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Difference between revisions of "Stephen Read"

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{{octostats|'''Champion'''|1|915|7}}
 
{{octostats|'''Champion'''|1|915|7}}
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[[File:Stephen Read.png|thumb|350px|right|Stephen Read in [[Series 76]].]]
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[[File:Stephen Read.png|thumb|200px|right|Stephen Read in Series 76...]]
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[[File:S76 Champion.png|thumb|200px|right|Stephen Read holding the [[Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy]] after winning [[Series 76]].]]
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[[File:Stephen Read2.jpeg|thumb|200px|right|...and again in the Championship of Champions XV.]]
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'''Stephen Read''' was an [[octochamp]] in and the [[Series Winners|champion]] of [[Series 76]]. He is also an [[Apterite]]. He is the 75th member of the [[800 club]] in the [[15-round format|15-round era]], and is renowned for his quirky nature and strong letters round performances.
+
[[File:S76 Champion.png|thumb|200px|right|Stephen Read holding the [[Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy]] after winning Series 76.]]
 +
[[File:Stephen_read_audience.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Stephen Read solving the conundrum in [[Episode 5914]].]]
 +
'''Stephen Read''' was an [[octochamp]] in and the [[Series winners|champion]] of [[Series 76]], and a participant in [[Championship of Champions XV]]. He is also an [[Apterous|Apterite]]. He is the 75th member of the [[800 club]] in the [[15-round format|15-round era]]. On Apterous, Read is known for making [[Jo Brand]]-style puns of the letter selections online during the day's ''[[Countdown]]'' broadcast.
  
−
In April 2016, he attended his first Co-event - [[Countdown in Leeds 2016]] - followed up in May 2016 by his attendance at [[Countdown in King's Lynn 2016]], which he won. He beat [[Series 69]] champion [[Callum Todd]] in the final on a tie-break conundrum, having been 20 points adrift earlier in the game, spotting the low-probability 6 {{word|DOODAD}} in the process. He also won [[Countdown in Birmingham 2016]] and reached the final of [[Countdown in Huddersfield 2016]], meaning he either won or was runner-up in three of his first four Co-events. He was awarded [[FOCAL]]'s 'Rookie of the Year' prize for 2016.
+
==Appearances on the programme==
 +
===In the audience===
 +
3 years before his first Countdown game, Read made his TV debut on [[Episode 5914|29 April 2014]] as the audience member who solved the [[conundrum]] after a failed attempt from both [[contestant]]s before the audience were then cheering loudly for him.
  
−
After making a strong impression in the FOCAL circuit, he made his televised debut on 5 May 2017 and went on to score a century in all his heat games (only the 15th contestant to do so) to top the series seed table with an octochamp total of 915. He proved to be very strong in the letters rounds, with impressive findings such as {{word|DRAGONET}}, {{word|NOTEPADS}}, {{word|MALONATE}} and {{word|PRESOAKED}} beating the contestants. He also scored 308 points in 32 numbers games, the second-highest score from numbers rounds alone in an octorun after [[Dylan Taylor]]’s 311.
+
===Heat games===
 +
Read made his televised debut on [[Episode 6576|5 May 2017]] and went on to score a [[Century#Contestants with eight consecutive prelim centuries|century in all his heat games]] (only the 15th [[contestant]] to do so) to top the series seed table with an [[octochamp]] total of 915. He proved to be very strong in the [[letters game]]s, with impressive findings such as {{word|DRAGONET}}, {{word|NOTEPADS}}, {{word|MALONATE}} and {{word|PRESOAKED}} beating the contestants. He also scored 308 points in 32 numbers games, the then second-highest score from numbers rounds alone in an octorun after [[Dylan Taylor]]’s 311.
  
−
Read returned for the finals in June as #1 seed. In his quarter-final, he prevailed over #8 seed [[James Slater]] but only managed 92 points. His run of [[century|centuries]] would have been maintained had he not voided {{word|MORALISER}}, and he was also beaten by Slater's findings of {{word|CATHOUSE}} and {{word|CUISINE}}. Read also picked 6 small instead of his usual 2 large.
+
===Finals===
 +
Read returned for the finals in June 2017 as number one seed. In his [[Episode 6608|quarter-final]], he prevailed over number eight seed, [[James Slater]], but only managed 92 points. His run of [[century|centuries]] would have been maintained had he not voided {{word|MORALISER}}, and he was also beaten by Slater's findings of {{word|CATHOUSE}} and {{word|CUISINE}}. Read also picked six small instead of his usual two large.
  
