Due to persistent vandalism, account creation has been suspended. If you would like an account, please contact Charlie Reams on Apterous.
Difference between revisions of "Harry Savage"
(→Finals) |
DaaniyalAli (talk | contribs) |
||
| (10 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{octostats|'''Champion'''|1|939|6}} | {{octostats|'''Champion'''|1|939|6}} | ||
| − | [[Image:Harry Savage.png|200px|right|thumb|Harry Savage in | + | [[Image:Harry Savage.png|200px|right|thumb|Harry Savage in Series 88.]] |
[[File:S88 Champion.png|thumb|200px|right|Harry Savage holding the [[Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy]] after winning Series 88.]] | [[File:S88 Champion.png|thumb|200px|right|Harry Savage holding the [[Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy]] after winning Series 88.]] | ||
| − | '''Harry Savage''' was | + | '''Harry Savage''' was an [[octochamp]] in and the [[series winners|champion]] of [[Series 88]]. He is the third series champion to be born in the 21st century. Originally from Southampton, he was a final-year biology student at {{w|Hertford College, Oxford}} at the time of his appearances. He is also an [[Apterous|Apterite]] and outside of ''[[Countdown]]'', he is a competitive {{w|Rubik's Cube}} solver – he has competed at the UK and World Championships in different categories and has held {{w|Guinness World Records}} in the sport as well. |
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
===Heat games=== | ===Heat games=== | ||
| − | Savage first appeared on 2 August 2023 | + | Savage first appeared on [[Episode 8074|2 August 2023]] when notably being asked by [[Colin Murray]], to solve a {{w|Rubik's Cube}} before gameplay as he managed to do so in 10.5 seconds. He later won with 122 points to six-time winner, [[Hywel Jones]]' 59 points. He followed this up with seven more excellent performances, which were also all [[century|centuries]] with a low of 105 and a high score of 130. |
| − | Of particular note throughout his heats, he found six | + | Of particular note throughout his heats, he found six nine-letter words: {{word|MERITABLE}}, {{word|CERATOPID}}, {{word|ERADICATE}}, {{word|INCLOSURE}}, {{word|ORIGINATE}} and {{word|HORTENSIA}}. Some other notable spots included {{word|TOHUNGA}}, {{word|WOODSIA}}, {{word|DUODENA}}, {{word|BOWHEAD}} and {{word|SAURIAN}} – the latter [[Susie Dent]] later christened Savage with his nickname as "'''Thesaurus'''" owing to his performances on the show. |
| − | After his last heat game | + | After his [[Episode 8081|last heat game]] in which he maxed 13 rounds, scored his personal best and restricted his opponent, [[Sandra Ring]], to under 30 points – he became the first [[contestant]] to win six games in a single filming day since [[Paul Erdunast]] in [[Series 74]] and finished up with an octotal of 939. This made him the 32nd member of the [[800 club|900 club]], placed him equal on points with fellow [[octochamp]], [[Sam Cappleman-Lynes]], and made him the provisional number one seed. He also provided one final party piece by solving a Rubik's Cube blindfolded in the studio after the game was finished, in which he amazingly managed to do so in 20 seconds. |
===Finals=== | ===Finals=== | ||
| − | Savage ultimately returned for the series finals on 14 December 2023 as the | + | Savage ultimately returned for the series finals on [[Episode 8170|14 December 2023]] as the number one seed playing against number eight seed, [[David Edwards (Series 88)|David Edwards]], and immediately got off to a flyer by spotting his seventh nine-letter-word in {{word|DOVETAILS}}. He then continued to build up a commanding lead but Edwards did nick some points off him with {{word|BENZOATE}}. Savage though powered his way to a ninth [[century]] and capped it off with a challenging [[conundrum]] solve turning {{word|PUBORPORT}} into {{word|TURBOPROP}}, which consigned Edwards to his second defeat and booked Savage's [[Episode 8174|semi-final]] place. |
| − | Savage actually fell behind early on in his semi-final against [[Paul O'Brien]] | + | Savage actually fell behind early on in his semi-final against [[Paul O'Brien]] but then showed a cutting edge thanks to spots like {{word|SOSATIE}} and {{word|EVIRATES}} – the majority of his lead though was due to a couple of [[numbers round]] misfires from his opponent. All of this meant Savage was perfectly in the clear with a tenth century on the bounce after the final numbers game and after neither player cracked the conundrum, it meant Savage progressed to the [[Episode 8176|grand final]] albeit with his lowest score to date. |
