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Difference between revisions of "Julian Fell"
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− | [[Image:Julian Fell.jpg|right|thumb|frame| | + | {{featured article}} |
− | '''Julian Fell''' was the | + | {{octostats|'''Champion'''|1|924|'''8'''}} |
+ | [[Image:Julian Fell.jpg|right|thumb|frame|Julian Fell]] | ||
+ | '''Julian Fell''' was an [[octochamp]] in and the [[Series Winners|champion]] of [[Series 48]], and a quarter-finalist in [[Championship of Champions XI]]. He is widely considered to be among the greatest [[contestant|Countdowners]] of all time. | ||
+ | He holds a cornucopia of records, including the highest single score in a game of 146 at that time which was later [[Episode 5654|matched]] a decade later by [[Conor Travers]] but never exceeded until [[Zarte Siempre]] smashed it with a score of [[Episode 6991|150]] in January 2019, which was then bettered by [[Elliott Mellor]], who scored [[Episode 7077|152]] in May 2019, then by [[Tom Stevenson]] with [[Episode 7860|154]] in October 2022. Fell is particularly renowned for his astonishing word knowledge, including definitions, coupled with fast [[conundrum]]s. He was the fourth player in history to solve all eight of his preliminary conundrums, after [[Darryl Francis]], [[Harvey Freeman]] and [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]]. His numbers strength is often underestimated in comparison to the other disciplines. A poll of [[Gevincountdown]] members in 2003 voted him the greatest player of all time, ahead of [[Harvey Freeman]]. His octochamp aggregate score of 924 was a record until [[Series 60]] champion [[Kirk Bevins]] beat it by a single point in 2009, and his aggregate series total of 1,307 across 11 games was also a record until [[Series 69]] runner-up [[Dylan Taylor]] bettered it by 12 points in 2013. He is also the first player in the history of ''[[Countdown]]'' to score over 900 points (924) across his 8 heat games. | ||
− | 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 | + | ==Appearances on the programme== |
+ | ===Heat games=== | ||
+ | His debut came on Wednesday 16th October 2002, when as an 18-year old student from York Sixth Form College, he posted an impressive 117. Six more [[century|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 No. 1 seed and favourite for the series was assured, and his feat of eight centuries in eight heats has been matched by only a very select group of players. | ||
− | The quarter final saw Fell rack up a hefty 125 against 8th seed [[Mike Brown (debut episode 3328)|Mike Brown]] including the | + | ===Series finals=== |
+ | The quarter-final saw Fell rack up a hefty 125 against 8th seed [[Mike Brown (debut episode 3328)|Mike Brown]] including the nine {{word|WOMANISER}} to advance comfortably to the next round. In the semi-final, Fell faced [[Danny Hamilton]], finding {{word|SALMONIDS}}, {{word|DEPORTING}}, {{word|INGATHERS}} and {{word|DEFLATION}} to make the then-highest ever score of 146 before the [[conundrum]]. With [[Chris Wills]]' high score record already surpassed, Fell had his first blank on the conundrum, with {{word|THEIRCOPY}} proving too difficult for either [[contestant]]. The final was more closely fought, despite Fell finding a first round winner in {{word|MANTICORE}}. [[Grace Page]] played consistently thereafter and the excellent {{word|KNITWEAR}} in Round 9 gave her a chance of a comeback. However the rest of the game produced flat selections and the game was over before the final [[numbers game|numbers]]. Fell ended the series by unravelling {{word|APIMOMENT}} in barely a second. | ||
− | A few weeks later, he returned to the Leeds studio for [[Championship of Champions XI]]. A twelfth consecutive century, this time against [[Series 42]]'s [[Terence O'Farrell]], eased Fell into the | + | ===Championship of Champions XI=== |
