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Difference between revisions of "Callum Todd"

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'''Callum Todd''' was the champion of [[Series 69]].
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[[Image:CallumToddLeeds.jpg|right|thumb|Callum Todd.]]
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[[Image:Callum Todd2.png|right|thumb|Callum Todd during his [[Episode 5838|semi-final game]]...]]
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[[File:Callum Todd.png|thumb|200px|right|...and again in the [[Championship of Champions XIV]].]]
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[[File:Callum Todd Audience.png|thumb|200px|right|Callum Todd solving the conundrum in [[Episode 6775]].]]
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'''Callum Todd''' was the champion of [[Series 69]], the first non-[[octochamp]] series winner since [[Series 46]] when only a maximum of six heat wins were allowed, and a quarter-finalist in [[Championship of Champions XIV]]. He is also an [[Apterous|Apterite]] and a member of [[c4countdown]]. As of 1 July 2021, he is the incumbent chairperson of [[FOCAL]]. During his finals he defeated three members of the [[800 club|900 club]], meaning he has had one of the most difficult series-final runs in the history of ''[[Countdown]]''.
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==Appearances on the programme==
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===Heat games===
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After scraping through his first 3 games, Todd joined [[Apterous]] and greatly improved his performances in his next 4 shows before controversially losing to [[Abdirizak Hirsi]] on a tie-break [[conundrum]] in his 8th game. However, his 7 wins and 747 points were enough to see him qualify for the finals as the No. 7 seed.
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===Finals===
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In his [[Episode 5834|quarter-final]], Todd played against record-breaking female [[octochamp]] [[Jen Steadman]], and after falling behind early on, he turned it around to win by 3 points in a {{score|108|105}} game on an unsolved crucial conundrum. His [[Episode 5838|semi-final]] saw him take on the No. 3 seed, [[Glen Webb]], and despite his 6 small numbers games letting him down, he managed to put in a convincing {{score|107|82}} victory to take him into the [[Episode 5839|Grand Final]] against [[Dylan Taylor]], who set the then-highest ever cumulative score in ''Countdown'' history.
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===Triumphal finale===
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Todd went behind in the first round, but equalised immediately, and both contestants maxed the next 12 rounds prior to the crucial conundrum {{word|IHURTPALM}}, which Todd solved in 4.5 seconds to win the final with a score of {{score|126|116}}. The final also saw him score his highest total on the show and become the first finalist ranked in the lower half of the seed table to win a 15-round series.
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===Championship of Champions XIV===
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Todd's next televised ''Countdown'' appearance was in [[Championship of Champions XIV]] at the start of 2016, where, in the [[Episode 6283|preliminary round]], he squared off against [[Series 70]] semi-finalist [[Samir Pilica]]. Todd opened an early lead in this episode by outclassing Pilica on the first two [[numbers game]]s and spotting the [[darren]]ic word {{word|TOASTIER}}. Hereafter, he held onto this lead consistently, scoring in all but one of the remaining [[letters round]]s and spotting the conundrum {{word|ROMANYIPS}} in fairly short order. This performance gave him a winning score of 127, bettering his previous personal best by 1 point, to Pilica's 88, bringing him into the quarter-finals and setting up a [[rematch]] with his Series 69 opponent Jen Steadman. Unfortunately for Todd, history did not repeat itself and he lost {{score|107|85|Episode 6288}}, infamously declaring {{word|SRSLY}}.
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===2020 Christmas Special===
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Todd returned to the show four years later on 22 December 2020 to take part in the [[Episode S48|second of three Christmas specials]] against [[Jack Hurst]]. Both players started level until Hurst pulled away and Todd slowed down, until picking up pace in the later rounds and ultimately signed off by solving the conundrum to finish with 100 points to Hurst's 125 points.
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===In the audience===
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Todd reappeared during [[Episode 6095]] on 26 February 2015, solving the conundrum {{word|TRIGLYPHS}}. On 2 March 2018, during [[Episode 6775]], he was once again the audience member that solved the conundrum {{word|HAVENOCAT}}. He then appeared again during [[Episode 7229]] on 18 December 2019, solving the conundrum {{word|LASSIERIP}}.
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==Co-events==
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In 2016, Todd hosted his first [[Co-event]], the inaugural Leeds tournament [[Countdown in Leeds 2016]]. In 2021, he became the chair of [[FOCAL]].
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==YouTube==
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In 2019, Todd launched the [[Focal Talk]] podcast along with [[Series 81]] contestant, [[Paul Anderson]]. In 2020, Todd was the winner of the [[ZoomDown#Hypercountdown_special|ZoomDown Hyper Special]] and in 2021, the [[ZoomDown_specials#GoatZdown|ZoomDown GoatZDown Special]].
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{{series winner|preceded_by=Giles Hutchings|series=69|followed_by=Mark Murray}}
  
