Ray McPhie

Ray McPhie.

Ray McPhie first appeared on Countdown on 21 November 1997, beating Ricky Zinger 45 – 34 in the 40th heat game of Series 37. Ray won a further seven games to become an octochamp, with a points total of 416. ray thusly returned for the final rounds as #2 seed, where he beat Ricky Zinger a second time in the quarter-finals, and Ruth Collier in the semi-finals. In the final against Christine White, Ray led by a mere seven points going into the conundrum. Neither player was able to unscramble DIRETHUMP in the time, however, so Ray ran out the 86 – 79 winner and the 37th champion of Countdown. Ray returned at the start of 1998 for Championship of Champions IX where, despite being the only undefeated player in the championship, he was beaten in the first round by James Martin. Ray would return to Countdown one last time, though, to record a special game, a rematch of his final against Christine White. Once again, Ray would emerge on the winning side, this time winning 104 – 89.

Preceded by Tony Baylis

Series winner Series 37

Followed by John Ashmore

Episodes

#	Date	Type	Contestant 1	Score	Contestant 2	Presenters				Guest	Lex	Max
2142	21/11/1997	P	Ricky Zinger	34 – 45	Ray McPhie	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Philip Franks	Susie Dent	71
2143	24/11/1997	P	Ray McPhie	58 – 48	Paul Bowen	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Philip Franks	Susie Dent	71
2144	25/11/1997	P	Ray McPhie	52 – 40	Rob Lolley	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Philip Franks	Susie Dent	70
2145	26/11/1997	P	Ray McPhie	55 – 22	John Charlesworth	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Philip Franks	Susie Dent	74
2146	27/11/1997	P	Ray McPhie	47 – 45	Jan Jones	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Tony Robinson	Mark Nyman	70
2147	28/11/1997	P	Ray McPhie	58 – 37	Sandy Lowe	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Tony Robinson	Mark Nyman	82
2148	1/12/1997	P	Ray McPhie	48 – 41	Mandy Williams	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Tony Robinson	Mark Nyman	69
2149	2/12/1997	P	Ray McPhie	53 – 44	Geoff Tarpey	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Tony Robinson	Mark Nyman	75
2157	12/12/1997	QF	Ray McPhie	57 – 53	Ricky Zinger	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Barry Cryer	Mark Nyman	73
2161	18/12/1997	SF	Ray McPhie	53 – 38	Ruth Collier	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Gyles Brandreth	Mark Nyman	71
2162	19/12/1997	GF	Ray McPhie	86 – 79	Christine White	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Gyles Brandreth	Mark Nyman	128
2167	2/01/1998	CP	Ray McPhie	42 – 60	James Martin	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman				Lucy Summers	Denis Norden	Mark Nyman	73
S18	13/08/2004	S	Ray McPhie	104 – 89	Christine White	Richard Whiteley	Carol Vorderman					Ann Widdecombe	Susie Dent	120