+ | A few weeks later, he returned to the Leeds studio for [[Championship of Champions XI]]. A twelfth consecutive century, this time against [[Series 42]]'s [[Terence O'Farrell]], eased Fell into the quarter-finals. His match with [[Series 43]] champion [[Graham Nash]] was another classic. Both players scored steadily but the game turned on Fell's risky declaration of {{word|gambiers {{x}}}}, which he knew to be a mass noun plural but believed was likely to be acceptable under the newly revised rules. [[Susie Dent|Susie]] disagreed — the first time Fell had had a word disallowed. A few points behind going into the crucial conundrum, Nash quickly buzzed with the solution to {{word|MENDMEDOC}} and the game was his — Fell had been felled at last. | ||
− | + | ===Special game=== | |
+ | Fell returned a few months later to face [[Series 47]] champion [[Chris Wills]] in a [[special episode]]. The game was close but Fell pulled ahead with {{word|GERONTIC}} in round 12, but was beaten on the last numbers and went into the conundrum trailing {{score|90|92}}. Fell had still scored a [[century]] in every game he had played, including his loss to Graham Nash. It was Fell that got the conundrum {{word|VIRTUOSIC}} and continued his run of 14 centuries in 14 games. Overall, he has won 13 games and lost only 1. | ||
− | After | + | ==After ''Countdown''== |
+ | Following Fell's loss to Graham Nash, he played in two [[Cambridge Charity Countdown Challenge|non-televised charity games]] against [[Chris Cummins]], the champion of [[Series 50]] and a fellow {{w|University of Cambridge|Cambridge University}} student at the time. Fell won {{score|2|0}}. He went on to organise the [[JOLT|first major online tournament]] in the summer of 2004, and beat [[Jon Stitcher]] in a closely fought [[Episode JOLT19|final]]. | ||
− | + | Fell also appeared as a contestant on the defunct {{w|Channel 5 (British TV channel)|Channel 5}} game show ''{{w|BrainTeaser}}''. | |
− | + | He has since graduated from {{w|Magdalene College, Cambridge}}. A once active member of the online ''Countdown'' community, Fell attended the offline [[Co-event|tournament]] [[CoNot 2008]]. Soon after, he announced his retirement, citing a lack of motivation. | |
− | {{series winner|preceded_by=Chris Wills|series=48|followed_by=John Davies (Series 49) | + | {{series winner|preceded_by=Chris Wills|series=48|followed_by=John Davies (Series 49){{!!}}John Davies}} |
==Episodes== | ==Episodes== | ||
{{episode table}} | {{episode table}} | ||
− | {{ep | 3342 | 16/10/2002 | P | [[Kevin Neate]] | 63 | + | {{ep | 3342 | 16/10/2002 | P |[[Kevin Neate]]| 63 − 117 |Julian Fell|[[Keith Barron]]|[[Susie Dent]]|122}} |
− | {{ep | 3343 | 17/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 117 | + | {{ep | 3343 | 17/10/2002 | P |Julian Fell| 117 − 57 |[[Russell Hutton]]|Keith Barron|Susie Dent|120}} |
− | {{ep | 3344 | 18/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 108 | + | {{ep | 3344 | 18/10/2002 | P |Julian Fell| 108 − 53 |[[Megan Stone]]|Keith Barron|Susie Dent|117}} |
− | {{ep | 3345 | 21/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 120 | + | {{ep | 3345 | 21/10/2002 | P |Julian Fell| 120 − 49 |[[Leo Pinches]]|[[Ingrid Tarrant]]|Susie Dent|131}} |
− | {{ep | 3346 | 22/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 104 | + | {{ep | 3346 | 22/10/2002 | P |Julian Fell| 104 − 61 |[[Tim Cape]]|Ingrid Tarrant|Susie Dent|119}} |
− | {{ep | 3347 | 23/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 111 | + | {{ep | 3347 | 23/10/2002 | P |Julian Fell| 111 − 54 |[[Jill Leatherbarrow]]|Ingrid Tarrant|Susie Dent|140}} |
− | {{ep | 3348 | 24/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 109 | + | {{ep | 3348 | 24/10/2002 | P |Julian Fell| 109 − 84 |[[June Mitchell]]|Ingrid Tarrant|Susie Dent|118}} |
− | {{ep | 3349 | 25/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 138 | + | {{ep | 3349 | 25/10/2002 | P |Julian Fell| 138 − 29 |[[Carl McDermott]]|Ingrid Tarrant|Susie Dent|148}} |
− | {{ep | 3383 | 12/12/2002 | QF | Julian Fell | 125 | + | {{ep | 3383 | 12/12/2002 | QF |Julian Fell| 125 − 67 |[[Mike Brown (debut episode 3328)|Mike Brown]]|[[Pam Ayres]]|[[Richard Samson]]|141}} |