 
==Episodes==
 
==Episodes==
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{{ep | 5838 | 19/12/2013 | SF |Callum Todd| 107 - 82 |[[Glen Webb]]|[[Richard Madeley]]|Susie Dent|138}}
 
{{ep | 5838 | 19/12/2013 | SF |Callum Todd| 107 - 82 |[[Glen Webb]]|[[Richard Madeley]]|Susie Dent|138}}
 
{{ep | 5839 | 20/12/2013 | GF |[[Dylan Taylor]]| 116 - 126 |Callum Todd|Richard Madeley|Susie Dent|134}}
 
{{ep | 5839 | 20/12/2013 | GF |[[Dylan Taylor]]| 116 - 126 |Callum Todd|Richard Madeley|Susie Dent|134}}
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{{ep | 6283 | 11/01/2016 | CP |Callum Todd| 127 - 88 |[[Samir Pilica]]|[[John Inverdale]]|Susie Dent|137}}
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{{ep | 6288 | 18/01/2016 | CQF |Jen Steadman| 107 - 85 |Callum Todd|[[Naga Munchetty]]|Susie Dent|125}}
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{{ep | S48 | 22/12/2020 | S |Callum Todd| 100 - 125 |[[Jack Hurst]]|[[Rory Bremner]]|Susie Dent|153}}
 
{{episode table end}}
 
{{episode table end}}
 
<center>* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum</center>
 
<center>* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum</center>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Todd, Callum}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Todd, Callum}}
 
[[Category:Contestants in Series 69]]
 
[[Category:Contestants in Series 69]]
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[[Category:Contestants in Championship of Champions XIV]]
 
[[Category:Teapot owners]]
 
[[Category:Teapot owners]]
 
[[Category:Finalists]]
 
[[Category:Finalists]]
 
[[Category:Series winners]]
 
[[Category:Series winners]]
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[[Category:Tournament winners]]
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[[Category:Contestants on ZoomDown]]
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==External Links==
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*[https://www.morleyobserver.co.uk/news/woodkirk-academy-student-is-countdown-champ-1-6375021 Article on Callum and his Series 69 victory]

Latest revision as of 17:52, 10 March 2023

Callum Todd.
Callum Todd during his semi-final game...
...and again in the Championship of Champions XIV.
Callum Todd solving the conundrum in Episode 6775.

Callum Todd was the champion of Series 69, the first non-octochamp series winner since Series 46 when only a maximum of six heat wins were allowed, and a quarter-finalist in Championship of Champions XIV. He is also an Apterite and a member of c4countdown. As of 1 July 2021, he is the incumbent chairperson of FOCAL. During his finals he defeated three members of the 900 club, meaning he has had one of the most difficult series-final runs in the history of Countdown.

Appearances on the programme

Heat games

After scraping through his first 3 games, Todd joined Apterous and greatly improved his performances in his next 4 shows before controversially losing to Abdirizak Hirsi on a tie-break conundrum in his 8th game. However, his 7 wins and 747 points were enough to see him qualify for the finals as the No. 7 seed.

Finals

In his quarter-final, Todd played against record-breaking female octochamp Jen Steadman, and after falling behind early on, he turned it around to win by 3 points in a 108 – 105 game on an unsolved crucial conundrum. His semi-final saw him take on the No. 3 seed, Glen Webb, and despite his 6 small numbers games letting him down, he managed to put in a convincing 107 – 82 victory to take him into the Grand Final against Dylan Taylor, who set the then-highest ever cumulative score in Countdown history.

