Natascha Kearsey

Natascha Kearsey, at the time a 29-year-old software engineer from Swindon, first appeared on Countdown on 14 April 1997, beating Pete Cashmore 46 – 34 in the 11th heat of Series 35.

She quickly amassed a further 7 wins to become the first octochamp of the series, facing just two crucial Conundrums along the way, but eventually had to settle for the #2 seed position after being overtaken in the seedings by Dag Griffiths two weeks later. In her quarter-final, she comfortably beat Piers Brown 62 – 31 to set up a rematch with Pete Cashmore in the semi-finals. While the two players were fairly evenly matched in the seedings, Kearsey's failed to score in any of the last four rounds, which saw her fall by 27 – 62 to the eventual series champion. Nevertheless, her performances were enough to earn her a place in Championship of Champions IX, where she beat Christine White, James Martin (by just one point after a closely-fought game where neither player was able to unscramble the crucial conundrum in the 30 seconds) and Ruth Collier on her way to the final, a third match between her and Pete Cashmore. Kearsey led by 2 points going into the crucial conundrum, which neither player spotted within the 30 seconds, meaning Kearsey became the ninth champion of champions, and to date the only woman to win a Championship of Champions.

Kearsey returned to the Countdown studios once again in 2003 to record a special episode pitting her against the unbeaten Scott Mearns. In this special 'Champion of Champion of Champions' match, Kearsey ran out the 109 – 100 winner, and became the first and only person to beat Mearns at a game of Countdown.

Preceded by Chris Rogers

Champion of Champions Championship of Champions IX

Followed by Scott Mearns

Episodes

#	Date	Type	Contestant 1	Score	Contestant 2	Presenters				Guest	Lex	Max
1983	14/04/1997	P	Natascha Kearsey	46 – 34	Peter Cashmore	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Geoffrey Durham	Rob Scriven	73
1984	15/04/1997	P	Natascha Kearsey	58 – 34	Geoff Roberts	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Jan Harvey	Rob Scriven	70
1985	16/04/1997	P	Natascha Kearsey	61 – 42	Alan Davison	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Jan Harvey	Rob Scriven	75
1986	17/04/1997	P	Natascha Kearsey	43 – 41	Diana Thomas	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Jan Harvey	Rob Scriven	72
1987	18/04/1997	P	Natascha Kearsey	41 – 25	Colin Thomas	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Jan Harvey	Rob Scriven	70
1988	21/04/1997	P	Natascha Kearsey	57 – 41	Tim Bentley	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Jan Harvey	Peter Sweasey	81
1989	22/04/1997	P	Natascha Kearsey	60 – 28	Sharon Leonard	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Barry Cryer	Catherine Stokes	85
1990	23/04/1997	P	Natascha Kearsey	47 – 45	Phil Campbell	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Barry Cryer	Catherine Stokes	72
2032	20/06/1997	QF	Natascha Kearsey	62 – 31	Piers Brown	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Nigel Rees	Rob Scriven	70
2036	26/06/1997	SF	Natascha Kearsey	27 – 62	Peter Cashmore	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Terry Wogan	Catherine Stokes	69
2168	5/01/1998	CP	Christine White	45 – 49	Natascha Kearsey	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Denis Norden	Mark Nyman	71
2173	12/01/1998	CQF	James Martin	51 – 52	Natascha Kearsey	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Gloria Hunniford	Mark Nyman	72
2176	15/01/1998	CSF	Natascha Kearsey	59 – 56	Ruth Collier	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Tom O'Connor	Mark Nyman	72
2177	16/01/1998	CGF	Natascha Kearsey	72 – 70	Pete Cashmore	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Tom O'Connor	Mark Nyman	118
S9	9/09/2003	S	Scott Mearns	100 – 109	Natascha Kearsey	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman					Bob Bevan	Alison Heard	137