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Series 87

From Countdown
The Prize Presentation in the Grand Final of Series 87.
Ronan Higginson holding the Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy after winning Series 87.

Series 87 began on 23 January 2023, following Championship of Champions XVI, and concluded on 29 June 2023. It was the third series to feature Colin Murray as presenter, and the first full series to feature him in the hosting role. It was won by number one seed Ronan Higginson who defeated number two seed Cillian McMulkin in the grand final, which marked two consecutive grand finals that featured an Irish finalist, following Edward Byrne participating in the grand final of the previous series.

On 11 January 2023, on Steph's Packed Lunch, it was officially announced that Murray was the new permanent host. He is understood to be on a two-year contract, retaining his role until at least the end of 2024.

Apterites Peter Burke, Cillian McMulkin, Toby Rogers, Peter McQuillan, Charlotte Rimmer, Dan Spinks, Dave Cappleman, Gavin Finlay, Sam Sinha, Adam Blundred, Jonathan Seal, Ronan Higginson, and Adam Dexter appeared in this series. Burke won the last five heat games of the previous series and carried over his unbeaten run until Episode 7939.

McMulkin and Higginson were the only octochamps of this series, making Series 87 the first in 13 years to have just two octochamps, which to this day remains the record low under the 15-round format, along with Series 49 and 62. In their respective fifth victories, McMulkin equalled the record score of 154, while Higginson achieved a maximum-scoring game, which he accomplished again in the semi-finals – making him the first contestant to achieve this feat more than once in a regular series. The bottom half of the seed table were all six-time winners.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Ronan Higginson 8 1,041
2 Cillian McMulkin 8 944
3 Peter Burke 7 705
4 Graham Moonie-Dalton 7 680
5 Adam Dexter 6 698
6 Greg Pearce 6 680
7 Dave Cappleman 6 621
8 Andrew Barrett 6 573
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.

