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Series 59

Series 59 ran from 23 June to 12 December 2008, and was won by Junaid Mubeen. As well as being the first series to take a break during the summer, this was the last ever series to feature Des O'Connor and Carol Vorderman as presenters. In a departure from usual procedure, the final was filmed standalone at the request of Vorderman, and was preceded by One Last Consonant Please, Carol.
Contents
Series finals
Quarter-finals
The first quarter-final saw Charlie Reams spot words including SAMPHIRE and FIESTAS to beat Patricia Jamieson in an otherwise close game. The second quarter-final between Martin Bishop and Lee Simmonds was a drubbing. Bishop scored 112 out of a possible 117, scoring maximums on all numbers games and the conundrum and dropping just five points on the letters. Junaid Mubeen put in an even better performance against professional footballer Neil MacKenzie, winning with a score of 124 out of 127 including the tricky conundrum FOAMICING. The fourth quarter-final featured Debbi Flack and 11-year old fan favourite Kai Laddiman. Both players made mistakes in the game, but it was Laddiman who triumphed after neither could solve the crucial conundrum CLASSRIDE.
Semi-finals
The first semi-final looked like it might produce a surprise as Reams went 14 – 0 down against Laddiman. However, Reams beat Laddiman in a further five rounds in the game, including the first and second numbers game. In round 13, Reams found the word SUNDIAL when Laddiman only had UNSAID; with this Reams was guaranteed victory and avoided a crucial conundrum. The second semi-final promised to be a classic as the two players had scored 236 out of a possible combined maximum score of 244 in their previous respective games. The game didn't quite ignite, although the scores were always close. Mubeen went ahead with SPATIAL and ROMAINE, but Bishop reduced his arrears when Mubeen had precasted ☓ disallowed. However, when in the final letters round Bishop had somaine ☓ disallowed, the game was mathematically over, and Mubeen went on to win by 40 points in a game closer than the final scoreline suggests.
Grand final
In the final, the #1 seed faced the #3 seed in a game which proved very close. Reams missed STEMMED in the first round, but Mubeen had slopers ☓ disallowed in the next. Both players scored in the next two rounds, before in round 5 Mubeen decided to pick six small numbers. Reams declared nothing while Mubeen declared 929, two away from the target. However, he had miscounted and scored no points. In the second half, Mubeen took the lead with ORGANDIE and extended it when Reams had aliener ☓ disallowed. Mubeen held onto this lead until the final numbers round. Herein, Reams made a tactical choice of four large numbers; this didn't work out as both players got the target and put their pens down after 20 seconds. Mubeen had a 14-point lead going into the conundrum, but it was Reams that unravelled ERACLOSES and lost the final by just four points, 88 – 84.
Seed table
Rank | Name | Wins | Points |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Charlie Reams | 8 | 820 |
2 | Martin Bishop | 8 | 809 |
3 | Junaid Mubeen | 8 | 790 |
4 | Kai Laddiman | 8 | 756 |
5 | Debbi Flack | 6 | 600 |
6 | Neil MacKenzie | 5 | 480 |
7 | Lee Simmonds | 3 | 339 |
8 | Patricia Jamieson | 3 | 332 |
Finals progress
Charlie Reams (1) vs Patricia Jamieson (8) | Charlie Reams (1) vs Kai Laddiman (4) | Charlie Reams (1) vs Junaid Mubeen (3) |
Debbi Flack (5) vs Kai Laddiman (4) | ||
Junaid Mubeen (3) vs Neil MacKenzie (6) | Junaid Mubeen (3) vs Martin Bishop (2) | |
Lee Simmonds (7) vs Martin Bishop (2) |
Episodes
# | Date | Type | Contestant 1 | Score | Contestant 2 | Presenters | Guest | Lex | Max | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4628 | 23/06/2008 | P | Tony Gilgun | 62 – 54 | Daniel Spiller | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ken Bruce | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4629 | 24/06/2008 | P | Tony Gilgun | 82 – 46 | Arthur Frost | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ken Bruce | Susie Dent | 142 | ||
4630 | 25/06/2008 | P | Tony Gilgun | 56 – 100 | Lee Simmonds | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ken Bruce | Susie Dent | 132 | ||
