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Difference between revisions of "Julian Fell"
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After Julian's loss to Graham Nash, Julian played a [[Cambridge Charity Countdown Challenge|non-televised charity game]] against [[Chris Cummins]], the champion of [[Series 50]], as both were students at Cambridge University at the time. Julian won the rubber 2-0. | After Julian's loss to Graham Nash, Julian played a [[Cambridge Charity Countdown Challenge|non-televised charity game]] against [[Chris Cummins]], the champion of [[Series 50]], as both were students at Cambridge University at the time. Julian won the rubber 2-0. | ||
− | Julian organised | + | Julian organised the first major online tournament in the summer of 2004, and beat [[Jon Stitcher]] in a closely fought final. Since then he has graduated from Magdalene College, Cambridge. He returned to the online Countdown scene in 2008, but it was short-lived as he announced his retirement, citing a lack of motivation as his principle reason. |
{{series winner|preceded_by=Chris Wills|series=48|followed_by=John Davies (Series 49)|John Davies}} | {{series winner|preceded_by=Chris Wills|series=48|followed_by=John Davies (Series 49)|John Davies}} |
Revision as of 16:07, 7 March 2009
Julian Fell was the winner of Series 48 and is widely considered to be among the greatest Countdowners of all time. He holds a cornucopia of records, including the highest single score (146) and the highest octochamp score (924). He is particular renowned for his astonishing word knowledge, including definitions, coupled with fast conundrums. 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 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 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 #1 seed and favourite for the series was assured, and his feat of eight centuries in eight heats has been matched only by Series 57 contestant Craig Beevers.
The quarter final saw Fell rack up a hefty 125 against 8th seed Mike Brown to advance comfortably to the next round. In the semifinal, Fell faced Danny Hamilton, finding SALMONIDS, DEPORTING, INGATHERS and DEFLATION to make 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 Julian 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.
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 quarterfinals. His match with Series 43 champion Graham Nash was another classic. Both players scored steadily but the game turned on Julian'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 Julian 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 - Julian had been felled at last.
Julian returned a few months later to face Chris Wills in a special game. The game was close but Julian pulled ahead with GERONTIC in round 12, but was beaten on the last numbers and went into the conundrum trailing 90 - 92. Julian had still scored a century in every game he had played, including his loss to Graham Nash. It was Julian that got the conundrum VIRTUOSIC and continued his run of 14 centuries in 14 games. Overall, he was won 13 games and lost only 1.
After Julian's loss to Graham Nash, Julian played a non-televised charity game against Chris Cummins, the champion of Series 50, as both were students at Cambridge University at the time. Julian won the rubber 2-0.
Julian organised the first major online tournament in the summer of 2004, and beat Jon Stitcher in a closely fought final. Since then he has graduated from Magdalene College, Cambridge. He returned to the online Countdown scene in 2008, but it was short-lived as he announced his retirement, citing a lack of motivation as his principle reason.
Preceded by Chris Wills |
Series winner Series 48 |
Followed by John Davies (Series 49) |
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 | |||
3343 | 17/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 117 – 57 | Russell Hutton | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Keith Barron | Susie Dent | |||
3344 | 18/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 108 – 53 | Megan Stone | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Keith Barron | Susie Dent | |||
3345 | 21/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 120 – 49 | Leo Pinches | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | |||
3346 | 22/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 104 – 61 | Tim Cape | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | |||
3347 | 23/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 111 – 54 | Jill Leatherbarrow | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | |||
3348 | 24/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 109 – 84 | June Mitchell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | |||
3349 | 25/10/2002 | P | Julian Fell | 138 – 29 | Carl McDermott | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Ingrid Tarrant | Susie Dent | |||
3383 | 12/12/2002 | QF | Julian Fell | 125 – 67 | Mike Brown | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Pam Ayres | Richard Samson | |||
3387 | 18/12/2002 | SF | Danny Hamilton | 77 – 146 | Julian Fell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall | Richard Samson | |||
3389 | 20/12/2002 | GF | Julian Fell | 112 – 88 | Grace Page | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall | Richard Samson | |||
3396 | 14/01/2003 | CP | Julian Fell | 118 – 64 | Terence O'Farrell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Tim Rice | Susie Dent | |||
3401 | 21/01/2003 | CQF | Graham Nash | 120 – 109 | Julian Fell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Eric Knowles | Susie Dent | |||
S12 | 15/09/2003 | S | Julian Fell | 100 – 92 | Chris Wills | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Bob Bevan | Alison Heard |
See also
- Julian Fell on Wikipedia.