Jon O'Neill

Jon O'Neill was a 15-year old ginger Series 53 semi-finalist and Championship of Champions XII contestant, widely regarded as the strongest player in his series and greatest numbers game player of all time. The circumstances surrounding his semi-final defeat against John Mayhew are sketchy but reported to involve gin, lashings of single cream (to which O'Neill is allergic) and a heavy bribe. Ultimately and, perhaps, unfairly the game was decided on the unsolved conundrum 'concierge', a word to which the young pretender had never been exposed. Unfortunately his first exposure to the word would prove painful, and the prodigal O'Neill entered rehab the following week.

He is widely regarded as the best numbers game player ever. Solving a string of 'four from the top' games in spectacular fashion, he awed outsiders and afficionados alike. It is said that O'Neill had a greater points differential in numbers games than Pythagoras himself.

Whilst the child prodigy's Countdown exploits may be over, his image will burn in the hearts of women and orangutans alike.

Unfortunately Jon O'Neill died of AIDS on September 2nd 2007. His funeral was held immediately as noone went, except his cat.