Due to persistent vandalism, account creation has been suspended. If you would like an account, please contact Charlie Reams on Apterous.

Series 64

From Countdown
Series 64 champion Edward McCullagh with his winning dictionaries and trophy.

Series 64 ran from 10 January to 3 June 2011. The series was the fifth of six presented by Jeff Stelling, and introduced the new ODE3. New production rules prohibiting contestants aged 15 or under were also enforced, for legal reasons. It was won by Edward McCullagh.

It was the first series to air at 3:10pm, the third-ever earliest regular broadcast time for Countdown. It was also notably shorter than average, ending on 3 June rather than in the second half of June as is typical for a January-to-June series; the reasons for this are unknown.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Adam Gillard 8 903
2 Edward McCullagh 8 896
3 Tom Barnes 8 822
4 Andy McGurn 8 702
5 Ned Pendleton 8 664
6 Mary Adie 5 498
7 Andrew McNamara 5 466
8 Michelle Nevitt 4 366
Graham Hill, with six wins and 577 points, qualified for the finals as No. 6 seed but was unable to play.
Since Series 60, 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 the number of conundrums correctly guessed, then highest single-game score.

Finals progress

Adam Gillard (1) vs Michelle Nevitt (8) Adam Gillard (1) vs Andy McGurn (4) Adam Gillard (1)
vs
Edward McCullagh (2)
Ned Pendleton (5) vs Andy McGurn (4)
Tom Barnes (3) vs Mary Adie (6) Mary Adie (6) vs Edward McCullagh (2)
Andrew McNamara (7) vs Edward McCullagh (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Series finals

Quarter-finals

Michelle Nevitt may only have qualified for the series finals due to Graham Hill's withdrawal, but she still gave a respectable showing against Adam Gillard. However, the top seed was too strong and he would have registered the highest score of the series (beating his own record) but for an unfortunate mistake on the conundrum. Second seed Edward McCullagh's passage to the semi-finals was even more emphatic, as he thrashed Andrew McNamara. He also notched his ninth century in as many attempts, despite a couple of setbacks in part one. The first “upset” of the finals came in the third quarter-final between Tom Barnes and Mary Adie (third and sixth seeds respectively). Barnes was strong favourite to progress after an impressive run in the heats but found himself trailing by ten points going into the conundrum, after a back and forth match. Both players made incorrect guesses late on and it was Adie who prevailed. The last of the quarter-finals was even tighter, as a tiebreak conundrum was needed to separate Ned Pendleton and Andy McGurn. After Pendleton incorrectly buzzed in with the answer SPOONING ☓, McGurn correctly guessed POISONING to win a titanic battle.

Semi-finals

Unfortunately, neither semi-final was a close contest. McGurn gave Gillard and early scare but ultimately the number one seed fought back impressively. Adie was unable to repeat her quarter-final heroics against McCullagh, who delivered a devastating performance that featured thirteen maximums and seven darrens. It was no surprise that the top two seeds had made the grand final.