4631 | 26/06/2008 | P | Lee Simmonds | 91 – 69 | Brian Gregory | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ken Bruce | Susie Dent | 131 | ||
4632 | 27/06/2008 | P | Lee Simmonds | 87 – 71 | John Hurst | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ken Bruce | Susie Dent | 133 | ||
4633 | 30/06/2008 | P | Lee Simmonds | 61 – 71 | Neil MacKenzie | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Norman | Susie Dent | 115 | ||
4634 | 01/07/2008 | P | Neil MacKenzie | 104 – 80 | Shirley Lye | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Norman | Susie Dent | 138 | ||
4635 | 02/07/2008 | P | Neil MacKenzie | 72 – 69 | Ken Dunbar | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Norman | Susie Dent | 128 | ||
4636 | 03/07/2008 | P | Neil MacKenzie | 104 – 59 | Emlyn Lewis | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Norman | Susie Dent | 125 | ||
4637 | 04/07/2008 | P | Neil MacKenzie | 63 – 39 | Chris Morgan | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Norman | Susie Dent | 119 | ||
4638 | 07/07/2008 | P | Neil MacKenzie | 66 – 80 | Katy Turner | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Lynda Baron | Susie Dent | 129 | ||
4639 | 08/07/2008 | P | Katy Turner | 84 – 99 | Patricia Jamieson | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Lynda Baron | Susie Dent | 128 | ||
4640 | 09/07/2008 | P | Patricia Jamieson | 82 – 72 | Peter Holt | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Lynda Baron | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4641 | 10/07/2008 | P | Patricia Jamieson | 84 – 59 | Angus Shaw | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Lynda Baron | Susie Dent | 122 | ||
4642 | 11/07/2008 | P | Patricia Jamieson | 67 – 75 | Pat Hicks | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Lynda Baron | Susie Dent | 119 | ||
4643 | 14/07/2008 | P | Pat Hicks | 72 – 75 | Peter Young | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Rick Wakeman | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4644 | 15/07/2008 | P | Peter Young | 68 – 59 | Michael Evans | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Rick Wakeman | Susie Dent | 122 | ||
4645 | 16/07/2008 | P | Peter Young | 53 – 58 | Bev Jones | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Rick Wakeman | Susie Dent | 132 | ||
4646 | 17/07/2008 | P | Bev Jones | 30 – 77 | Chris Davies | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Rick Wakeman | Susie Dent | 118 | ||
4647 | 18/07/2008 | P | Chris Davies | 60 – 90 | Margaret Taroni | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Rick Wakeman | Susie Dent | 133 | ||
4648 | 21/07/2008 | P | Margaret Taroni | 61 – 77 | Frank Larkin | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Sergeant | Susie Dent | 130 | ||
4649 | 22/07/2008 | P | Frank Larkin | 65 – 68 | Alistair Kinnon | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Sergeant | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4650 | 23/07/2008 | P | Alistair Kinnon | 71 – 53 | Nick Locock | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Sergeant | Susie Dent | 133 | ||
4651 | 24/07/2008 | P | Alistair Kinnon | 80 – 94 | Samira Mohamed | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Sergeant | Susie Dent | 130 | ||
4652 | 25/07/2008 | P | Samira Mohamed | 109 – 43 | Stephen Collins | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Sergeant | Susie Dent | 150 | ||
4653 | 25/08/2008 | P | Samira Mohamed | 54 – 62 | Jeremy Miles | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Arthur Smith | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4654 | 26/08/2008 | P | Jeremy Miles | 66 – 93 | Alex Horne | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Arthur Smith | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4655 | 27/08/2008 | P | Alex Horne | 88 – 84 | Maralyn Bodham | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Arthur Smith | Susie Dent | 122 | ||