| − | The grand | + | The grand final against [[Viraj Seelam]] had Savage behind by his largest margin at one point when Seelam cracked a trademark six-small numbers selection. Savage, though, clawed his way back by the second commercial break and then struck a killer blow with the nine-letter word, {{word|COMPANIES}}, along with the [[darren]]ic of {{word|GAWKIER}} in the next round. He held on after that to confirm his status as [[series winners|series champion]] before the last numbers round and after neither player turned the apt {{word|MEGASTTAR}} into {{word|STRATAGEM}}. Savage then lifted the [[Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy]] with an eleventh century to his name, a [[xicount]] total of 1,266 and his unbeaten record still intact for now. |
| − | ==ZoomDown== | + | ==''[[ZoomDown]]''== |
| + | Prior to his TV debut, Savage was a contestant in [[ZoomDown Series 2|''ZoomDown'' Series 2]]. He won his first three games, which included a [[max game]] against [[Tracey Mills]] in his [[Episode ZD52|third heat]] but fell short of tetrachampdom thanks to current ''[[Countdown]]'' producer, [[Damian Eadie]]. Regardless, he still qualified for the end-of-series finals, winning his [[Episode ZD59#Second Quarter-Final|quarter-final]] against [[Noel McIlvenny]] but losing his [[Episode ZD61#Second semi-final|semi-final]] to eventual series champ, [[Rob Foster]], who himself scored a max game. | ||
| − | + | His performances also saw him invited back for the [[ZoomDown Championship of Champions|Championship of Champions]] where his [[Episode ZD128#Game 2|preliminary game]] saw him defeat [[Graeme Cole]] by just one point, before once again facing Rob Foster in the [[Episode ZD132|quarter-finals]]. Again, he unfortunately lost on a crucial [[conundrum]] which Foster solved, eliminating him from the competition. | |
| − | + | {{series winner|preceded_by=Ronan Higginson|series=88|followed_by=Arthur Page}} | |
==Episodes== | ==Episodes== | ||
| Line 38: | Line 39: | ||
{{ep | 8080 | 10/08/2023 | P |Harry Savage|115 – 47|[[Michael Cameron]]|Edith Bowman|Susie Dent|123}} | {{ep | 8080 | 10/08/2023 | P |Harry Savage|115 – 47|[[Michael Cameron]]|Edith Bowman|Susie Dent|123}} | ||
{{ep | 8081 | 11/08/2023 | P |Harry Savage|130 – 21|[[Sandra Ring]]|Edith Bowman|Susie Dent|134}} | {{ep | 8081 | 11/08/2023 | P |Harry Savage|130 – 21|[[Sandra Ring]]|Edith Bowman|Susie Dent|134}} | ||
| − | {{ep | 8170 | 14/12/2023 | QF |Harry Savage|118 – 58|[[David Edwards (Series 88)|David Edwards]]|Marcus Brigstocke|Susie Dent|145}} | + | {{ep | 8170 | 14/12/2023 | QF |Harry Savage|118 – 58|[[David Edwards (Series 88)|David Edwards]]|[[Marcus Brigstocke]]|Susie Dent|145}} |
| − | {{ep | 8174 | 20/12/2023 | SF |Harry Savage|104 – 70|[[Paul O'Brien]]|Christopher Biggins|Susie Dent|125}} | + | {{ep | 8174 | 20/12/2023 | SF |Harry Savage|104 – 70|[[Paul O'Brien]]|[[Christopher Biggins]]|Susie Dent|125}} |
{{ep | 8176 | 22/12/2023 | GF |Harry Savage|105 – 77|[[Viraj Seelam]]|Christopher Biggins|Susie Dent|133}} | {{ep | 8176 | 22/12/2023 | GF |Harry Savage|105 – 77|[[Viraj Seelam]]|Christopher Biggins|Susie Dent|133}} | ||
{{episode table end}} | {{episode table end}} | ||
| Line 46: | Line 47: | ||
[[Category:Contestants on ZoomDown]] | [[Category:Contestants on ZoomDown]] | ||
[[Category:Teapot owners]] | [[Category:Teapot owners]] | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:Contestants in Series 88]] | [[Category:Contestants in Series 88]] | ||
[[Category:Unbeaten contestants]] | [[Category:Unbeaten contestants]] | ||
[[Category:Octochamps of the 15 round era]] | [[Category:Octochamps of the 15 round era]] | ||
[[Category:Finalists]] | [[Category:Finalists]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Contestants with eight consecutive prelim centuries]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:24, 21 August 2025
| Harry Savage octochamp statistics | |
|---|---|
| Final position | Champion |
| Seeding | 1 |
| Points total | 939 |
| Conundrums solved | 6 |
Harry Savage was an octochamp in and the champion of Series 88. He is the third series champion to be born in the 21st century. Originally from Southampton, he was a final-year biology student at Hertford College, Oxford at the time of his appearances. He is also an Apterite and outside of Countdown, he is a competitive Rubik's Cube solver – he has competed at the UK and World Championships in different categories and has held Guinness World Records in the sport as well.
Appearances
Heat games
Savage first appeared on 2 August 2023 when notably being asked by Colin Murray, to solve a Rubik's Cube before gameplay as he managed to do so in 10.5 seconds. He later won with 122 points to six-time winner, Hywel Jones' 59 points. He followed this up with seven more excellent performances, which were also all centuries with a low of 105 and a high score of 130.