Final

McCullagh gained the early advantage by spotting BROWNIES late in the first round and he extended his lead thanks to five points on a very tough first numbers game. Gillard also performed admirably but he was unable to force a crucial conundrum, with both contestants matching each others' declarations in all but one round from part two onwards. The non-crucial conundrum stumped both finalists, but McCullagh had done enough to become the champion on Series 64, winning the final by a 113 – 94 scoreline.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
5179 10/01/2011 P Mike Pickering 77 – 58 Karen Conduit Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 136
5180 11/01/2011 P Mike Pickering 70 – 80 Gavin Cooksley Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5181 12/01/2011 P Gavin Cooksley 51 – 106 Adam Gillard Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 116
5182 13/01/2011 P Adam Gillard 105 – 36 Fran Dyson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 129
5183 14/01/2011 P Adam Gillard 126 – 70 Ray Li Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 129
5184 17/01/2011 P Adam Gillard 113 – 65 Andy Turner Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jonathan Maitland Susie Dent 116
5185 18/01/2011 P Adam Gillard 110 – 74 Liz Prior Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jonathan Maitland Susie Dent 131
5186 19/01/2011 P Adam Gillard 116 – 32 Cheryl Cutler Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jonathan Maitland Susie Dent 151
5187 20/01/2011 P Adam Gillard 102 – 75 Adam Manning Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jonathan Maitland Susie Dent 131
5188 21/01/2011 P Adam Gillard 125 – 23 Mavis Riley Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jonathan Maitland Susie Dent 141
5189 24/01/2011 P Ken Alden 90 – 47 Dave Roome Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Andrew Castle Susie Dent 151
5190 25/01/2011 P Ken Alden 54 – 91 Jamie Humphries Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Andrew Castle Susie Dent 138
5191 26/01/2011 P Jamie Humphries 78 – 59 Steven Thorpe Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Andrew Castle Susie Dent 129
5192 27/01/2011 P Jamie Humphries 83 – 89 Jody Sparrow Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Andrew Castle Susie Dent 125
5193 28/01/2011 P Jody Sparrow 96 – 42 Paolo Barone Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Andrew Castle Susie Dent 111
5194 31/01/2011 P Jody Sparrow 66 – 89 Dave Dyer Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 128
5195 01/02/2011 P Dave Dyer 108 – 29 Thom Archer Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 123
5196 02/02/2011 P Dave Dyer 83 – 115 Edward McCullagh Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 132
5197 03/02/2011 P Edward McCullagh 97 – 28 David Clerkin Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 119
5198 04/02/2011 P Edward McCullagh 120 – 45 Judy Baynes Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 130
5199 07/02/2011 P Edward McCullagh 108 – 24 Paul Walsh Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 117
5200 08/02/2011 P Edward McCullagh 118 – 38 Harold Sanditen Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 119
5201 09/02/2011 P Edward McCullagh 106 – 76 Andrew Mossford Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 116
5202 10/02/2011 P Edward McCullagh 121 – 27 Lalitha Thyagarajan Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 127
5203 11/02/2011 P Edward McCullagh 111 – 40 Terry O'Hanlon Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 119
5204 14/02/2011 P Dennis Shannon 73 – 81 Andy Campbell Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Debra Stephenson Susie Dent 127
5205 15/02/2011 P Andy Campbell 87 – 86 Matthew Barrett Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Debra Stephenson Susie Dent 119
5206 16/02/2011 P Andy Campbell 65 – 89 Mark Jones Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Debra Stephenson Susie Dent 122
5207 17/02/2011 P Mark Jones 62 – 69 Ned Pendleton Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Debra Stephenson Susie Dent 141
5208 18/02/2011 P Ned Pendleton 70 – 48 Colin Cox Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Debra Stephenson Susie Dent 116
5209 21/02/2011 P Ned Pendleton 70 – 63 Andy Johnson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 119
5210 22/02/2011 P Ned Pendleton 92 – 59 Greg Bowler Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 127
5211 23/02/2011 P Ned Pendleton 91 – 83 John Cornforth Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 122
5212 24/02/2011 P Ned Pendleton 89 – 66 Dan McColm Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 118
5213 25/02/2011 P Ned Pendleton 91 – 57 Jon Edmondson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 120
5214 28/02/2011 P Ned Pendleton 92 – 54 Emmet Masterson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 131
5215 01/03/2011 P Nick Adigu-Burke 87 – 77 Raghd Rostom Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 127
5216 02/03/2011 P Nick Adigu-Burke 57 – 60 Michelle Nevitt Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 118
5217 03/03/2011 P Michelle Nevitt 86 – 83 James Sturman Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 134
5218 04/03/2011 P Michelle Nevitt 77 – 70 Dave Roberts Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 125
5219 07/03/2011 P Michelle Nevitt 89 – 69 Craig Laurenson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 116
5220 08/03/2011 P Michelle Nevitt 54 – 94 Andy McGurn Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 121
5221 09/03/2011 P Andy McGurn 64 – 58 Adam Fleetwood Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 120
5222 10/03/2011 P Andy McGurn 110 – 56 Pam Hill Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 120
5223 11/03/2011 P Andy McGurn 76 – 47 Michael Hastings Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 117
5224 21/03/2011 P Andy McGurn 94 – 87 James Hall Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Donal MacIntyre Susie Dent 119
5225 22/03/2011 P Andy McGurn 82 – 52 Emily Finnan Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Donal MacIntyre Susie Dent 129
5226 23/03/2011 P Andy McGurn 96 – 83 Peter McLoughlin Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Donal MacIntyre Susie Dent 126
