Tim Bridgstock

Tim Bridgstock octochamp statistics
Final position	Semi-finalist
Seeding	2
Points total	792
Conundrums solved	7

Tim Bridgstock in Series 91.

Tim Bridgstock was an octochamp and semi-finalist in Series 91. He was an applications analyst working for Sheffield Hallam University and a former Cadbury employee from Sheffield.

Appearances

Heat games

Bridgstock made an extremely confident century debut against one-time winner, Deborah Maguire, scoring in every round (while maxing 11 of them) which included a spot of the nine-letter word, CURTAINED – this contributed him to obtain the highest score of the series of 126. He followed that up with seven more victories which were not quite as emphatic – Bridgstock actually solved crucial conundrums as a testament to the strength of his opponents, and others like Tim Lawrence that were not shaken off until the last numbers round of that game.

In his seventh game, he spotted another nine-letter word, UNEARTHED, which confirmed his qualification for the end of series finals with his last heat still to be played. In the aforementioned last preliminary, Jo Goymour did well to pull back within range before the last numbers round but an impossible six-small, which neither of them spotted that ended up securing octochampdom for Bridgstock, who also unravelled the conundrum KISSANEWT to secure the number two seed at the time. Rachel Riley then anointed him by giving him his nickname as "The Golden Gate", as a play on words of his last name and as a nod to the more suspenseful aspects of his octorun.

Finals

He returned as the second seed for the quarter-finals against number seven seed, Tom Page. They matched each other almost constantly, with only the spots of EMPTYING and RHETORIC letting Bridgstock take a 16-point lead. But he blanked the last numbers round, while Page got as close as possible to force a crucial conundrum. However, with neither of them solving it, it meant Bridgstock survived by the skin of his teeth and he marched on into the semi-finals.

In that match, Bridgstock edged ahead initially with COVERAGE but then James struck back with the nine-letter-word STROBILAE to establish a 16-point lead which Tim was never quite able to make up. A blank on the final numbers round sealed defeat and after neither of them could crack yet another difficult conundrum in BARMYCOCO, it meant Bridgstock's time in the competition was over with his lowest score to date. He ended with a final points tally of 968 from 10 appearances.

Episodes

#	Date	Type	Contestant 1	Score	Contestant 2	Presenters				Guest	Lex	Max
8518	16/05/2025	P	Deborah Maguire	37 – 126	Tim Bridgstock	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Richie Anderson	Susie Dent	132
8519	19/05/2025	P	Tim Bridgstock	92 – 80	Darrell Coker	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Keith Brymer Jones	Susie Dent	118
8520	20/05/2025	P	Tim Bridgstock	100 – 25	Liz Browne	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Keith Brymer Jones	Susie Dent	118
8521	21/05/2025	P	Tim Bridgstock	97 – 76	Tim Lawrence	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Keith Brymer Jones	Susie Dent	121
8522	22/05/2025	P	Tim Bridgstock	89 – 86	Billy Stevenson	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Keith Brymer Jones	Susie Dent	122
8523	23/05/2025	P	Tim Bridgstock	88 – 50	Carol Jones-Morris	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Keith Brymer Jones	Susie Dent	126
8524	26/05/2025	P	Tim Bridgstock	109 – 64	Gary Bumstead	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Harry Aikines-Aryeetey	Susie Dent	132
8525	27/05/2025	P	Tim Bridgstock	91 – 63	Jo Goymour	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Harry Aikines-Aryeetey	Susie Dent	119
8543	20/06/2025	QF	Tim Bridgstock	99 – 90	Tom Page	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Ricky Wilson	Susie Dent	125
8547	26/06/2025	SF	Tim Bridgstock	77 – 100	Tim James	Colin Murray	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Bob Harris	Susie Dent	143