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Difference between revisions of "Allan Saldanha"

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'''Allan Saldanha''' is one of, if not the most famous Countdown contestant of all time. Allan first appeared in the first heat of [[series 15]] aged just nine, and he quickly rattled off eight wins, becoming an [[octochamp]] with a staggering total score of 490. Allan was #1 seed for the final rounds, and made short work of [[Paul Walker]] and [[Peter Pryer]] on his way to the final against [[Dick Green]].
 
'''Allan Saldanha''' is one of, if not the most famous Countdown contestant of all time. Allan first appeared in the first heat of [[series 15]] aged just nine, and he quickly rattled off eight wins, becoming an [[octochamp]] with a staggering total score of 490. Allan was #1 seed for the final rounds, and made short work of [[Paul Walker]] and [[Peter Pryer]] on his way to the final against [[Dick Green]].
  
[[episode 757|The final]] was one of the most controversial games in Countdown history. In the penultimate letters game, trailing by three points, Allan risked the word {{word|YOLKED}}, which was disallowed wrongly by the lexicographer [[Catherine Clarke]]. Whilst Allan would still have lost the game had it been allowed (the game went to a [[crucial conundrum]], which Dick solved in 6 seconds), it was felt that the wrongful disallowing of {{word|YOLKED}} had had a psychological effect on the young man, and then-producer [[John Meade]] relented and bought another complete set of the ODE for Allan.
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[[episode 757|The final]] was one of the most controversial games in Countdown history. In the penultimate letters game, trailing by three points, Allan risked the word {{word|YOLKED}}, which was disallowed wrongly by the lexicographer [[Catherine Clarke]]. Whilst Allan would still have lost the game had it been allowed (the game went to a [[crucial conundrum]], which Dick solved in 6 seconds), it was felt that the wrongful disallowing of {{word|YOLKED}} had had a psychological effect on the young man, and then-producer [[John Meade]] relented and bought another complete set of the OED for Allan.
  
 
Allan played in [[Championship of Champions IV]], but was knocked out in the first round by [[Nita Marr]]. He returned twice in subsequent years for special shows celebrating Countdown's longevity, beating [[Tim Morrissey]] in the [[episode 1003|'1000th' show]] and [[Gareth Williams]] in the [[episode 1523|'1500th' show]]. He would make his final competitive appearance on Countdown in 1996, now aged 18, to participate in the [[supreme championship]]. In the first round, he beat [[Michael Wareham]], and equalled [[Steve Balment]]'s record of 83 points in one game in the second round, crushing [[Darryl Francis]] 83-24 in a classic encounter. Further victories over [[David Trace]], [[Joyce Cansfield]] and [[Tim Morrissey]] brought Allan to the final against [[Harvey Freeman]]. In [[episode 1907|the final]], however, Harvey spotted a nine-letter word that Allan missed in the first round, taking a lead from which Allan was unable to recover.
 
Allan played in [[Championship of Champions IV]], but was knocked out in the first round by [[Nita Marr]]. He returned twice in subsequent years for special shows celebrating Countdown's longevity, beating [[Tim Morrissey]] in the [[episode 1003|'1000th' show]] and [[Gareth Williams]] in the [[episode 1523|'1500th' show]]. He would make his final competitive appearance on Countdown in 1996, now aged 18, to participate in the [[supreme championship]]. In the first round, he beat [[Michael Wareham]], and equalled [[Steve Balment]]'s record of 83 points in one game in the second round, crushing [[Darryl Francis]] 83-24 in a classic encounter. Further victories over [[David Trace]], [[Joyce Cansfield]] and [[Tim Morrissey]] brought Allan to the final against [[Harvey Freeman]]. In [[episode 1907|the final]], however, Harvey spotted a nine-letter word that Allan missed in the first round, taking a lead from which Allan was unable to recover.

Revision as of 18:52, 21 July 2008

Allan Saldanha.