Of particular note throughout his heats, he found six nine-letter words: MERITABLE, CERATOPID, ERADICATE, INCLOSURE, ORIGINATE and HORTENSIA. Some other notable spots included TOHUNGA, WOODSIA, DUODENA, BOWHEAD and SAURIAN – the latter Susie Dent later christened Savage with his nickname as "Thesaurus" owing to his performances on the show.
After his last heat game in which he maxed 13 rounds, scored his personal best and restricted his opponent, Sandra Ring, to under 30 points – he became the first contestant to win six games in a single filming day since Paul Erdunast in Series 74 and finished up with an octotal of 939. This made him the 32nd member of the 900 club, placed him equal on points with fellow octochamp, Sam Cappleman-Lynes, and made him the provisional number one seed. He also provided one final party piece by solving a Rubik's Cube blindfolded in the studio after the game was finished, in which he amazingly managed to do so in 20 seconds.
Finals
Savage ultimately returned for the series finals on 14 December 2023 as the number one seed playing against number eight seed, David Edwards, and immediately got off to a flyer by spotting his seventh nine-letter-word in DOVETAILS. He then continued to build up a commanding lead but Edwards did nick some points off him with BENZOATE. Savage though powered his way to a ninth century and capped it off with a challenging conundrum solve turning PUBORPORT into TURBOPROP, which consigned Edwards to his second defeat and booked Savage's semi-final place.
Savage actually fell behind early on in his semi-final against Paul O'Brien but then showed a cutting edge thanks to spots like SOSATIE and EVIRATES – the majority of his lead though was due to a couple of numbers round misfires from his opponent. All of this meant Savage was perfectly in the clear with a tenth century on the bounce after the final numbers game and after neither player cracked the conundrum, it meant Savage progressed to the grand final albeit with his lowest score to date.
The grand final against Viraj Seelam had Savage behind by his largest margin at one point when Seelam cracked a trademark six-small numbers selection. Savage, though, clawed his way back by the second commercial break and then struck a killer blow with the nine-letter word, COMPANIES, along with the darrenic of GAWKIER in the next round. He held on after that to confirm his status as series champion before the last numbers round and after neither player turned the apt MEGASTTAR into STRATAGEM. Savage then lifted the Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy with an eleventh century to his name, a xicount total of 1,266 and his unbeaten record still intact for now.
ZoomDown
Prior to his TV debut, Savage was a contestant in ZoomDown Series 2. He won his first three games, which included a max game against Tracey Mills in his third heat but fell short of tetrachampdom thanks to current Countdown producer, Damian Eadie. Regardless, he still qualified for the end-of-series finals, winning his quarter-final against Noel McIlvenny but losing his semi-final to eventual series champ, Rob Foster, who himself scored a max game.
His performances also saw him invited back for the Championship of Champions where his preliminary game saw him defeat Graeme Cole by just one point, before once again facing Rob Foster in the quarter-finals. Again, he unfortunately lost on a crucial conundrum which Foster solved, eliminating him from the competition.
| Preceded by Ronan Higginson |
Series winner Series 88 |
Followed by Arthur Page |
Episodes
| # | Date | Type | Contestant 1 | Score | Contestant 2 | Presenters | Guest | Lex | Max | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8074 | 02/08/2023 | P | Hywel Jones | 59 – 122 | Harry Savage | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | John Thomson | Susie Dent | 135 | ||
| 8075 | 03/08/2023 | P | Harry Savage | 119 – 52 | Julie Quinn | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | John Thomson | Susie Dent | 147 | ||
| 8076 | 04/08/2023 | P | Harry Savage | 119 – 30 | David Byrne | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Edith Bowman | Susie Dent | 131 | ||
| 8077 | 07/08/2023 | P | Harry Savage | 121 – 79 | Helen Ingelbrecht | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Edith Bowman | Susie Dent | 157 | ||
| 8078 | 08/08/2023 | P | Harry Savage | 105 – 51 | Stephen O'Mara | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Edith Bowman | Susie Dent | 125 | ||
| 8079 | 09/08/2023 | P | Harry Savage | 108 – 74 | Sam Hughes | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Edith Bowman | Susie Dent | 133 | ||
| 8080 | 10/08/2023 | P | Harry Savage | 115 – 47 | Michael Cameron | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Edith Bowman | Susie Dent | 123 | ||
| 8081 | 11/08/2023 | P | Harry Savage | 130 – 21 | Sandra Ring | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Edith Bowman | Susie Dent | 134 | ||
| 8170 | 14/12/2023 | QF | Harry Savage | 118 – 58 | David Edwards | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Marcus Brigstocke | Susie Dent | 145 | ||
| 8174 | 20/12/2023 | SF | Harry Savage | 104 – 70 | Paul O'Brien | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Christopher Biggins | Susie Dent | 125 | ||
| 8176 | 22/12/2023 | GF | Harry Savage | 105 – 77 | Viraj Seelam | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Christopher Biggins | Susie Dent | 133 | ||
