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Ian Bebbington
Ian Bebbington was the champion of Series 7, and a participant in Championship of Champions II and the Supreme Championship.
A customs and excise officer from Halesowen in the West Midlands, he first appeared on 1 November 1985, soundly defeating Michael Spencer 66 – 16. After two more wins, his reign as champion was cut short by Marion Johnstone, but his impressive scores had been enough to earn him a place in the final rounds as #5 seed. He defeated Robert Coton in the quarter-finals after another impressive performance, before pulling off a major upset in beating #1 seed Clive Freedman in the semis by just three points. In the grand final against Julian Hough, Bebbington led 82 – 77 going into the conundrum. Neither contestant was able to unscramble TEEUPLATE in the time, meaning Bebbington became the seventh series champion.
Bebbington returned for Championship of Champions II, but was eliminated in the first round by John Wallace.
Bebbington returned to Countdown in 1996 for the Supreme Championship, defeating James Sinclair in the first round but losing to the ultimate winner Harvey Freeman in his next and final match. The score had been 62 – 54 in Freeman's favour making it a crucial conundrum, and Bebbington actually buzzed first. However, no upset took place as he gave the incorrect solution of CONCEITED. Freeman went on to correctly get CONTENTED and win by 18 points.
In 1988, he appeared on the first series of Fifteen to One.
Preceded by Darryl Francis |
Series winner Series 7 |
Followed by Clive Spate |