Allan Saldanha is one of, if not the most famous Countdown contestant of all time. Allan first appeared in the first heat of series 15 aged just nine, and he quickly rattled off eight wins, becoming an octochamp with a staggering total score of 490. Allan was #1 seed for the final rounds, and made short work of Paul Walker and Peter Pryer on his way to the final against Dick Green.

The final was one of the most controversial games in Countdown history. In the penultimate letters game, trailing by three points, Allan risked the word YOLKED, which was disallowed wrongly by the lexicographer Catherine Clarke. Whilst Allan would still have lost the game had it been allowed (the game went to a crucial conundrum, which Dick solved in 6 seconds), it was felt that the wrongful disallowing of YOLKED had had a psychological effect on the young man, and then-producer John Meade relented and bought another complete set of the OED for Allan.

Allan played in Championship of Champions IV, but was knocked out in the first round by Nita Marr. He returned twice in subsequent years for special shows celebrating Countdown's longevity, beating Tim Morrissey in the '1000th' show and Gareth Williams in the '1500th' show. He would make his final competitive appearance on Countdown in 1996, now aged 18, to participate in the supreme championship. In the first round, he beat Michael Wareham, and equalled Steve Balment's record of 83 points in one game in the second round, crushing Darryl Francis 83-24 in a classic encounter. Further victories over David Trace, Joyce Cansfield and Tim Morrissey brought Allan to the final against Harvey Freeman. In the final, however, Harvey spotted a nine-letter word that Allan missed in the first round, taking a lead from which Allan was unable to recover.

Allan also holds the record for most televised games of Countdown broadcast - 21 in total, including his special games and Countdown Masters games. Allan would also make a cameo appearance before his brother's special game against Kate Ogilvie, recorded in 2002.

See also

Richard Saldanha, Allan's younger brother who reached the final of series 39

Episodes

Allan Saldanha at the 1993 UK Scrabble Championship.
# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
708 11/04/1988 P Allan Saldanha 57 – 28 Bridgette Lagden Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Clement Freud Julia Swannel
709 12/04/1988 P Allan Saldanha 61 – 26 Billy Wright Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Clement Freud Julia Swannel
710 13/04/1988 P Allan Saldanha 57 – 26 Alan Brooker Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Clement Freud Julia Swannel
711 14/04/1988 P Allan Saldanha 65 – 23 Margaret Elliot Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Clement Freud Julia Swannel
712 15/04/1988 P Allan Saldanha 60 – 24 Antony Stafford Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Clement Freud Julia Swannel
713 18/04/1988 P Allan Saldanha 81 – 15 Katy Green Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Clement Freud Julia Swannel
714 19/04/1988 P Allan Saldanha 55 – 45 Nick Wilkes Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Clement Freud Julia Swannel
715 20/04/1988 P Allan Saldanha 54 – 40 Danny Morris Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Clement Freud Julia Swannel
751 9/06/1988 QF Allan Saldanha 50 – 37 Paul Walker Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Gyles Brandreth Julia Swannel
755 15/06/1988 SF Allan Saldanha 42 – 38 Peter Pryer Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Gyles Brandreth Julia Swannel
757 17/06/1988 GF Allan Saldanha 70 – 81 Dick Green Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Karen Loughlin Richard Stilgoe, Gyles Brandreth Catherine Clarke
815 4/01/1989 CQF Allan Saldanha 45 – 53 Nita Marr Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Lucy Summers Tim Rice Catherine Clarke
1884 19/11/1996 eQF Michael Wareham 20 – 69 Allan Saldanha Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Cryer Susie Dent
1886 21/11/1996 eSF Darryl Francis 24 – 83 Allan Saldanha Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Catherine Stokes
1887 22/11/1996 eF David Trace 34 – 45 Allan Saldanha Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Tom O'Connor Catherine Stokes
1903 16/12/1996 SQF Joyce Cansfield 50 – 67 Allan Saldanha Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Catherine Clarke
1906 19/12/1996 SSF Allan Saldanha 61 – 57 Tim Morrissey Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Catherine Clarke
1907 20/12/1996 SGF Allan Saldanha 79 – 82 Harvey Freeman Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Nigel Rees Catherine Clarke