4656 | 28/08/2008 | P | Alex Horne | 95 – 61 | Jonny Clarkson | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Arthur Smith | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4657 | 29/08/2008 | P | Alex Horne | 66 – 80 | Tom White | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Arthur Smith | Susie Dent | 142 | ||
4658 | 01/09/2008 | P | Tom White | 85 – 70 | June Harvey | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Graham Cole | Susie Dent | 127 | ||
4659 | 02/09/2008 | P | Tom White | 61 – 101 | Debbi Flack | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Graham Cole | Susie Dent | 132 | ||
4660 | 03/09/2008 | P | Debbi Flack | 92 – 68 | Peter O'Hare | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Graham Cole | Susie Dent | 119 | ||
4661 | 04/09/2008 | P | Debbi Flack | 84 – 64 | Alastair Wilkin | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Graham Cole | Susie Dent | 137 | ||
4662 | 05/09/2008 | P | Debbi Flack | 74 – 72 | Declan Lyons | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Anton du Beke | Susie Dent | 115 | ||
4663 | 08/09/2008 | P | Debbi Flack | 97 – 64 | Alasdair Duguid | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Anton du Beke | Susie Dent | 127 | ||
4664 | 09/09/2008 | P | Debbi Flack | 77 – 50 | Kay Landsburgh | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Anton du Beke | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4665 | 10/09/2008 | P | Debbi Flack | 75 – 107 | Mike Lambert | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Anton du Beke | Susie Dent | 140 | ||
4666 | 11/09/2008 | P | Mike Lambert | 75 – 41 | Paul Norton | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Anton du Beke | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4667 | 12/09/2008 | P | Mike Lambert | 65 – 89 | Suzanne Perkins | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Henry Blofeld | Susie Dent | 111 | ||
4668 | 15/09/2008 | P | Suzanne Perkins | 71 – 83 | Tony Welby | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Henry Blofeld | Susie Dent | 128 | ||
4669 | 16/09/2008 | P | Tony Welby | 44 – 83 | Denise McHale | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Henry Blofeld | Susie Dent | 127 | ||
4670 | 17/09/2008 | P | Denise McHale | 81 – 93 | Ian Fearon | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Henry Blofeld | Susie Dent | 119 | ||
4671 | 18/09/2008 | P | Ian Fearon | 67 – 85 | Sarah Knapper | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Andrew Sachs | Susie Dent | 118 | ||
4672 | 19/09/2008 | P | Sarah Knapper | 76 – 82 | Julie Rees | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Andrew Sachs | Susie Dent | 118 | ||
4673 | 22/09/2008 | P | Julie Rees | 42 – 100 | Junaid Mubeen | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Andrew Sachs | Susie Dent | 144 | ||
4674 | 23/09/2008 | P | Junaid Mubeen | 92 – 79 | Hazel Jones | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Andrew Sachs | Susie Dent | 129 | ||
4675 | 24/09/2008 | P | Junaid Mubeen | 121 – 67 | David Williams | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Keith Barron | Susie Dent | 134 | ||
4676 | 25/09/2008 | P | Junaid Mubeen | 106 – 49 | Darren Stibbs | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Keith Barron | Susie Dent | 117 | ||
4677 | 26/09/2008 | P | Junaid Mubeen | 106 – 72 | Tony McCreadie | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Keith Barron | Susie Dent | 139 | ||
4678 | 29/09/2008 | P | Junaid Mubeen | 94 – 55 | Gerard Doyle | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Keith Barron | Susie Dent | 122 | ||
4679 | 30/09/2008 | P | Junaid Mubeen | 74 – 62 | Jonathan Gilligan | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Cryer | Susie Dent | 117 | ||
4680 | 01/10/2008 | P | Junaid Mubeen | 97 – 27 | Margaret Batters | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Cryer | Susie Dent | 122 | ||
4681 | 02/10/2008 | P | Kai Laddiman | 93 – 64 | James Bruce | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Cryer | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4682 | 03/10/2008 | P | Kai Laddiman | 95 – 86 | Jeff Francis | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Cryer | Susie Dent | 118 | ||