Triumphal finale

Todd went behind in the first round, but equalised immediately, and both contestants maxed the next 12 rounds prior to the crucial conundrum IHURTPALM, which Todd solved in 4.5 seconds to win the final with a score of 126 – 116. The final also saw him score his highest total on the show and become the first finalist ranked in the lower half of the seed table to win a 15-round series.

Championship of Champions XIV

Todd's next televised Countdown appearance was in Championship of Champions XIV at the start of 2016, where, in the preliminary round, he squared off against Series 70 semi-finalist Samir Pilica. Todd opened an early lead in this episode by outclassing Pilica on the first two numbers games and spotting the darrenic word TOASTIER. Hereafter, he held onto this lead consistently, scoring in all but one of the remaining letters rounds and spotting the conundrum ROMANYIPS in fairly short order. This performance gave him a winning score of 127, bettering his previous personal best by 1 point, to Pilica's 88, bringing him into the quarter-finals and setting up a rematch with his Series 69 opponent Jen Steadman. Unfortunately for Todd, history did not repeat itself and he lost 107 – 85, infamously declaring SRSLY.

2020 Christmas Special

Todd returned to the show four years later on 22 December 2020 to take part in the second of three Christmas specials against Jack Hurst. Both players started level until Hurst pulled away and Todd slowed down, until picking up pace in the later rounds and ultimately signed off by solving the conundrum to finish with 100 points to Hurst's 125 points.

In the audience

Todd reappeared during Episode 6095 on 26 February 2015, solving the conundrum TRIGLYPHS. On 2 March 2018, during Episode 6775, he was once again the audience member that solved the conundrum HAVENOCAT. He then appeared again during Episode 7229 on 18 December 2019, solving the conundrum LASSIERIP.

Co-events

In 2016, Todd hosted his first Co-event, the inaugural Leeds tournament Countdown in Leeds 2016. In 2021, he became the chair of FOCAL.

YouTube

In 2019, Todd launched the Focal Talk podcast along with Series 81 contestant, Paul Anderson. In 2020, Todd was the winner of the ZoomDown Hyper Special and in 2021, the ZoomDown GoatZDown Special.

Preceded by
Giles Hutchings
Series winner
Series 69
Followed by
Mark Murray

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
5779 27/09/2013 P Ritch Greenwood 58 – 70 Callum Todd Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Katherine Grainger Susie Dent 125
5780 30/09/2013 P Callum Todd 83 – 66 Adam Dexter Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Katherine Grainger Susie Dent 120
5781 1/10/2013 P Callum Todd 79 – 55 John Blaker Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Katherine Grainger Susie Dent 121
5782 2/10/2013 P Callum Todd 101 – 40 Breda Sexton Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Michaela Strachan Susie Dent 133
5783 3/10/2013 P Callum Todd 103 – 74 Ben Hendry Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Michaela Strachan Susie Dent 122
5784 4/10/2013 P Callum Todd 108 – 61 Lucy Bryden Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Michaela Strachan Susie Dent 133
5785 7/10/2013 P Callum Todd 114 – 77 Chris Allum Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Michaela Strachan Susie Dent 123
5786 8/10/2013 P Callum Todd 89 – 99* Abdirizak Hirsi Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Michaela Strachan Susie Dent 135
5834 13/12/2013 QF Jen Steadman 105 – 108 Callum Todd Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dan Walker Susie Dent 133
5838 19/12/2013 SF Callum Todd 107 – 82 Glen Webb Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Richard Madeley Susie Dent 138
5839 20/12/2013 GF Dylan Taylor 116 – 126 Callum Todd Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Richard Madeley Susie Dent 134
6283 11/01/2016 CP Callum Todd 127 – 88 Samir Pilica Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 137
6288 18/01/2016 CQF Jen Steadman 107 – 85 Callum Todd Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Naga Munchetty Susie Dent 125
S48 22/12/2020 S Callum Todd 100 – 125 Jack Hurst Colin Murray Rachel Riley Rory Bremner Susie Dent 153
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links