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[[Image:Julian Fell.jpg|right|thumb|frame|[[Julian Fell]].]]
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[[Image:Martin Gardner.jpg|right|130px]]
'''[[Julian Fell]]''' was the winner of [[Series 48]] and is widely considered to be among the greatest Countdowners of all time. He holds a cornucopia of records, including the highest single score (146) and the highest octochamp score (924). He is particular renowned for his astonishing word knowledge, including definitions, coupled with fast conundrums. His numbers strength is often underestimated in comparison to the other disciplines.
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'''[[Martin Gardner]]''' was an [[octochamp]] and semi-finalist in [[Series 49]]. Before appearing as a contestant on the show, Gardner had a prominent presence in the online Countdown community; he organised Countdown Advance (the forerunner to [[Hypercountdown]] on the [[Gevincountdown]] web forum, served as a moderator on this website, and ran the now-defunct Countdown fan site [[Countdown Update UK]]. After finding the address to send off for an application form on [[Ben Wilson]]'s website, he applied for the televised show and was invited to an audition at the end of 2002.
  
His debut came on Wednesday 16th October 2002, when he posted an impressive 117. Six more centuries followed, and by the following Friday only [[Carl McDermott]] stood between Fell and [[octochamp]]dom. [[Episode 3349|This game]] is remembered as one of the greatest drubbings in Countdown history, as Fell racked up 138, winning by 109. His place as #1 seed and favourite for the series was assured, and his feat of eight centuries in eight heats has been matched only by [[Series 57]] contestant [[Craig Beevers]].
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Although he failed his audition, Gardner was invited to the studios as a replacement contestant after [[John Davies (Series 49)|John Davies]] became an [[octochamp]], leaving one seat vacated on [[Episode 3482|14 May 2003]]. In this opening game Gardner achieved his highest televised score of 107, with offerings including the eight-letter words {{word|ATOMISER}} and {{word|ACONITES}}; Martin found no nine-letter words during his appearances on the show. Seven more victories followed, including three further [[century|centuries]].
  
Fell won his quarter-final against [[Mike Brown]] with ease, beforegetting four [[letters game|nines]] against [[Danny Hamilton]] in the semi-final. Fell got {{word|SALMONIDS}}, {{word|DEPORTING}}, {{word|INGATHERS}} and {{word|DEFLATION}} and had 146 before the conundrum {{word|THEIRCOPY}} but failed to solve it and was left with 146 points, still 8 points better than the second highest score, 138 by Fell and [[Mark Tournoff]]. Fell went onto win the final against [[Grace Page]] after spotting {{Word|MANTICORE}} in the first round, which Page missed.
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Gardner returned to the series finals as #2 seed behind Davies, his forerunner in the heats. In his quarter-final, the eight letter word {{word|POTHEADS}} and conundrum {{word|SCOOPGREY}} helped Gardner to convincingly defeat [[Peter Jeffery]] by 101 points to 64. He faced [[David Wilson]] in the semi-final and went ahead after three rounds courtesy of the seven-letter word {{word|UPRATED}}. However, he was pegged back in the next round with {{word|MORGUES}}. Thereafter, David scored in every round apart from the conundrum and won the game 98-86. ('''[[Martin Gardner|more...]]''')
  
Fell returned for the [[Championship of Champions XI]] as the favourite and won his first match against [[Terence O'Farrell]] with ease before losing a nail-biting [[Episode 3401|quarter-final]] to [[Graham Nash]] 120-109. Despite losing, Julian maintained his streak of scoring [[century|100]] in every game. Since this quarter-final, Julian has filmed just once, a [[episode S12|special]] against [[Chris Wills]] which he won 100-92 on a crucial conundrum. 100 was Julian's lowest ever score on [[Countdown]].
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<noinclude>[[Category:Templates|Featuredarticle]]</noinclude>
 
 
 
 
<noinclude>[[Category:Countdown:Main Page|Featured article]]</noinclude>
 

Latest revision as of 00:57, 28 May 2020

Martin Gardner.jpg

Martin Gardner was an octochamp and semi-finalist in Series 49. Before appearing as a contestant on the show, Gardner had a prominent presence in the online Countdown community; he organised Countdown Advance (the forerunner to Hypercountdown on the Gevincountdown web forum, served as a moderator on this website, and ran the now-defunct Countdown fan site Countdown Update UK. After finding the address to send off for an application form on Ben Wilson's website, he applied for the televised show and was invited to an audition at the end of 2002.

Although he failed his audition, Gardner was invited to the studios as a replacement contestant after John Davies became an octochamp, leaving one seat vacated on 14 May 2003. In this opening game Gardner achieved his highest televised score of 107, with offerings including the eight-letter words ATOMISER and ACONITES; Martin found no nine-letter words during his appearances on the show. Seven more victories followed, including three further centuries.

Gardner returned to the series finals as #2 seed behind Davies, his forerunner in the heats. In his quarter-final, the eight letter word POTHEADS and conundrum SCOOPGREY helped Gardner to convincingly defeat Peter Jeffery by 101 points to 64. He faced David Wilson in the semi-final and went ahead after three rounds courtesy of the seven-letter word UPRATED. However, he was pegged back in the next round with MORGUES. Thereafter, David scored in every round apart from the conundrum and won the game 98-86. (more...)