 P David O'Donnell 92 – 62 Martin Smith Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Trudie Goodwin Alison Heard 119
4528 29/01/2008 P David O'Donnell 117 – 45 Bill Barrack Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Trudie Goodwin Alison Heard 121
4529 30/01/2008 P David O'Donnell 111 – 13 Hazel Wheeler Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Alison Heard 126
4530 31/01/2008 P David O'Donnell 114 – 44 Rick Ruegg Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Alison Heard 131
4531 01/02/2008 P David O'Donnell 122 – 62 Ian Browning Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Alison Heard 128
4532 04/02/2008 P David O'Donnell 117 – 48 Steve Jepp Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Alison Heard 120
4533 05/02/2008 P Ian Lamb 79* – 69 Sarah Flynn Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Alison Heard 133
4534 06/02/2008 P Ian Lamb 114 – 49 Beryl Ogley Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman James Whitaker Susie Dent 131
4535 07/02/2008 P Ian Lamb 77 – 80 Nichola Sullings Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman James Whitaker Susie Dent 150
4536 08/02/2008 P Nichola Sullings 60 – 88 Tim Reypert Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman James Whitaker Susie Dent 153
4537 11/02/2008 P Tim Reypert 94 – 64 Michael Quinn Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman James Whitaker Susie Dent 118
4538 12/02/2008 P Tim Reypert 100 – 37 Ian Scott Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman James Whitaker Susie Dent 117
4539 13/02/2008 P Tim Reypert 101 – 36 Sylvana Carey Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Nicholas Owen Susie Dent 129
4540 14/02/2008 P Tim Reypert 89 – 50 Keith Wilcock Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Nicholas Owen Susie Dent 133
4541 15/02/2008 P Tim Reypert 96 – 27 John Bryan Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Nicholas Owen Susie Dent 116
4542 18/02/2008 P Tim Reypert 92 – 69 Ros Rochester Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Nicholas Owen Susie Dent 119
4543 19/02/2008 P Tim Reypert 113 – 40 Jennie Ferris Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Nicholas Owen Susie Dent 133
4544 20/02/2008 P Brian Morley 64 – 58 Mike Simons Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Inverdale Susie Dent 131
4545 21/02/2008 P Brian Morley 53 – 69 Barbara Fletcher Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Inverdale Susie Dent 118
4546 22/02/2008 P Barbara Fletcher 90 – 42 Ronnie Clark Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Inverdale Susie Dent 120
4547 25/02/2008 P Barbara Fletcher 61 – 77 Nick Chamberlain Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Inverdale Susie Dent 123
4548 26/02/2008 P Nick Chamberlain 61 – 58 Jean Simpson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Inverdale Susie Dent 116
4549 27/02/2008 P Nick Chamberlain 71 – 79 Barry Smith Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 119
4550 28/02/2008 P Barry Smith 80 – 75 Nikki Cooper Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 129
4551 29/02/2008 P Barry Smith 84 – 52 Karen Butcher Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 121
4552 03/03/2008 P Barry Smith 75 – 63 Vic Goodall Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 128
4553 04/03/2008 P Barry Smith 79 – 49 Mary Ridout Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 130
4554 05/03/2008 P Barry Smith 83 – 53 Anne Hellier Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Sergeant Susie Dent 123
4555 06/03/2008 P Barry Smith 109 – 55 Helen Saddler Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Sergeant Susie Dent 118
4556 07/03/2008 P Barry Smith 59 – 70 Bob O'Keefe Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Sergeant Susie Dent 122
4557 10/03/2008 P Bob O'Keefe 80 – 52 Richard Coombs Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Sergeant Susie Dent 131
4558 17/03/2008 P Bob O'Keefe 62 – 94 Joe Denniss Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman John Sergeant Susie Dent 120
4559 18/03/2008 P Joe Denniss 54 – 90 Andrew Swale Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dennis Taylor Susie Dent 131
4560 19/03/2008 P Andrew Swale 96 – 106* Tony Durrant Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dennis Taylor Susie Dent 116
4561 20/03/2008 P Tony Durrant 98 – 73 Keith Brown Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dennis Taylor Susie Dent 141
4562 21/03/2008 P Tony Durrant 98 – 70 Colin Beck Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dennis Taylor Susie Dent 128
4563 24/03/2008 P Tony Durrant 87 – 110 Richard Priest Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 131
4564 25/03/2008 P Richard Priest 91 – 75 Gill Ford Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 130
4565 26/03/2008 P Richard Priest 109 – 59 Angus McGregor Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 135
4566 27/03/2008 P Richard Priest 105 – 60 Sandra Gray Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 118
4567 28/03/2008 P Richard Priest 101 – 25 Matt Wate Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 123
4568 31/03/2008 P Richard Priest 98 – 20 Richard Wilson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Lynda Baron Susie Dent 120
4569 01/04/2008 P Richard Priest 83 – 85 Nigel Davies Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Lynda Baron Susie Dent 120
4570 02/04/2008 P Nigel Davies 90 – 38 Chris Smith Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Lynda Baron Susie Dent 116
4571 03/04/2008 P Nigel Davies 93 – 65 Mary Dickson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Lynda Baron Susie Dent 119
4572 04/04/2008 P Nigel Davies 73 – 91 Matthew Coates Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Lynda Baron Susie Dent 118
4573 07/04/2008 P Matthew Coates 105 – 42 Susan Wilson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 140
4574 08/04/2008 P Matthew Coates 106 – 37 Richard James Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 143
