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[[Image:Ben_Wilson.jpg|right|thumb|frame|'''[[Ben Wilson]]'''.]]
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[[Image:Martin Gardner.jpg|right|130px]]
'''Ben Wilson''' (22 March 1983-) first appeared on Countdown in [[Series 46]], his first programme being broadcast on 6 November 2001. He defeated namesake [[Peter Wilson (Series 46)|Peter Wilson]] 101-70 in his first show, before winning 5 more games and becoming one of only five [[Octochamp|viscounts]] in Countdown history.
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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.
  
He returned for the series finals as number 1 seed, beating fellow Lincoln resident [[Simon Cartwright]] 83-68 in the quarter-finals, and Scotland's [[Paul Ryan]] 101-80 in the semi-finals after a close and tense game. In the grand final  on Christmas Day against [[Steve Sandalls]], the scores were level until round 9, but Ben built up a lead of 17 points over the next two rounds. A series of poor rounds put Ben 1 point behind going into the conundrum, but, he was able to solve the conundrum in 5 seconds to become champion of the 46th series, and the first champion of the [[15 round format]]. Aged just 18 at the time, Ben also has the distinction of being the first ever series champion of Countdown to have been born after the show's debut on Channel 4.
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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]].
  
Ben was invited back for [[Championship of Champions XI]] in January 2003, where he was paired against Northern Ireland's [[Geraldine Hylands]] in the first round. Ben scraped through, winning [[episode 3394|94-91]], but was ultimately beaten in the quarter-finals of the tournament by [[Tom Hargreaves]], by a score of [[Episode 3400|131-98]]. At the time, this game set the record for highest aggregate score in a 15-round game, and 98 still remains one of the highest losing score of all time.
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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...]]''')
  
Wilson is notably the organiser of [[Countdown in Lincoln]] and won the first ever meeting of [[Countdown in Redhill]]. Wilson is also a tournament [[Scrabble]] player and won his first tournament ({{w|Peterborough}}) in 2008.
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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...)