Progress

Ronan Higginson (1) vs Andrew Barrett (8) Ronan Higginson (1) vs Adam Dexter (5) Ronan Higginson (1)
vs
Cillian McMulkin (2)
Adam Dexter (5) vs Graham Moonie-Dalton (4)
Peter Burke (3) vs Greg Pearce (6) Peter Burke (3) vs Cillian McMulkin (2)
Dave Cappleman (7) vs Cillian McMulkin (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
2–20 January 2023: Championship of Champions XVI
7937 23/01/2023 P Peter Burke 74 – 64 Marc Meakin Colin Murray Rachel Riley Stephen K. Amos Susie Dent 124
7938 24/01/2023 P Peter Burke 93 – 67 Rog Airey Colin Murray Rachel Riley Stephen K. Amos Susie Dent 135
7939 25/01/2023 P Peter Burke 66 – 107 Cillian McMulkin Colin Murray Rachel Riley Stephen K. Amos Susie Dent 134
7940 26/01/2023 P Cillian McMulkin 109 – 51 Cheryl Perkins Colin Murray Rachel Riley Stephen K. Amos Susie Dent 130
7941 27/01/2023 P Cillian McMulkin 124 – 43 Amy Perryman Colin Murray Rachel Riley Stephen K. Amos Susie Dent 135
7942 30/01/2023 P Cillian McMulkin 101 – 61 Toby Rogers Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 121
7943 31/01/2023 P Cillian McMulkin 154 – 69 Chris Davies Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 155
7944 01/02/2023 P Cillian McMulkin 112 – 45 Jon Sluckis Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 124
7945 02/02/2023 P Cillian McMulkin 116 – 33 Ron Squire Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 175
7946 03/02/2023 P Cillian McMulkin 121 – 35 Alison Adams Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 122
7947 06/02/2023 P Sarah Spindley 53 – 82 Andrew Barrett Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jo Brand Susie Dent 134
7948 07/02/2023 P Andrew Barrett 78 – 70 Ruth Stirups Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jo Brand Susie Dent 145
7949 08/02/2023 P Andrew Barrett 82 – 16 Joe Sinclair Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jo Brand Susie Dent 131
7950 09/02/2023 P Andrew Barrett 89 – 64 Maria Guselli Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jo Brand Susie Dent 123
7951 10/02/2023 P Andrew Barrett 76 – 69 Denis Kaye Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jo Brand Susie Dent 124
7952 13/02/2023 P Andrew Barrett 79 – 62 Rochelle Watkins Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 144
7953 14/02/2023 P Andrew Barrett 87 – 94 Peter McQuillan Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 144
7954 15/02/2023 P Peter McQuillan 85 – 76 Adam Morgan Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 143
7955 16/02/2023 P Peter McQuillan 86 – 48 Sue Beer Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 127
7956 17/02/2023 P Peter McQuillan 98 – 71 Mark Robinson Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 121
7957 20/02/2023 P Peter McQuillan 68 – 80 Seán Dennehy Colin Murray Rachel Riley Bob Harris Susie Dent 146
7958 21/02/2023 P Seán Dennehy 97 – 30 Em Newton Colin Murray Rachel Riley Bob Harris Susie Dent 146
7959 22/02/2023 P Seán Dennehy 77 – 69 Charlotte Rimmer Colin Murray Rachel Riley Bob Harris Susie Dent 122
7960 23/02/2023 P Seán Dennehy 78 – 61 Hugh Shepheard-Walwyn Colin Murray Rachel Riley Bob Harris Susie Dent 145
7961 24/02/2023 P Seán Dennehy 91 – 32 Gesuine Martin Colin Murray Rachel Riley Bob Harris Susie Dent 136
7962 27/02/2023 P Seán Dennehy 63 – 97 Tony Moore Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jamelia Susie Dent 124
7963 28/02/2023 P Tony Moore 81 – 50 Moyra Finch Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jamelia Susie Dent 135
7964 01/03/2023 P Tony Moore 50 – 86 Dan Spinks Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jamelia Susie Dent 120
7965 02/03/2023 P Dan Spinks 95 – 61 Matthew Trevorrow Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jamelia Susie Dent 131
7966 03/03/2023 P Dan Spinks 76 – 74 Colin Oakley Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jamelia Susie Dent 142
7967 06/03/2023 P Dan Spinks 67 – 66 Dave Butler Colin Murray Rachel Riley Ore Oduba Susie Dent 132
7968 07/03/2023 P Dan Spinks 84 – 47 Mark Walker Colin Murray Rachel Riley Ore Oduba Susie Dent 121
7969 08/03/2023 P Dan Spinks 65 – 72 Simon Higgins Colin Murray Rachel Riley Ore Oduba Susie Dent 133
7970 09/03/2023 P Simon Higgins 88 – 76 Elaine Carr Colin Murray Rachel Riley Ore Oduba Susie Dent 133
7971 10/03/2023 P Simon Higgins 70 – 72 Tom Elliott Colin Murray Rachel Riley Ore Oduba Susie Dent 137