4683 | 06/10/2008 | P | Kai Laddiman | 95 – 61 | Bill Franklin | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Barry Cryer | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4684 | 07/10/2008 | P | Kai Laddiman | 91 – 68 | Don Walker | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Nicholas Owen | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4685 | 08/10/2008 | P | Kai Laddiman | 89 – 56 | Alex Gaywood | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Nicholas Owen | Susie Dent | 125 | ||
4686 | 09/10/2008 | P | Kai Laddiman | 97 – 56 | Zachery Stephenson | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Nicholas Owen | Susie Dent | 133 | ||
4687 | 10/10/2008 | P | Kai Laddiman | 91 – 59 | Hardev Raikmo | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Nicholas Owen | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4688 | 13/10/2008 | P | Kai Laddiman | 105 – 55 | Richard Pascoe | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Nicholas Owen | Susie Dent | 132 | ||
4689 | 14/10/2008 | P | Sue Staples | 67 – 83 | John McCarthy | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ann Widdecombe | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4690 | 15/10/2008 | P | John McCarthy | 69 – 114 | Charlie Reams | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ann Widdecombe | Susie Dent | 128 | ||
4691 | 16/10/2008 | P | Charlie Reams | 126 – 31 | Darren Edwards | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ann Widdecombe | Susie Dent | 142 | ||
4692 | 17/10/2008 | P | Charlie Reams | 92 – 54 | David Wylie | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ann Widdecombe | Susie Dent | 123 | ||
4693 | 20/10/2008 | P | Charlie Reams | 106 – 60 | Kathleen Carroll | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ann Widdecombe | Susie Dent | 123 | ||
4694 | 21/10/2008 | P | Charlie Reams | 115 – 88 | Allan Harmer | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Brian Capron | Susie Dent | 128 | ||
4695 | 22/10/2008 | P | Charlie Reams | 92 – 51 | Paul Blake | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Brian Capron | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4696 | 23/10/2008 | P | Charlie Reams | 102 – 79 | Anne Jenkin | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Brian Capron | Susie Dent | 131 | ||
4697 | 24/10/2008 | P | Charlie Reams | 73 – 52 | John Eva | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Brian Capron | Susie Dent | 132 | ||
4698 | 27/10/2008 | P | Scott Jones | 94 – 81 | Stephen Dixon | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Brian Capron | Susie Dent | 141 | ||
4699 | 28/10/2008 | P | Scott Jones | 72 – 74 | Lynne Owens | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ranulph Fiennes | Susie Dent | 119 | ||
4700 | 29/10/2008 | P | Lynne Owens | 86 – 50 | Phredd Warren | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ranulph Fiennes | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4701 | 30/10/2008 | P | Lynne Owens | 80 – 86 | Dan O'Hara | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ranulph Fiennes | Susie Dent | 132 | ||
4702 | 31/10/2008 | P | Dan O'Hara | 39 – 79 | Andy Crompton | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ranulph Fiennes | Susie Dent | 129 | ||
4703 | 03/11/2008 | P | Andy Crompton | 81 – 55 | Sylvia Fountain | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Ranulph Fiennes | Susie Dent | 130 | ||
4704 | 04/11/2008 | P | Andy Crompton | 92 – 109 | Martin Bishop | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Paul Zenon | Susie Dent | 127 | ||
4705 | 05/11/2008 | P | Martin Bishop | 115 – 54 | Alice Donald | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Paul Zenon | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4706 | 06/11/2008 | P | Martin Bishop | 92 – 56 | Daniel Searle | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Paul Zenon | Susie Dent | 116 | ||
