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Series 59

From Countdown
Series 59 champion Junaid Mubeen holding the Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy, alongside runner-up Charlie Reams and Carol Vorderman.

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.

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
Alex Horne qualified for the finals with three wins and 342 points, but was unable to appear due to his commitments with comedy.
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

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)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

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

External Links

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