7972 13/03/2023 P Tom Elliott 77 – 87 Myles Donald Colin Murray Rachel Riley Pat Nevin Susie Dent 143
7973 14/03/2023 P Myles Donald 50 – 114 Rita Meston Colin Murray Rachel Riley Pat Nevin Susie Dent 136
7974 15/03/2023 P Rita Meston 98 – 72 Karyn Cooke Colin Murray Rachel Riley Pat Nevin Susie Dent 122
7975 16/03/2023 P Rita Meston 71 – 83 Matt Williams Colin Murray Rachel Riley Pat Nevin Susie Dent 134
7976 17/03/2023 P Matt Williams 99 – 44 Bhagwan Manku Colin Murray Rachel Riley Pat Nevin Susie Dent 155
7977 20/03/2023 P Matt Williams 65 – 59 Jamie Arnold Colin Murray Rachel Riley Dr John Cooper Clarke Susie Dent 114
7978 21/03/2023 P Matt Williams 84 – 62 Laura Baxter Colin Murray Rachel Riley Dr John Cooper Clarke Susie Dent 140
7979 22/03/2023 P Matt Williams 72 – 86 Dave Cappleman Colin Murray Rachel Riley Dr John Cooper Clarke Susie Dent 134
7980 23/03/2023 P Dave Cappleman 76 – 38 Harvey Burgess Colin Murray Rachel Riley Dr John Cooper Clarke Susie Dent 138
7981 24/03/2023 P Dave Cappleman 115 – 67 Andrew Thomas Colin Murray Rachel Riley Dr John Cooper Clarke Susie Dent 126
7982 27/03/2023 P Dave Cappleman 84 – 81 Joel Ransom Colin Murray Rachel Riley Levi Roots Susie Dent 133
7983 28/03/2023 P Dave Cappleman 72 – 65 Mandy Perry Colin Murray Rachel Riley Levi Roots Susie Dent 143
7984 29/03/2023 P Dave Cappleman 110 – 47 Sam Haywood Colin Murray Rachel Riley Levi Roots Susie Dent 148
7985 30/03/2023 P Dave Cappleman 78 – 104 Gavin Finlay Colin Murray Rachel Riley Levi Roots Susie Dent 134
7986 31/03/2023 P Gavin Finlay 93 – 48 Danny Jessop Colin Murray Rachel Riley Levi Roots Susie Dent 134
7987 03/04/2023 P Gavin Finlay 68 – 75 Alex Nock Colin Murray Rachel Riley Steve Cram Susie Dent 124
7988 04/04/2023 P Alex Nock 89 – 70 Miles Newbury Colin Murray Rachel Riley Steve Cram Susie Dent 134
7989 05/04/2023 P Alex Nock 44 – 68 Barbara Dodds Colin Murray Rachel Riley Steve Cram Susie Dent 147
7990 06/04/2023 P Barbara Dodds 73 – 90 Greg Pearce Colin Murray Rachel Riley Steve Cram Susie Dent 123
7991 07/04/2023 P Greg Pearce 94 – 75 Jay Patel Colin Murray Rachel Riley Steve Cram Susie Dent 121
7992 10/04/2023 P Greg Pearce 105 – 71 Chloe Lightowlers Colin Murray Rachel Riley Grace Dent Susie Dent 122
7993 11/04/2023 P Greg Pearce 102 – 52 Adrian Benfield Colin Murray Rachel Riley Grace Dent Susie Dent 136
7994 12/04/2023 P Greg Pearce 116 – 34 Jonathan Mallinson Colin Murray Rachel Riley Grace Dent Susie Dent 134
7995 13/04/2023 P Greg Pearce 103 – 89 Max Plaice Colin Murray Rachel Riley Grace Dent Susie Dent 143
7996 14/04/2023 P Greg Pearce 70 – 85 Pouvanen Pillay Colin Murray Rachel Riley Grace Dent Susie Dent 123
7997 17/04/2023 P Pouvanen Pillay 87 – 66 Michael Kelly Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 156
7998 18/04/2023 P Pouvanen Pillay 91 – 62 Mandy Morgan Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 122
7999 19/04/2023 P Pouvanen Pillay 78 – 47 Florence North Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 156
8000 20/04/2023 P Pouvanen Pillay 84 – 56 Sam Sinha Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 122
8001 21/04/2023 P Pouvanen Pillay 81 – 85 Jerry Ferris Colin Murray Rachel Riley Justin Moorhouse Susie Dent 146
8002 24/04/2023 P Jerry Ferris 73 – 59 Allan Shepherd Colin Murray Rachel Riley Gabby Logan Susie Dent 155
8003 25/04/2023 P Jerry Ferris 88 – 118 Ian Laird Colin Murray Rachel Riley Gabby Logan Susie Dent 134
8004 26/04/2023 P Ian Laird 110 – 70 George Anderson Colin Murray Rachel Riley Gabby Logan Susie Dent 134
8005 27/04/2023 P Ian Laird 128 – 51 Kath Hollis Colin Murray Rachel Riley Gabby Logan Susie Dent 145
8006 28/04/2023 P Ian Laird 60 – 76 Alex Blundy Colin Murray Rachel Riley Gabby Logan Susie Dent 156
8007 01/05/2023 P Alex Blundy 82 – 75 Sandy Boyle Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 126
8008 02/05/2023 P Alex Blundy 75 – 72 Jeremy Butler Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 146
8009 03/05/2023 P Alex Blundy 71 – 65 Susan Bradshaw Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 134
8010 04/05/2023 P Alex Blundy 67 – 105 Adam Blundred Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 121
8011 05/05/2023 P Adam Blundred 121 – 85 Dave Woodings Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 146
8012 08/05/2023 P Adam Blundred 70 – 62 Mark Bayliss Colin Murray Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 142