−
In his semi-final against [[Annie Humphries]], Read accelerated again, scoring 115 to his opponent's 67 and achieving a maximum score in all but two rounds to secure a berth in the grand final of Series 76. This time he switched to 2 large.
+
In his [[Episode 6612|semi-final]] against [[Annie Humphries]], Read accelerated again, scoring 115 to his opponent's 67 and achieving a maximum score in all but two rounds to secure a berth in the grand final of [[Series 76]]. This time he switched to two large.
  
−
Finally, in the ultimate show of the series, he showed no sign of slowing down as he beat [[Moose Rosser]] by a margin of 50 points to take a well-deserved set of dictionaries and become the latest owner of the Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy. Read hence became a "[[xicount]]" with an 11-game total of 1230 points.
+
Finally, in the [[Episode 6614|ultimate show of the series]], he showed no sign of slowing down as he beat [[Moose Rosser]] by a margin of 50 points to take a well-deserved set of [[Oxford English Dictionary|dictionaries]] and become the latest owner of the [[Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy]]. Read hence became a [[xicount]] with an 11-game total of 1,230 points.
  
−
Read returned to Countdown in 2019 for the [[Championship of Champions XV]], where he faced [[Thomas Carey|Tom Carey]] in the tournament's fourth preliminary game. Read was the only player from Series 76 to participate in the tournament. The game was close throughout, with Read notably making a late leap thanks to his spot of {{word|PIPEMAN}} to force a crucial conundrum. However, the [[Series 73]] semi-finalist unravelled {{word|HAIRYDENT}} to take the game {{score|106|87}}, relegating Read to his only defeat to date.
+
===Championship of Champions XV===
 +
Read returned to ''[[Countdown]]'' in 2019 for [[Championship of Champions XV]], where he faced [[Tom Carey]] in the tournament's [[Episode 6983|fourth preliminary game]]. Read was the only player from [[Series 76]] to participate in the tournament. The game was close throughout, with Read notably making a late leap thanks to his spot of {{word|PIPEMAN}} to force a crucial [[conundrum]]. However, the [[Series 73]] semi-finalist unravelled {{word|HAIRYDENT}} to take the game {{score|106|87}}, relegating Read to his only defeat to date.
  
−
On Apterous, Read is known for making [[Jo Brand]]-style puns of the letter selections online during the day's Countdown broadcast.
+
==Co-events==
 +
In April 2016, he attended his first [[Co-event]] – [[Countdown in Leeds 2016]] – followed up in May 2016 by his attendance at [[Countdown in King's Lynn 2016]], which he won. He beat [[Series 69]] [[series winners|champion]], [[Callum Todd]], in the [[Episode COKL246|grand final]] on a tiebreak [[conundrum]], having been 20 points adrift earlier in the game, spotting the low-probability six {{word|DOODAD}} in the process. He also won [[Countdown in Birmingham 2016]] and reached the grand final of [[Countdown in Huddersfield 2016]], meaning he either won or was runner-up in three of his first four Co-events. He was awarded [[FOCAL]]'s 'Rookie of the Year' prize for 2016. He then won [[CoManche]] in 2017.
  
−
Along with Apterites [[Sam Prouse]] and [[Andy Platt]], he appeared in the 2019/20 series of Only Connect on the 9th September 2019, as the team captain of the Lexplorers. They ended up winning their game comfortably by a scoreline of 10-34 against the Gladiators. They appeared in the second round on the 2nd December 2019, and after a tough game, won 13-9 against the Suits. They appeared in the Quarter Finals in 2020, and their run came to an end after losing 16-21 in a rematch to the Suits.
+
==Appearances on ''Only Connect''==
 +
Along with [[Apterous|Apterites]] [[Sam Prouse]] and [[Andy Platt]], he appeared in the 2019/20 series of ''{{w|Only Connect}}'' as captain of the "Lexplorers" team. On their first appearance on 9 September 2019, they ended up winning their game comfortably by a scoreline of {{score|10|34}} against the "Gladiators". They appeared in the second round on the 2 December 2019, and after a tough game, won {{score|13|9}} against the "Suits". They appeared in the quarter-finals on 10 February 2020, and their run came to an end after losing {{score|16|21}} in a rematch to the "Suits".
  
