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May's Featured Article Elliott Mellor was an octochamp and the runner-up of Series 80. He is a Maths Student at Manchester Metropolitan University from Oldham. He is also an Apterite who peaked at No.1 in the Pro Ranks on Apterous, less than 12 months after joining the site. Arguably one of the most talented and dominant Apterites ever, he made his TV debut on 9 November 2018 as the audience member who solved the conundrum after a failed attempt from both contestants. Mellor first appeared as a contestant in Series 80 on Thursday 16 May 2019 against 2 game winner Arran Cleminson, maxing 13 rounds and setting the then highest-ever debut score: 131. He spotted impressive word findings such as TAIAPURE and NEOTERISM, while Cleminson scored only in the four numbers rounds. This was the start of, undoubtedly, the greatest octochamp run in Countdown history. The following day, three 9-letter words, NODALIZES, ANIMATEUR and INFRACTED, helped him card the highest-ever score of 152, toppling Zarte Siempre's four-month old record of 150. A third consecutive 13-max performance followed, which also marked the first ever consecutive hat trick of scores over 130. During his fifth match, Mellor shattered yet another record by defeating his challenger Kieran Matley by 133 points, overcoming the previous record winning margin by 21. He was so dominant that 5 of his 8 wins were by over 100, and reduced opponents to scores of just 10 twice on the trot. He also dropped just 3 points from one of his thirty-two numbers rounds, giving him an aggregate score of a record 317 points (out of 320) from the numbers rounds alone in an octochamp run. Mellor wrapped up with a record cumulative score of 1,061 points – the first ever over 1,000 – overhauling Dylan Taylor’s record by 87 points. His average heat score is also the first ever over 125 (132.625). Qualifying as the #1 seed, Mellor faced the #8 seed and 6-time winner Mark Decouto. Although Mellor never went behind in the game, he undoubtedly faced his toughest opposition to date. Decouto reduced Elliott to a score of 109 to 73, having beaten Mellor with the 8-letter word PROCLAIM. Nevertheless, Mellor beat Decouto comfortably, although Decouto was only 13 points behind by Round 12. Mellor next defeated #4-seeded Maggie Barlow with a commanding performance featuring 13 maxed rounds, including the darrenic CAJEPUT and MELODION and a sub-second solution on the tricky conundrum IBURPTOOL. In the final against number 2 seed Dinos Sfyris, the game was close under pressure. Mellor lost out on a potential 18 points in the first round after deciding not to risk the nine letter word FILATURES. Sfyris then defeated Mellor in the first numbers game, in which Mellor chose six small, to take the lead. Throughout the game, Mellor clawed his way back to near distance of Sfyris with his plays of COALISED and DEFROST, whilst Sfyris beat him with findings of TREASURE and GOATISH to retain the lead despite a failed attempt to wing it with forestudy x. Ultimately, Sfyris solved a very difficult crucial conundrum – ending Mellor’s run of 10 solved conundrums in a row – and won the series by 20 points to relegate Mellor to runner-up spot. Nonetheless, Mellor broke yet another record set by Siempre two series ago; highest cumulative score – 1,373 points – across a single series. More Featured Articles... Did you know... ...that former host Des Lynam returned as the Dictionary Corner guest for Countdown's 5000th episode celebrations, with his presence recognised through the conundrum DESLHINAM? ...that Series 38 quarter-finalist Jill Bright had a 36 point lead in her second heat game after kicking off with back-to-back nine-letter words? ...that Series 64 champion Edward McCullagh (pictured) scored the maximum points available in 95 of the 120 rounds played in his heat games? ...that Series 48 champion Julian Fell scored maximum points in 94 of his 120 heat rounds, over nine years before McCullagh and without the aid of Apterous? Nominate an article Today in Countdown History edit  2020: David Kempshall beat Dick Jones, by a score of 117 – 54. 2019: Katie Walvin beat Roy Noon, scoring 77 – 47. 2018: Toby McDonald beat Colin Beckwith with scores of 121 – 32. 2017: Jon Richardson and Chris Addison beat Katherine Ryan and Joe Wilkinson by 41 – 18. 2017: Chris Ducker beat Charlie Neill with final score 78 – 57. 2015: Robert Baxter beat Liam Thorne in a 78 – 74 game. 2014: Neil Green beat Gary Warland with a score of 111 – 38. 2013: Eileen Taylor beat Katie Burge in a game that ended 111 – 31. 2012: Nick Hall beat Fiona Owen, by a score of 87 – 40. 2009: Hamish Williamson beat John Marsom, scoring 65 – 60. 2008: Peter Davies beat Allannah Steadman with scores of 98 – 71. 2007: Aaron Webber beat David Butler with final score 75 – 28. 2006: Jon Corby beat Margaret Hillman with a score of 95 – 65. 2003: Jim Stewart beat Chris Roberts in a 58 – 56 game. 2002: Wendy Roe beat Gerard Askins in a game that ended 92 – 66. 2001: Paul Hawkins beat Simon Dolley, by a score of 55 – 30. 2000: Denis Allan beat Jane Manning with scores of 49 – 48. 1998: Paul Miller beat Ged Hayes with final score 43 – 37. 1997: Dag Griffiths beat Stuart Barker with a score of 45 – 32. 1990: Mark Cooper played Les Martin in the second leg of a Countdown Masters game. 1989: Jon Marsh played Steve Williams in the first leg of a Countdown Masters game. 1987: Jon Marsh beat Donald Kent, scoring 65 – 35. 1986: Yvette Bach beat David White in a 42 – 33 game. 1984: Robert Richland beat Fran Bate, by a score of 59 – 28.

Popular Articles edit  A brief overview of Countdown and some of its records and terminology. The team: Colin Murray, Rachel Riley, and Susie Dent. The show's institutions: The conundrum, the pencam, and the Teatime Teaser. Harry Savage, the reigning series champion, and his series grand final against Viraj Seelam. The most recent Championship of Champions Final between James Haughton and Ahmed Mohamed. The 30th Birthday Championship final between Conor Travers and Jack Hurst. Richard Whiteley, Des Lynam, Des O'Connor, Carol Vorderman, Jeff Stelling, Nick Hewer and Anne Robinson - the show's former permanent presenters. The highest ever score: 154, achieved by Tom Stevenson in Episode 7860 and Cillian McMulkin in Episode 7943. Editors edit  Everyone can edit the Countdown Wiki, just register and then click the edit link at the top of any page (except this one!) and start editing. Here are some useful links: Learn about this wiki and how to use it. Episode style guide - if you want to help us edit the episode pages, this style guide gives comprehensive help. Suggest a featured article which will in turn be featured on the Main Page. Other Countdown websites edit  Apterous, an online game from the same people that run this site. The Countdown Android App, created by Series 63 champion Jack Hurst. The Countdown Database, detailed statistics and round-by-round details of over 7,800 episodes. FOCAL, regular in-person events that anyone can enter. c4countdown, Countdown's main online forum, populated by many past octochamps. Quantum Tombola, a numbers game solver designed by Series 65 champion Graeme Cole. A mobile version of the above. Greem, a website listing nearly all Co-event scores until early 2020. The Countdown Page, the original site of Countdown stats, by Mike Brown. Upcoming Countdown tournaments edit  The full list of FOCAL tournaments for 2024 is here. The next scheduled event is Countdown in Sheffield on 18 May 2024. Almost all online tournaments are now held on Apterous: the list of ongoing tournaments is here.

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