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Series 65

From Countdown
Series 65 champion Graeme Cole with his winning dictionaries and trophy.

Series 65 began on 6 June 2011 and ended on 16 December 2011. The series was the sixth and last presented by Jeff Stelling. The champion was Graeme Cole, who became the first champion since John Mayhew in Series 53 to win the Grand Final on a tiebreak conundrum.

It took a summer break from 22 July to 22 August, with one special episode shown during the break.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Mark Deeks 8 824
2 Graeme Cole 8 813
3 Paul Keane 8 744
4 Carl Williams 8 708
5 Jayne Wisniewski 8 705
6 Dave Taylor 8 691
7 Nikki Roberts 7 655
8 David Butcher 7 620
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

Mark Deeks (1) vs David Butcher (8) Mark Deeks (1) vs Carl Williams (4) Carl Williams (4)
vs
Graeme Cole (2)
Jayne Wisniewski (5) vs Carl Williams (4)
Paul Keane (3) vs Dave Taylor (6) Paul Keane (3) vs Graeme Cole (2)
Nikki Roberts (7) vs Graeme Cole (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Series finals

Quarter-finals

Number one seed Mark Deeks set the standard for the rest of the finalists to live up to in the first quarter-final, as he trounced David Butcher 116 – 21; one of the most one-sided finals matches in the show's history, and at the time, the lowest score by a finalist since the introduction of the 15 round format until Jan Pask scored 19 against Zarte Siempre in Series 78. Deeks demonstrated his word prowess with offerings such as PICADORS, MESTIZO, PESEWA and the nine GARDENIAS. Graeme Cole recovered from an early deficit against Nikki Roberts after having bongoes ☓ disallowed to win comfortably, thanks partly to the nine DRAGLINES. The match between Paul Keane and Dave Taylor was fairly competitive until Keane spotted MODERNISE in Round 12 to effectively seal the game. Only three points separated Carl Williams and Jayne Wisniewski in eight heat games but Williams was the convincing winner in the fourth quarter-final, meaning that the top four seeds advanced to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals

Deeks could not replicate the dazzling form from his quarter-final and Williams showed from the start that he was no pushover. Deeks took the lead with VEHICLE but Williams quickly hit back with SMELTED. Two more winners for Williams in part two left the top seed in deep trouble, but he reduced the deficit to within ten thanks to the second numbers game. They could not be separated any further in the following four rounds, so Williams led going into the crucial conundrum. He eventually found the answer from BLACRHINO to complete one of the most unlikely finals victories of recent times. The second semi-final also threatened to produce an upset after Cole's first round offering of telogens ☓ was disallowed. Keane held on to his lead throughout part one but eventually, Cole's superiority shone through. Words such as EXHAUST and OCCULTED, as well as a fine second numbers solve helped him book his place in the final with a 96 – 71 victory.