5227 24/03/2011 P Andy McGurn 86 – 56 John Maddox Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Donal MacIntyre Susie Dent 149
5228 25/03/2011 P Rhonda Holden 68 – 43 Jan Noone Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Donal MacIntyre Susie Dent 130
5229 28/03/2011 P Rhonda Holden 68 – 71 Len Bryon Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 119
5230 29/03/2011 P Len Bryon 53 – 93 Mark Gavin Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 130
5231 30/03/2011 P Mark Gavin 74 – 83 Andrew McNamara Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 115
5232 31/03/2011 P Andrew McNamara 70 – 52 Frank Beechey Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 122
5233 01/04/2011 P Andrew McNamara 80 – 75 Martin O'Loughlin Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 119
5234 04/04/2011 P Andrew McNamara 89 – 53 William Davies Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 118
5235 05/04/2011 P Andrew McNamara 74 – 30 Gary Sprake Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 119
5236 06/04/2011 P Andrew McNamara 70 – 75 Colin Young Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 119
5237 07/04/2011 P Colin Young 68 – 72 Graham Hill Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 119
5238 08/04/2011 P Graham Hill 95 – 83 Paula Shallcross Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 129
5239 11/04/2011 P Graham Hill 79 – 43 David Bailey Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 139
5240 12/04/2011 P Graham Hill 87 – 69 Thyba Ali Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 126
5241 13/04/2011 P Graham Hill 102 – 27 Jack Walker Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 119
5242 14/04/2011 P Graham Hill 73 – 68 Emma Foster Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 127
5243 15/04/2011 P Graham Hill 69 – 86 Mary Adie Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 118
5244 18/04/2011 P Mary Adie 105* – 95 Barbara Grice Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Carol Smillie Susie Dent 120
5245 19/04/2011 P Mary Adie 85 – 45 Aidan Casey Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Carol Smillie Susie Dent 118
5246 20/04/2011 P Mary Adie 86 – 40 Anne Senneck Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Carol Smillie Susie Dent 121
5247 21/04/2011 P Mary Adie 88 – 60 James Timpson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Carol Smillie Susie Dent 116
5248 22/04/2011 P Mary Adie 58 – 65 Chris Childs Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Carol Smillie Susie Dent 121
5249 25/04/2011 P Chris Childs 60 – 73 Adrian Turner Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Patti Clare Susie Dent 126
5250 26/04/2011 P Adrian Turner 57 – 108 Scott Robson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Patti Clare Susie Dent 128
5251 27/04/2011 P Scott Robson 89 – 55 Jenny Reynolds Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 127
5252 28/04/2011 P Scott Robson 55 – 68 Roger Edwards Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 121
5253 29/04/2011 P Roger Edwards 78 – 69 Mathew Pickering Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 120
5254 02/05/2011 P Roger Edwards 104 – 66 Kevin Drury Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 132
5255 03/05/2011 P Roger Edwards 66 – 86 Joe Jenkinson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 141
5256 04/05/2011 P Joe Jenkinson 67 – 69 Jennifer Strachan Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 127
5257 05/05/2011 P Jennifer Strachan 42 – 95 Tony Atkins Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 145
5258 06/05/2011 P Tony Atkins 91 – 74 Jordan Humphries Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alastair Stewart Susie Dent 135
5259 09/05/2011 P Tony Atkins 71 – 81 Cliff Barnes Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 116
5260 10/05/2011 P Cliff Barnes 56 – 94 Tom Barnes Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 127
5261 11/05/2011 P Tom Barnes 110 – 43 Rebecca Harraway Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 117
5262 12/05/2011 P Tom Barnes 123 – 28 Stuart Pecksen Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 141
5263 13/05/2011 P Tom Barnes 89 – 60 Tracy Morris Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 118
5264 16/05/2011 P Tom Barnes 119 – 7 Christine Buffrey Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Delia Smith Susie Dent 129
5265 17/05/2011 P Tom Barnes 105 – 73 Sarah Martin Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Delia Smith Susie Dent 127
5266 18/05/2011 P Tom Barnes 86 – 44 Brian Gale Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Delia Smith Susie Dent 126
5267 19/05/2011 P Tom Barnes 96 – 42 Liz Dey Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Delia Smith Susie Dent 138
5268 20/05/2011 P Tom Bolland 58 – 82 Liam Herringshaw Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Delia Smith Susie Dent 127
5269 23/05/2011 P Liam Herringshaw 82 – 57 Jamie Atkins Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alistair McGowan Susie Dent 127
5270 24/05/2011 P Liam Herringshaw 70 – 65 Gary Kenwright Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alistair McGowan Susie Dent 140
5271 25/05/2011 P Liam Herringshaw 97 – 64 Tom Beaumont Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alistair McGowan Susie Dent 120
5272 26/05/2011 QF Michelle Nevitt 76 – 117 Adam Gillard Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alistair McGowan Susie Dent 129
5273 27/05/2011 QF Edward McCullagh 101 – 36 Andrew McNamara Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Alistair McGowan Susie Dent 119
5274 30/05/2011 QF Tom Barnes 73 – 83 Mary Adie Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 128
5275 31/05/2011 QF Ned Pendleton 89 – 99* Andy McGurn Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 118
5276 01/06/2011 SF Adam Gillard 108 – 52 Andy McGurn Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 133
5277 02/06/2011 SF Edward McCullagh 120 – 41 Mary Adie Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 131
5278 03/06/2011 GF Adam Gillard 94 – 113 Edward McCullagh Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gregg Wallace Susie Dent 127
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links