4707 | 07/11/2008 | P | Martin Bishop | 94 – 67 | Thomas Cappleman | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Paul Zenon | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4708 | 10/11/2008 | P | Martin Bishop | 95 – 68 | Lesley Wootton | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Paul Zenon | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4709 | 11/11/2008 | P | Martin Bishop | 111 – 43 | Caro Ness | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Inverdale | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4710 | 12/11/2008 | P | Martin Bishop | 110 – 61 | Campbell Norris | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Inverdale | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4711 | 13/11/2008 | P | Martin Bishop | 83 – 59 | June Walden | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Inverdale | Susie Dent | 125 | ||
4712 | 14/11/2008 | P | Peter Oliver | 80 – 74 | Garry Preston | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Inverdale | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
4713 | 17/11/2008 | P | Peter Oliver | 64 – 66 | Mark Redhead | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | John Inverdale | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4714 | 18/11/2008 | P | Mark Redhead | 85 – 64 | Paula Rogers | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Pam Ayres | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4715 | 19/11/2008 | P | Mark Redhead | 58 – 73 | John Matthews | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Pam Ayres | Susie Dent | 130 | ||
4716 | 20/11/2008 | P | John Matthews | 83 – 73 | Jennifer Philippart | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Pam Ayres | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
4717 | 21/11/2008 | P | John Matthews | 85 – 83 | Lee Hesketh | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Pam Ayres | Susie Dent | 118 | ||
4718 | 24/11/2008 | P | John Matthews | 80 – 85 | Hilary Batchelor | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Pam Ayres | Susie Dent | 128 | ||
4719 | 25/11/2008 | P | Hilary Batchelor | 66 – 81 | Steve Elcock | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Sue Cleaver | Susie Dent | 132 | ||
4720 | 26/11/2008 | P | Steve Elcock | 81 – 73 | Daryl Hawes | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Sue Cleaver | Susie Dent | 139 | ||
4721 | 27/11/2008 | P | Steve Elcock | 65 – 91 | Denis Kaye | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Sue Cleaver | Susie Dent | 137 | ||
4722 | 28/11/2008 | P | Denis Kaye | 92 – 91 | Colin Westacott | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Sue Cleaver | Susie Dent | 130 | ||
4723 | 01/12/2008 | P | Denis Kaye | 88 – 68 | Kim Holding | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Sue Cleaver | Susie Dent | 119 | ||
4724 | 02/12/2008 | P | Denis Kaye | 60 – 76 | Lynne Cavanagh | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Dr Phil Hammond | Susie Dent | 129 | ||
4725 | 03/12/2008 | P | Lynne Cavanagh | 72 – 79 | Zoe Bowman | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Dr Phil Hammond | Susie Dent | 127 | ||
4726 | 04/12/2008 | QF | Charlie Reams | 82 – 69 | Patricia Jamieson | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Dr Phil Hammond | Susie Dent | 124 | ||
4727 | 05/12/2008 | QF | Martin Bishop | 112 – 64 | Lee Simmonds | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Dr Phil Hammond | Susie Dent | 117 | ||
4728 | 08/12/2008 | QF | Neil MacKenzie | 57 – 124 | Junaid Mubeen | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Jo Brand | Susie Dent | 127 | ||
4729 | 09/12/2008 | QF | Kai Laddiman | 82 – 73 | Debbi Flack | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Jo Brand | Susie Dent | 132 | ||
4730 | 10/12/2008 | SF | Kai Laddiman | 70 – 99 | Charlie Reams | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Jo Brand | Susie Dent | 133 | ||
4731 | 11/12/2008 | SF | Junaid Mubeen | 96 – 56 | Martin Bishop | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Jo Brand | Susie Dent | 115 | ||
4732 | 12/12/2008 | GF | Junaid Mubeen | 88 – 84 | Charlie Reams | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | Gyles Brandreth | Susie Dent | 118 |