Final

The grand final was Jeff Stelling's last episode as host and both finalists contributed to an all-time classic. Williams threatened to pull off another shock as he broke the deadlock in Round 6 with ERECTION. Cole halved the deficit after Williams' buda ☓ was rejected and he took the lead thanks to ELUSION in Round 11. Cole's traditional choice of six-small in the penultimate round produced an impossible target, but he managed to reach the best possible solution, giving himself a precarious ten-point lead before the conundrum. A total of 26 seconds elapsed before Williams dramatically unravelled TIMEUPLAD into AMPLITUDE, meaning that a tiebreak conundrum was needed for a final for the first time since Series 53. Ultimately, Cole was victorious as he turned VAANGELIS into GALVANISE and he became the last champion of Stelling's tenure.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
5279 06/06/2011 P Liam Herringshaw 92 – 45 David Brown Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 114
5280 07/06/2011 P Liam Herringshaw 93 – 112 Graeme Cole Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 132
5281 08/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 105 – 49 Steven Hatton Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 126
5282 09/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 99 – 57 Aidan Turnbull Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 119
5283 10/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 92 – 57 James Hall Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 116
5284 13/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 94 – 75 Graham Moonie-Dalton Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 124
5285 14/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 125 – 19 Mike Linnell Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 129
5286 15/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 91 – 41 Justin Maelzer Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 118
5287 16/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 95 – 59 Gary Hendricks Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 116
5288 17/06/2011 P Matt Croy 86 – 50 Barrie Crawford Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 117
5289 20/06/2011 P Matt Croy 96 – 45 Pete Snowdon Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5290 21/06/2011 P Matt Croy 100 – 53 Mark Worsfold Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5291 22/06/2011 P Matt Croy 95 – 86 Chris Hemingway Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 129
5292 23/06/2011 P Matt Croy 71 – 45 Kevan Nijjar Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 118
5293 24/06/2011 P Matt Croy 90 – 91 Andrew Halliburton Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 114
5294 27/06/2011 P Andrew Halliburton 90 – 77 James Wilson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 116
5295 28/06/2011 P Andrew Halliburton 95 – 70 Magnus Mackereth Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 129
5296 29/06/2011 P Andrew Halliburton 100 – 92 Barry Evans Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 132
5297 30/06/2011 P Andrew Halliburton 70 – 73 Gareth Lee Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 135
5298 01/07/2011 P Gareth Lee 84 – 56 Christopher Moriarty Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 149
5299 04/07/2011 P Gareth Lee 85 – 47 Declan Hayes Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 130
5300 05/07/2011 P Gareth Lee 68 – 88 John Symonds Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 118
5301 06/07/2011 P John Symonds 66 – 43 Simon Garratt Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 129
5302 07/07/2011 P John Symonds 78 – 85 Jon Elmer Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 118
5303 08/07/2011 P Jon Elmer 89 – 57 Greg Scott Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 113
5304 11/07/2011 P Jon Elmer 86 – 46 Jonathan Harrison Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Stapleton Susie Dent 121
5305 12/07/2011 P Jon Elmer 89 – 94 Mark Deeks Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Stapleton Susie Dent 124
5306 13/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 114 – 73 John Maguire Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Stapleton Susie Dent 120
5307 14/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 104 – 58 Joe Zender Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Stapleton Susie Dent 119
5308 15/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 86 – 75 Taymar Pitman Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Stapleton Susie Dent 128
5309 18/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 102 – 51 Sarah Axcell Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 117
5310 19/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 96 – 43 Linda Muchmore Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 121
5311 20/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 102 – 54 Shelley Worrall Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 137
5312 21/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 126 – 44 Lesley Lewis Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 132
5313 22/07/2011 P Peter Staniland 76 – 64 Shireen Ahmed Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 118
5314 22/08/2011 P Peter Staniland 85 – 71 Andrea Wickham Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley William Roache Susie Dent 120
5315 23/08/2011 P Peter Staniland 60 – 112 Dave Taylor Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley William Roache Susie Dent 141
5316 24/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 81 – 74 Pat Bourne Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley William Roache Susie Dent 140
5317 25/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 61 – 51 Leo Croker Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley William Roache Susie Dent 138
5318 26/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 81 – 65 Tony Wilkins Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley William Roache Susie Dent 123
5319 29/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 78 – 73 Andy Wilson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 130
5320 30/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 104 – 53 Jill Kohn Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 140
5321 31/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 99 – 85 Cillian McMulkin Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 143
5322 01/09/2011 P Dave Taylor 75 – 66 Richard White Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 129
5323 02/09/2011 P Martin Steel 89 – 90 Russell Tompkins Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 130
5324 05/09/2011 P Russell Tompkins 94 – 64 Jaya Bhamidipati Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 129
5325 06/09/2011 P Russell Tompkins 79 – 96 Carl Williams Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 115
5326 07/09/2011 P Carl Williams 72 – 63 Jeff Probst Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 121
5327 08/09/2011 P Carl Williams 116 – 43 Beth Tafat Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 139
5328 09/09/2011 P Carl Williams 84 – 57 Stefan Clarke Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 132
5329 12/09/2011 P Carl Williams 62 – 59 Campbell Ure Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 115
5330 13/09/2011 P Carl Williams 96 – 54 Janet Beavis Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 140
5331 14/09/2011 P Carl Williams 94 – 45 Peter Austin Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 130
5332 15/09/2011 P Carl Williams 88 – 85 Jayshree Patel Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 116
5333 16/09/2011 P Peter Metcalfe 94 – 33 Nick Theobald Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 139
5334 19/09/2011 P Peter Metcalfe 65 – 63 Julie Harrington Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 140
5335 20/09/2011 P Peter Metcalfe 63 – 96 Andy Royce Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 142