4575 09/04/2008 P Matthew Coates 87 – 97* David Sandbach Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 116
4576 10/04/2008 P David Sandbach 81 – 94 Julie Gregory Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 119
4577 11/04/2008 P Julie Gregory 82 – 91 Hugh Shand Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 133
4578 14/04/2008 P Hugh Shand 73 – 78 Carole Algie Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 130
4579 15/04/2008 P Carole Algie 75 – 76 Diana Coull Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 123
4580 16/04/2008 P Diana Coull 77 – 68 Peter Davey Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 128
4581 17/04/2008 P Diana Coull 74 – 84 Len Marshall Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 130
4582 18/04/2008 P Len Marshall 92 – 101 Ben Hanks Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jo Brand Susie Dent 128
4583 21/04/2008 P Ben Hanks 81 – 58 John Morrell Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 118
4584 22/04/2008 P Ben Hanks 78 – 52 Melinda Ehlert Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 138
4585 23/04/2008 P Ben Hanks 79 – 78 David Collingham Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 132
4586 24/04/2008 P Ben Hanks 96 – 70 Mervyn Ward Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 131
4587 25/04/2008 P Ben Hanks 79 – 40 Harry Barnett Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Paul Zenon Susie Dent 128
4588 28/04/2008 P Ben Hanks 66 – 71 David Preedy Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 126
4589 29/04/2008 P David Preedy 65 – 72 Ellen Hill Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 119
4590 30/04/2008 P Ellen Hill 62 – 90 Allannah Steadman Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 122
4591 01/05/2008 P Allannah Steadman 71 – 98 Peter Davies Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 120
4592 02/05/2008 P Peter Davies 103 – 37 Andy Fawcett Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Keith Barron Susie Dent 132
4593 05/05/2008 P Peter Davies 96 – 49 Mike Nelson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 143
4594 06/05/2008 P Peter Davies 93 – 67 Stephen Rooney Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 116
4595 07/05/2008 P Peter Davies 89 – 54 Sue Stevenson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 149
4596 08/05/2008 P Peter Davies 81 – 55 David Dunnington Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 120
4597 09/05/2008 P Peter Davies 82 – 89 Don Gill Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Jennie Bond Susie Dent 116
4598 12/05/2008 P Don Gill 71 – 82 Tony Betts Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 144
4599 13/05/2008 P Tony Betts 44 – 73 Philippa Griffin Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 117
4600 14/05/2008 P Philippa Griffin 92 – 45 Eunice Campbell Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 118
4601 15/05/2008 P Philippa Griffin 67 – 78 Ross Watt Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 120
4602 16/05/2008 P Ross Watt 81 – 60 Ben Simmons Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Martin Jarvis Susie Dent 123
4603 19/05/2008 P Ross Watt 61 – 85 Carl Dundas Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 119
4604 20/05/2008 P Carl Dundas 76 – 65 Nick Horton Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 153
4605 21/05/2008 P Carl Dundas 94 – 31 Neil Meynell Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 131
4606 22/05/2008 P Carl Dundas 80 – 82 Barbara Cleggett Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 141
4607 23/05/2008 P Barbara Cleggett 52 – 61 Lee Bailey Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 151
4608 26/05/2008 P Lee Bailey 66 – 58 Terry Godden Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 122
4609 27/05/2008 P Lee Bailey 39 – 124 Jonathan Coles Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 143
4610 28/05/2008 P Jonathan Coles 79 – 36 Connie Hird Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 132
4611 29/05/2008 P Jonathan Coles 87 – 59 Kath Hollis Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 124
4612 30/05/2008 P Jonathan Coles 89 – 72 Simon Jackson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Susie Dent 112
4613 02/06/2008 P Jonathan Coles 96 – 32 Kathy Craig Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 128
4614 03/06/2008 P Jonathan Coles 75 – 57 Connie Watson Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 119
4615 04/06/2008 P Jonathan Coles 97 – 76 Alan Carling Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 129
4616 05/06/2008 P Jonathan Coles 99 – 41 Charlie Picken Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 128
4617 06/06/2008 P Neil Sneddon 67 – 45 Tim Marsh Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Ricky Tomlinson Susie Dent 129
4618 09/06/2008 P Neil Sneddon 83 – 57 David Beale Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 132
4619 10/06/2008 P Neil Sneddon 89 – 56 John Nuttall Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 117
4620 11/06/2008 P Neil Sneddon 65 – 86 Tony Gilgun Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 131
4621 12/06/2008 QF David O'Donnell 92 – 46 Ben Hanks Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 118
4622 13/06/2008 QF Peter Davies 83 – 77 Michael Macdonald-Cooper Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 123
4623 16/06/2008 QF Tim Reypert 53 – 90 Richard Priest Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 116
4624 17/06/2008 QF Jonathan Coles 101 – 75 Barry Smith Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 129
4625 18/06/2008 SF David O'Donnell 95 – 82 Jonathan Coles Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 119
4626 19/06/2008 SF Richard Priest 100 – 70 Peter Davies Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 124
4627 20/06/2008 GF David O'Donnell 91 – 61 Richard Priest Des O'Connor Carol Vorderman Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 118
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links