− | {{ep | 3387 | 18/12/2002 | SF | [[Danny Hamilton]] | 77 | + | {{ep | 3387 | 18/12/2002 | SF |[[Danny Hamilton]]| 77 − 146 |Julian Fell|[[Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall]]|Richard Samson|158}} |
− | {{ep | 3389 | 20/12/2002 | GF | Julian Fell | 112 | + | {{ep | 3389 | 20/12/2002 | GF |Julian Fell| 112 − 88 |[[Grace Page]]|Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall|Richard Samson|132}} |
− | {{ep | 3396 | 14/01/2003 | CP | Julian Fell | 118 | + | {{ep | 3396 | 14/01/2003 | CP |Julian Fell| 118 − 64 |[[Terence O'Farrell]]|[[Tim Rice]]|Susie Dent|130}} |
− | {{ep | 3401 | 21/01/2003 | CQF | [[Graham Nash]] | 120 | + | {{ep | 3401 | 21/01/2003 | CQF |[[Graham Nash]]| 120 − 109 |Julian Fell|[[Eric Knowles]]|Susie Dent|137}} |
− | {{ep | S12 | | + | {{ep | S12 | 12/09/2003 | S |Julian Fell| 100 − 92 |[[Chris Wills]]|[[Bob Bevan]]|[[Alison Heard]]|123}} |
{{episode table end}} | {{episode table end}} | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
+ | {{WP}} | ||
+ | * His own record of his [http://www.thecountdownpage.com/exp-julian-fell-1.htm experience on the show] on [[The Countdown Page]]. | ||
+ | * [[Brian Fell]], Julian Fell's late uncle who appeared as a [[contestant]] in [[Series 39]]. | ||
− | {{ | + | {{DEFAULTSORT:Fell, Julian}} |
− | + | [[Category:Finalists]] | |
− | [[Category:Series winners | + | [[Category:Series winners]] |
− | [[Category:Octochamps of the 15 round era | + | [[Category:Octochamps of the 15 round era]] |
− | [[Category:Contestants in Series 48 | + | [[Category:Contestants in Series 48]] |
− | [[ | + | [[Category:Contestants in Championship of Champions XI]] |
− | [[Category:Teapot owners | + | [[Category:Teapot owners]] |
+ | [[Category:Contestants on other game shows]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Featured articles]] |
Latest revision as of 22:24, 3 February 2023
Julian Fell octochamp statistics | |
---|---|
Final position | Champion |
Seeding | 1 |
Points total | 924 |
Conundrums solved | 8 |
Julian Fell was an octochamp in and the champion of Series 48, and a quarter-finalist in Championship of Champions XI. He is widely considered to be among the greatest Countdowners of all time. He holds a cornucopia of records, including the highest single score in a game of 146 at that time which was later matched a decade later by Conor Travers but never exceeded until Zarte Siempre smashed it with a score of 150 in January 2019, which was then bettered by Elliott Mellor, who scored 152 in May 2019, then by Tom Stevenson with 154 in October 2022. Fell is particularly renowned for his astonishing word knowledge, including definitions, coupled with fast conundrums. He was the fourth player in history to solve all eight of his preliminary conundrums, after Darryl Francis, Harvey Freeman and David Williams. His numbers strength is often underestimated in comparison to the other disciplines. A poll of Gevincountdown members in 2003 voted him the greatest player of all time, ahead of Harvey Freeman. His octochamp aggregate score of 924 was a record until Series 60 champion Kirk Bevins beat it by a single point in 2009, and his aggregate series total of 1,307 across 11 games was also a record until Series 69 runner-up Dylan Taylor bettered it by 12 points in 2013. He is also the first player in the history of Countdown to score over 900 points (924) across his 8 heat games.
Contents
Appearances on the programme
Heat games
His debut came on Wednesday 16th October 2002, when as an 18-year old student from York Sixth Form College, he posted an impressive 117. Six more centuries followed, and by the following Friday only Carl McDermott stood between Fell and octochampdom. This game is remembered as one of the greatest drubbings in Countdown history, as Fell racked up 138, winning by 109. His place as No. 1 seed and favourite for the series was assured, and his feat of eight centuries in eight heats has been matched by only a very select group of players.