5336 21/09/2011 P Andy Royce 74 – 42 Daniel Kirby-James Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 122
5337 22/09/2011 P Andy Royce 62 – 56 Jacqui Rowley Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 120
5338 23/09/2011 P Andy Royce 69 – 88 Jayne Wisniewski Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 141
5339 26/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 97 – 66 Craig Anderson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Kate Humble Susie Dent 133
5340 27/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 102 – 76 Ophelie Humphrey Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Kate Humble Susie Dent 120
5341 28/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 72 – 65 Sydney Martin Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Kate Humble Susie Dent 116
5342 29/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 72 – 64 Brian Poole Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Kate Humble Susie Dent 120
5343 30/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 81 – 79 Suzanne Osen Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Kate Humble Susie Dent 118
5344 03/10/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 96 – 56 Kate Bronsdon Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Anneka Rice Susie Dent 142
5345 04/10/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 97 – 48 Anne Underwood Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Anneka Rice Susie Dent 114
5346 05/10/2011 P Chris Moore 52 – 66 Wayne Chadwick Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Anneka Rice Susie Dent 138
5347 06/10/2011 P Wayne Chadwick 67 – 79 Nikki Roberts Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Anneka Rice Susie Dent 119
5348 07/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 83 – 49 June McGregor Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Anneka Rice Susie Dent 132
5349 10/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 75 – 68 Rob Smith Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 117
5350 11/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 100 – 44 Jackie Kennedy Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 118
5351 12/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 74 – 67 Jonathon Kay Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 118
5352 13/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 104 – 61 Harry Santiuste Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 132
5353 14/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 83 – 68 Jack Gregson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 127
5354 17/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 57 – 95 Anne Haley Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 142
5355 18/10/2011 P Anne Haley 90 – 91 Tom Brooks Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 129
5356 19/10/2011 P Tom Brooks 55 – 75 Beryl Upshall Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 122
5357 20/10/2011 P Beryl Upshall 82 – 73 Daniel Holmes Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 115
5358 21/10/2011 P Beryl Upshall 56 – 63 Sam Weissman Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 116
5359 24/10/2011 P Sam Weissman 71 – 67 Nabil Shah Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 132
5360 25/10/2011 P Sam Weissman 74 – 80 David Butcher Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 117
5361 26/10/2011 P David Butcher 82 – 63 Robert Linfoot Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 144
5362 27/10/2011 P David Butcher 82 – 79 Mauro Pratesi Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 122
5363 28/10/2011 P David Butcher 87 – 56 Kyle McGrory Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 130
5364 31/10/2011 P David Butcher 60 – 50 Dawn Turner Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 129
5365 01/11/2011 P David Butcher 82 – 57 John Cammies Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 132
5366 02/11/2011 P David Butcher 81 – 49 Chris Allen Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 141
5367 03/11/2011 P David Butcher 66 – 72 Clive Barham Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 116
5368 04/11/2011 P Clive Barham 98 – 62 Barry Morris Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 120
5369 07/11/2011 P Clive Barham 74 – 69 Adam Morgan Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 122
5370 08/11/2011 P Clive Barham 86 – 42 Mark Peden Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 131
5371 09/11/2011 P Clive Barham 78 – 92 Julie Davis Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 141
5372 10/11/2011 P Julie Davis 57 – 90 Paul Keane Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 127
5373 11/11/2011 P Paul Keane 102 – 70 Siobhan O'Shea Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 128
5374 14/11/2011 P Paul Keane 84 – 66 Jack Presswell Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 119
5375 15/11/2011 P Paul Keane 73 – 36 Claire Aizlewood Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 116
5376 16/11/2011 P Paul Keane 86 – 40 Richard Noble Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 119
5377 17/11/2011 P Paul Keane 103 – 31 Nigel Fox Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 118
5378 18/11/2011 P Paul Keane 102 – 53 Jane Wrightson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley John Parrott Susie Dent 140
5379 21/11/2011 P Paul Keane 104 – 73 Clare Nitman Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 129
5380 22/11/2011 P Alex Morton 82 – 57 Jamie Wainwright Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5381 23/11/2011 P Alex Morton 89 – 65 Julie Healey Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 141
5382 24/11/2011 P Alex Morton 59 – 77 Dudley Lidiard Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5383 25/11/2011 P Dudley Lidiard 75 – 93 Kirsten Thompson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Tim Vine Susie Dent 118
5384 28/11/2011 P Kirsten Thompson 81 – 31 Matt Rose Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 120
5385 29/11/2011 P Kirsten Thompson 75 – 76 Phyllis Styles Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 120
5386 30/11/2011 P Phyllis Styles 61 – 47 Mark Robinson Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 119
5387 01/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 95 – 71 James Siddall Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 130
5388 02/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 109 – 71 Rachel Shirley Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 117
5389 05/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 102 – 60 Christina King Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley David Lloyd Susie Dent 117
5390 06/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 94 – 91 Syed Bukhari Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley David Lloyd Susie Dent 130
5391 07/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 39 – 103 Jack Worsley Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley David Lloyd Susie Dent 122
5392 08/12/2011 QF David Butcher 21 – 116 Mark Deeks Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley David Lloyd Susie Dent 126
5393 09/12/2011 QF Nikki Roberts 61 – 113 Graeme Cole Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley David Lloyd Susie Dent 129
5394 12/12/2011 QF Paul Keane 96 – 78 Dave Taylor Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 132
5395 13/12/2011 QF Jayne Wisniewski 64 – 98 Carl Williams Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 132
5396 14/12/2011 SF Carl Williams 95 – 81 Mark Deeks Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 119
5397 15/12/2011 SF Graeme Cole 96 – 71 Paul Keane Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 119
5398 16/12/2011 GF Carl Williams 95 – 105* Graeme Cole Jeff Stelling Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 125
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links

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