−
{{series winner|preceded_by=Martin Hurst|followed_by=Tom Chafer-Cook|series=76}}
+
==''[[ZoomDown]]''==
 +
After his ''[[Countdown]]'' appearances, Read was a ''ZoomDown'' team member, and also participated in the special [[ZoomDown specials#Hypercountdown|Hyper]] series, [[ZoomDown Series 1|Series 1]], [[ZoomDown Series 2|Series 2]] (just missing out on the finals as number nine seed) and the [[ZoomDown specials#Numberists 2|second Numberists]] series.
 +
 
 +
{{series winner|preceded_by=Martin Hurst|series=76|followed_by=Tom Chafer-Cook}}
  
 
==Episodes==
 
==Episodes==
 
{{episode table}}
 
{{episode table}}
−
{{ep | 6576 | 5/05/2017 | P |[[John Robertson]]| 37 - 119 |Stephen Read|[[John Inverdale]]|[[Susie Dent]]|124}}
+
{{ep | 6576 | 05/05/2017 | P |[[John Robertson]]| 37 - 119 |Stephen Read|[[John Inverdale]]|[[Susie Dent]]|124}}
−
{{ep | 6577 | 8/05/2017 | P |Stephen Read| 110 - 27 |[[Jake Denney]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|121}}
+
{{ep | 6577 | 08/05/2017 | P |Stephen Read| 110 - 27 |[[Jake Denney]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|121}}
−
{{ep | 6578 | 9/05/2017 | P |Stephen Read| 111 - 27 |[[Tim Clarke]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|133}}
+
{{ep | 6578 | 09/05/2017 | P |Stephen Read| 111 - 27 |[[Tim Clarke]]|John Inverdale|Susie Dent|133}}
 
{{ep | 6579 | 10/05/2017 | P |Stephen Read| 104 - 60 |[[Dan Haggerty]]|[[Mark Austin]]|Susie Dent|122}}
 
{{ep | 6579 | 10/05/2017 | P |Stephen Read| 104 - 60 |[[Dan Haggerty]]|[[Mark Austin]]|Susie Dent|122}}
 
{{ep | 6580 | 11/05/2017 | P |Stephen Read| 131 - 21 |[[Alan Jefferson]]|Mark Austin|Susie Dent|133}}
 
{{ep | 6580 | 11/05/2017 | P |Stephen Read| 131 - 21 |[[Alan Jefferson]]|Mark Austin|Susie Dent|133}}
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{{ep | 6612 | 28/06/2017 | SF |Stephen Read| 115 - 67 |[[Annie Humphries]]|[[Colin Murray]]|Susie Dent|124}}
 
{{ep | 6612 | 28/06/2017 | SF |Stephen Read| 115 - 67 |[[Annie Humphries]]|[[Colin Murray]]|Susie Dent|124}}
 
{{ep | 6614 | 30/06/2017 | GF |Stephen Read| 108 - 58 |[[Moose Rosser]]|Colin Murray|Susie Dent|121}}
 
{{ep | 6614 | 30/06/2017 | GF |Stephen Read| 108 - 58 |[[Moose Rosser]]|Colin Murray|Susie Dent|121}}
−
{{ep | 6983 | 7/01/2019 | CP |[[Thomas Carey|Tom Carey]]| 106 - 87 |Stephen Read|[[Kate Humble]]|Susie Dent|131}}
+
{{ep | 6983 | 07/01/2019 | CP |[[Tom Carey]]| 106 - 87 |Stephen Read|[[Kate Humble]]|Susie Dent|131}}
 
{{episode table end}}
 
{{episode table end}}
  
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Read, Stephen}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Read, Stephen}}
 
[[Category:Contestants in Series 76]]
 
[[Category:Contestants in Series 76]]
 +
[[Category:Contestants in Championship of Champions XV]]
 
[[Category:Teapot owners]]
 
[[Category:Teapot owners]]
 
[[Category:Tournament winners]]
 
[[Category:Tournament winners]]
 
[[Category:Octochamps of the 15 round era]]
 
[[Category:Octochamps of the 15 round era]]
 
[[Category:Finalists]]
 
[[Category:Finalists]]
−
[[Category:Series winners]]
+
[[Category:Contestants on other game shows]]
 +
[[Category:Contestants on ZoomDown]]
 +
[[Category:Contestants with eight consecutive prelim centuries]]

Latest revision as of 10:58, 9 July 2025

Stephen Read
octochamp statistics
Final position Champion
Seeding 1
Points total 915
Conundrums solved 7
Stephen Read in Series 76...
...and again in the Championship of Champions XV.
Stephen Read holding the Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy after winning Series 76.
Stephen Read solving the conundrum in Episode 5914.

Stephen Read was an octochamp in and the champion of Series 76, and a participant in Championship of Champions XV. He is also an Apterite. He is the 75th member of the 800 club in the 15-round era. On Apterous, Read is known for making Jo Brand-style puns of the letter selections online during the day's Countdown broadcast.