Series finals
The quarter-final saw Fell rack up a hefty 125 against 8th seed Mike Brown including the nine WOMANISER to advance comfortably to the next round. In the semi-final, Fell faced Danny Hamilton, finding SALMONIDS, DEPORTING, INGATHERS and DEFLATION to make the then-highest ever score of 146 before the conundrum. With Chris Wills' high score record already surpassed, Fell had his first blank on the conundrum, with THEIRCOPY proving too difficult for either contestant. The final was more closely fought, despite Fell finding a first round winner in MANTICORE. Grace Page played consistently thereafter and the excellent KNITWEAR in Round 9 gave her a chance of a comeback. However the rest of the game produced flat selections and the game was over before the final numbers. Fell ended the series by unravelling APIMOMENT in barely a second.
Championship of Champions XI
A few weeks later, he returned to the Leeds studio for Championship of Champions XI. A twelfth consecutive century, this time against Series 42's Terence O'Farrell, eased Fell into the quarter-finals. His match with Series 43 champion Graham Nash was another classic. Both players scored steadily but the game turned on Fell's risky declaration of gambiers ☓, which he knew to be a mass noun plural but believed was likely to be acceptable under the newly revised rules. Susie disagreed — the first time Fell had had a word disallowed. A few points behind going into the crucial conundrum, Nash quickly buzzed with the solution to MENDMEDOC and the game was his — Fell had been felled at last.
Special game
Fell returned a few months later to face Series 47 champion Chris Wills in a special episode. The game was close but Fell pulled ahead with GERONTIC in round 12, but was beaten on the last numbers and went into the conundrum trailing 90 – 92. Fell had still scored a century in every game he had played, including his loss to Graham Nash. It was Fell that got the conundrum VIRTUOSIC and continued his run of 14 centuries in 14 games. Overall, he has won 13 games and lost only 1.
After Countdown
Following Fell's loss to Graham Nash, he played in two non-televised charity games against Chris Cummins, the champion of Series 50 and a fellow Cambridge University student at the time. Fell won 2 – 0. He went on to organise the first major online tournament in the summer of 2004, and beat Jon Stitcher in a closely fought final.
Fell also appeared as a contestant on the defunct Channel 5 game show BrainTeaser.
He has since graduated from Magdalene College, Cambridge. A once active member of the online Countdown community, Fell attended the offline tournament CoNot 2008. Soon after, he announced his retirement, citing a lack of motivation.
Preceded by Chris Wills |
Series winner Series 48 |
Followed by John Davies |
Episodes
# | Date | Type | Contestant 1 | Score | Contestant 2 | Presenters | Guest | Lex | Max | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3342 | 16/10/2002 | P | Kevin Neate | 63 − 117 | Julian Fell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Keith Barron | Susie Dent | 122 | ||
3343 | 17/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 117 − 57 | Russell Hutton | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Keith Barron | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
3344 | 18/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 108 − 53 | Megan Stone | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Keith Barron | Susie Dent | 117 | ||
3345 | 21/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 120 − 49 | Leo Pinches | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | 131 | ||
3346 | 22/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 104 − 61 | Tim Cape | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | 119 | ||
3347 | 23/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 111 − 54 | Jill Leatherbarrow | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | 140 | ||
3348 | 24/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 109 − 84 | June Mitchell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | 118 | ||
3349 | 25/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 138 − 29 | Carl McDermott | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | 148 | ||
3383 | 12/12/2002 | QF | Julian Fell | 125 − 67 | Mike Brown | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Pam Ayres | Richard Samson | 141 | ||
3387 | 18/12/2002 | SF | Danny Hamilton | 77 − 146 | Julian Fell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall | Richard Samson | 158 | ||
3389 | 20/12/2002 | GF | Julian Fell | 112 − 88 | Grace Page | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall | Richard Samson | 132 | ||
3396 | 14/01/2003 | CP | Julian Fell | 118 − 64 | Terence O'Farrell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Tim Rice | Susie Dent | 130 | ||
3401 | 21/01/2003 | CQF | Graham Nash | 120 − 109 | Julian Fell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Eric Knowles | Susie Dent | 137 | ||
S12 | 12/09/2003 | S | Julian Fell | 100 − 92 | Chris Wills | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Bob Bevan | Alison Heard | 123 |
See also
- Julian Fell on Wikipedia.
- His own record of his experience on the show on The Countdown Page.
- Brian Fell, Julian Fell's late uncle who appeared as a contestant in Series 39.