8013 09/05/2023 P Adam Blundred 93 – 75 Suraj Ghedia Colin Murray Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 124
8014 10/05/2023 P Adam Blundred 65 – 87 Jonathan Seal Colin Murray Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 120
8015 11/05/2023 P Jonathan Seal 94 – 88 Michael Weston Colin Murray Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 125
8016 12/05/2023 P Jonathan Seal 96 – 59 Mel Lynch Colin Murray Rachel Riley Les Dennis Susie Dent 133
8017 15/05/2023 P Jonathan Seal 98 – 45 Nick Bagshaw Colin Murray Rachel Riley Annie MacManus Susie Dent 134
8018 16/05/2023 P Jonathan Seal 97 – 35 Emma Lunn Colin Murray Rachel Riley Annie MacManus Susie Dent 121
8019 17/05/2023 P Jonathan Seal 98 – 132 Ronan Higginson Colin Murray Rachel Riley Annie MacManus Susie Dent 143
8020 18/05/2023 P Ronan Higginson 110 – 64 Brian Cookson Colin Murray Rachel Riley Annie MacManus Susie Dent 124
8021 19/05/2023 P Ronan Higginson 126 – 12 Greg Raine Colin Murray Rachel Riley Annie MacManus Susie Dent 133
8022 22/05/2023 P Ronan Higginson 130 – 50 John Waterhouse Colin Murray Rachel Riley Vick Hope Susie Dent 135
8023 23/05/2023 P Ronan Higginson 135 – 27 Martin Peirce Colin Murray Rachel Riley Vick Hope Susie Dent 135
8024 24/05/2023 P Ronan Higginson 143 – 10 Aaron Sutton Colin Murray Rachel Riley Vick Hope Susie Dent 166
8025 25/05/2023 P Ronan Higginson 143 – 57 Andy Sheppard Colin Murray Rachel Riley Vick Hope Susie Dent 151
8026 26/05/2023 P Ronan Higginson 122 – 17 Richard Clingen Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cally Beaton Susie Dent 124
8027 29/05/2023 P Callum Naylor 68 – 72 Shahid Chandna Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cally Beaton Susie Dent 135
8028 30/05/2023 P Shahid Chandna 63 – 112 Adam Dexter Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cally Beaton Susie Dent 158
8029 31/05/2023 P Adam Dexter 97 – 40 Anne Findlay Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cally Beaton Susie Dent 127
8030 01/06/2023 P Adam Dexter 123 – 41 Kendall Concannon Colin Murray Rachel Riley Cally Beaton Susie Dent 137
8031 02/06/2023 P Adam Dexter 85 – 54 Matt Sole Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 138
8032 05/06/2023 P Adam Dexter 100 – 40 Balal Anwar Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 134
8033 06/06/2023 P Adam Dexter 110 – 68 Jenny Schwarz Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 120
8034 07/06/2023 P Adam Dexter 71 – 81 Graham Moonie-Dalton Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 141
8035 08/06/2023 P Graham Moonie-Dalton 76 – 42 Susan Sweetman Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 124
8036 09/06/2023 P Graham Moonie-Dalton 107 – 27 Danny Reed Colin Murray Rachel Riley Paul Sinha Susie Dent 155
8037 12/06/2023 P Graham Moonie-Dalton 91 – 54 Nick Kishor Colin Murray Rachel Riley Paul Sinha Susie Dent 134
8038 13/06/2023 P Graham Moonie-Dalton 84 – 56 Emma Marshall Colin Murray Rachel Riley Paul Sinha Susie Dent 133
8039 14/06/2023 P Graham Moonie-Dalton 76 – 43 Tracy Wheeler Colin Murray Rachel Riley Paul Sinha Susie Dent 125
8040 15/06/2023 P Graham Moonie-Dalton 104 – 40 Mark Parsons Colin Murray Rachel Riley Paul Sinha Susie Dent 136
8041 16/06/2023 P Graham Moonie-Dalton 61 – 74 Tony McCooey Colin Murray Rachel Riley Marcus Brigstocke Susie Dent 128
8042 19/06/2023 P Tony McCooey 79 – 82 Sarah Bibby Colin Murray Rachel Riley Marcus Brigstocke Susie Dent 133
8043 20/06/2023 P Sarah Bibby 35 – 83 Adrian Clarke Colin Murray Rachel Riley Marcus Brigstocke Susie Dent 153
8044 21/06/2023 QF Ronan Higginson 122 – 70 Andrew Barrett Colin Murray Rachel Riley Marcus Brigstocke Susie Dent 135
8045 22/06/2023 QF Cillian McMulkin 109 – 81 Dave Cappleman Colin Murray Rachel Riley Marcus Brigstocke Susie Dent 137
8046 23/06/2023 QF Peter Burke 107 – 64 Greg Pearce Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 133
8047 26/06/2023 QF Graham Moonie-Dalton 60 – 117 Adam Dexter Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 134
8048 27/06/2023 SF Ronan Higginson 122 – 98 Adam Dexter Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 122
8049 28/06/2023 SF Cillian McMulkin 122 – 41 Peter Burke Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 153
8050 29/06/2023 GF Ronan Higginson 150 – 83 Cillian McMulkin Colin Murray Rachel Riley Maggie Aderin-Pocock Susie Dent 155

External Links