Appearances on the programme

In the audience

3 years before his first Countdown game, Read made his TV debut on 29 April 2014 as the audience member who solved the conundrum after a failed attempt from both contestants before the audience were then cheering loudly for him.

Heat games

Read made his televised debut on 5 May 2017 and went on to score a century in all his heat games (only the 15th contestant to do so) to top the series seed table with an octochamp total of 915. He proved to be very strong in the letters games, with impressive findings such as DRAGONET, NOTEPADS, MALONATE and PRESOAKED beating the contestants. He also scored 308 points in 32 numbers games, the then second-highest score from numbers rounds alone in an octorun after Dylan Taylor’s 311.

Finals

Read returned for the finals in June 2017 as number one seed. In his quarter-final, he prevailed over number eight seed, James Slater, but only managed 92 points. His run of centuries would have been maintained had he not voided MORALISER, and he was also beaten by Slater's findings of CATHOUSE and CUISINE. Read also picked six small instead of his usual two large.

In his semi-final against Annie Humphries, Read accelerated again, scoring 115 to his opponent's 67 and achieving a maximum score in all but two rounds to secure a berth in the grand final of Series 76. This time he switched to two large.

Finally, in the ultimate show of the series, he showed no sign of slowing down as he beat Moose Rosser by a margin of 50 points to take a well-deserved set of dictionaries and become the latest owner of the Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy. Read hence became a xicount with an 11-game total of 1,230 points.

Championship of Champions XV

Read returned to Countdown in 2019 for Championship of Champions XV, where he faced Tom Carey in the tournament's fourth preliminary game. Read was the only player from Series 76 to participate in the tournament. The game was close throughout, with Read notably making a late leap thanks to his spot of PIPEMAN to force a crucial conundrum. However, the Series 73 semi-finalist unravelled HAIRYDENT to take the game 106 – 87, relegating Read to his only defeat to date.

Co-events

In April 2016, he attended his first Co-event – Countdown in Leeds 2016 – followed up in May 2016 by his attendance at Countdown in King's Lynn 2016, which he won. He beat Series 69 champion, Callum Todd, in the grand final on a tiebreak conundrum, having been 20 points adrift earlier in the game, spotting the low-probability six DOODAD in the process. He also won Countdown in Birmingham 2016 and reached the grand final of Countdown in Huddersfield 2016, meaning he either won or was runner-up in three of his first four Co-events. He was awarded FOCAL's 'Rookie of the Year' prize for 2016. He then won CoManche in 2017.

Appearances on Only Connect

Along with Apterites Sam Prouse and Andy Platt, he appeared in the 2019/20 series of Only Connect as captain of the "Lexplorers" team. On their first appearance on 9 September 2019, they ended up winning their game comfortably by a scoreline of 10 – 34 against the "Gladiators". They appeared in the second round on the 2 December 2019, and after a tough game, won 13 – 9 against the "Suits". They appeared in the quarter-finals on 10 February 2020, and their run came to an end after losing 16 – 21 in a rematch to the "Suits".

ZoomDown

After his Countdown appearances, Read was a ZoomDown team member, and also participated in the special Hyper series, Series 1, Series 2 (just missing out on the finals as number nine seed) and the second Numberists series.

Preceded by
Martin Hurst		 Series winner
Series 76		 Followed by
Tom Chafer-Cook

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
6576 05/05/2017 P John Robertson 37 – 119 Stephen Read Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 124
6577 08/05/2017 P Stephen Read 110 – 27 Jake Denney Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 121
6578 09/05/2017 P Stephen Read 111 – 27 Tim Clarke Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 133
6579 10/05/2017 P Stephen Read 104 – 60 Dan Haggerty Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Austin Susie Dent 122
6580 11/05/2017 P Stephen Read 131 – 21 Alan Jefferson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Austin Susie Dent 133
6581 12/05/2017 P Stephen Read 114 – 61 Mark Rainey Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Austin Susie Dent 135
6582 15/05/2017 P Stephen Read 115 – 51 Jane Donnelly Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Austin Susie Dent 121
6583 16/05/2017 P Stephen Read 111 – 42 Craig Tampin Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Austin Susie Dent 132
6608 21/06/2017 QF Stephen Read 92 – 60 James Slater Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Suzi Perry Susie Dent 135
6612 28/06/2017 SF Stephen Read 115 – 67 Annie Humphries Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Colin Murray Susie Dent 124
6614 30/06/2017 GF Stephen Read 108 – 58 Moose Rosser Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Colin Murray Susie Dent 121
6983 07/01/2019 CP Tom Carey 106 – 87 Stephen Read Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Kate Humble Susie Dent 131
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