Barry Grossman

Barry Grossman in Series 21...

...and 22 years later in the 30th Birthday Championship!

Barry Grossman not on the show.

Barry Grossman was the Series 21 champion and a participant in the 30th Birthday Championship.

He was a Glaswegian living and working in London, first appeared aged 35 on Countdown midway through Series 21, defeating Nick Saloman 62 – 53 on his debut on 14 February 1991. Grossman won four more games before losing his 6th to Gillian Tickle 54 – 51, but his scores were high enough to ensure him a place in the final rounds as #3 seed. He defeated Adam Simmons in the quarter-final, before 'gaining revenge' by defeating Gillian Tickle 59 – 44 in the semi-final. Despite having his first word disallowed, Grossman dominated the final against Jackie McLeod, winning 99 – 67 to become the 21st series champion.

Grossman returned in 1993 for Championship of Champions VI, but was beaten in the first round by Robert Teuton.

Grossman also participated in the Supreme Championship in 1996, beating Robert Violett and Brian Hudson before being beaten in the group finals by eventual winner Harvey Freeman.

He returned to Countdown in 2013, as one of 41 contestants taking part in the 30th Birthday Championship. He won his first match in a rematch of the Series 21 final against Jackie McLeod by a score of 79 – 65, before losing to Series 6 champion Darryl Francis on a crucial conundrum.

Grossman is also a Scrabble expert, and has appeared under a different name on Fifteen to One. He has also written several books on Scrabble, including Scrabble: Play to Win and 101 Ways to Win at Scrabble.

Preceded by Liz Barber

Series winner Series 21

Followed by Chris Waddington

Episodes

#	Date	Type	Contestant 1	Score	Contestant 2	Presenters				Guest	Lex	Max
1101	14/02/1991	P	Nick Saloman	53 – 62	Barry Grossman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Simon Williams	Alexandra Clayton	74
1102	15/02/1991	P	Beatrice Syms	44 – 48	Barry Grossman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Richard Stilgoe	Alexandra Clayton	71
1103	18/02/1991	P	Dave Dinsmore	20 – 49	Barry Grossman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Richard Stilgoe	Alexandra Clayton	73
1104	19/02/1991	P	Val Carter	35 – 69	Barry Grossman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Richard Stilgoe	Alexandra Clayton	70
1105	20/02/1991	P	Richard Foster	34 – 47	Barry Grossman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Richard Stilgoe	Alexandra Clayton	69
1106	21/02/1991	P	Gillian Tickle	54 – 51	Barry Grossman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Richard Stilgoe	Alexandra Clayton	70
1128	25/03/1991	QF	Adam Simmons	23 – 60	Barry Grossman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Brian Johnston	Richard Samson	75
1131	28/03/1991	SF	Gillian Tickle	44 – 59	Barry Grossman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Brian Johnston	Richard Samson	74
1132	29/03/1991	GF	Jackie McLeod	67 – 99	Barry Grossman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Sally James, Brian Johnston	Richard Samson	117
1331	7/01/1993	CQF	Barry Grossman	50 – 55	Robert Teuton	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Richard Stilgoe	Susie Dent	73
1870	30/10/1996	cQF	Barry Grossman	48 – 42	Robert Violett	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	June Whitfield	Susie Dent	84
1873	4/11/1996	cSF	Barry Grossman	52 – 51	Brian Hudson	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Geoffrey Durham	Susie Dent	70
1874	5/11/1996	cF	Barry Grossman	37 – 44	Harvey Freeman	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Geoffrey Durham	Susie Dent	73
5621	15/01/2013	30BP	Jackie McLeod	65 – 79	Barry Grossman	Nick Hewer	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Martin Lewis	Susie Dent	119
5638	7/02/2013	30B1	Darryl Francis	82 – 63	Barry Grossman	Nick Hewer	Rachel Riley				Lucy Summers	Kate Adie	Susie Dent	118