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Series 83

From Countdown
Adam Latchford holding the Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy after winning Series 83.
This was the last ever series in which the winner receives the volumes of the OED.
The final ever shot with Nick Hewer as the host.

Series 83 was the eighteenth and final series presented by Nick Hewer, with some episodes presented by Colin Murray. It was preceded by three special episodes after the finals of Series 82, and began on 4 January 2021. It concluded on 25 June 2021 and was won by No. 3 seed Adam Latchford, who defeated No. 1 seed Luke Boynton to the title. This is also the last series to give away twenty volumes of the Oxford English Dictionary to the series winner.

Recordings of the series commenced in October 2020 with social distancing guidelines, introduced in the second half of the previous series, overseen throughout. It was also confirmed that studio audiences would not return in any form beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Editions broadcast between 13 January and 9 February were presented by Colin Murray: these editions were recorded in November 2020 during England's second lockdown and Nick Hewer was shielding at the time. This is therefore the first regular series to have more than one host, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 16 notwithstanding. Hewer announced on his first day back that he would retire in 2021. In addition, a recording block on 11–12 January – the first during the third England lockdown – had to be delayed due to Hewer shielding again, Murray being unavailable, two out of three Dictionary Corner guests dropping out, and only seven of fifteen contestants being available. Murray returned on 3 March to present a further ten shows while Hewer was shielding again after getting vaccinated.

Channel 4 were awarded the rights to the 2021 Anthony De Mello Trophy, the first time since 2019 that live international cricket had been shown on the channel (and their first Test Matches since 2005). The last-minute nature of the announcement forced episodes during the third Test Match, affecting 24 and 25 February, to premiere on More4 at 2:25pm. The edition for 26 February was also initially scheduled for More4, but was moved back to Channel 4 following the early conclusion of the match.

The 7,500th edition of Countdown on 4 May 2021 concluded with a tribute to Marcel Stellman, who passed away on 2 May.

This series consisted of five octochamps, the lowest since Series 78. The No. 1 seed obtained 213 points more than the No. 2 seed, breaking a record for the biggest gulf between the top two seeds. This series has also seen more new contestants, in comparison with recent series which have had an increase in the proportion of contestants reappearing on the programme for a second run on the show, possibly due to increased ratings resulting in an increase in applicants meaning the show did not have to rely on returnees – although this series' final was the first since Series 80 to feature a finalist who had a previous run on the show.

With a total of 1,014 points – an average of 92.18 per game – Latchford set a new record for the lowest series point total for a series champion of a 15-round series (Series 46 notwithstanding as only a maximum of six preliminary wins were allowed then). Latchford is also the first No. 3-seeded player to win a series since Junaid Mubeen won Series 59.

Apterites James Burley, Adam Latchford, Chiedza Mutongwizo, Louis Moen, Declan McGurk, Claire Spinks, Joey Burton, Ruth Cappleman, Chloe Lavan, Tom Vincent, Bobby Casey, John Lorimer-George, Adam Peel, Malcolm Atkinson, Joe Parry, Jenny Badger and Louis Ross participated in the series; Latchford, Mutongwizo, McGurk and Peel became members after their preliminary games.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Luke Boynton 8 1,032
2 James Burley 8 819
3** Adam Latchford 8 732
4** Louis Ross 8 738
5 Coral Heath 8 717
6 Declan McGurk 6 616
7 Tom Vincent 6 609
8 Dave Lomax 5 488
NOTE: Due to an administrative error, Latchford was erroneously awarded 10 points for a tie-break conundrum, thus placing him above Ross in the standings. A similar error previously occurred in Series 74.
Since Series 60, players are sorted by number of wins, then by number of points. Points from both wins and losses count. Points from sudden death conundrums are not counted, and players with the same number of wins and points are sorted by the number of conundrums correctly guessed, then highest single-game score.

Progress

Luke Boynton (1) vs Dave Lomax (8) Luke Boynton (1) vs Louis Ross (4) Luke Boynton (1)
vs
Adam Latchford (3)
Coral Heath (5) vs Louis Ross (4)
Adam Latchford (3) vs Declan McGurk (6) Adam Latchford (3) vs James Burley (2)
Tom Vincent (7) vs James Burley (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
7414 04/01/2021 P Daniel Jonathan 58 – 80 Paul Gaskell Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Levi Roots Susie Dent 125
7415 05/01/2021 P Paul Gaskell 70 – 84 James Burley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Levi Roots Susie Dent 132
7416 06/01/2021 P James Burley 127 – 55 Edward Carter Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 156
7417 07/01/2021 P James Burley 91 – 60 Peter Franklin Routh Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 132
7418 08/01/2021 P James Burley 112 – 49 Seb James Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 145
7419 11/01/2021 P James Burley 106 – 72 Mark Pettitt Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 133
7420 12/01/2021 P James Burley 100 – 36 Andrew Brookes Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 156
7421 13/01/2021 P James Burley 106 – 66 Roger Clarke Colin Murray Rachel Riley Rory Bremner Susie Dent 135
7422 14/01/2021 P James Burley 93 – 48 Russ Evans Colin Murray Rachel Riley Richard Arnold Susie Dent 154
7423 15/01/2021 P Darren Phipps-Walker 86 – 77 Gillian King Colin Murray Rachel Riley Richard Arnold Susie Dent 153
7424 18/01/2021 P Darren Phipps-Walker 66 – 70 Matthew Chivers Colin Murray Rachel Riley Richard Arnold Susie Dent 142
7425 19/01/2021 P Matthew Chivers 71 – 79 Will Blackman Colin Murray Rachel Riley Richard Arnold Susie Dent 134
7426 20/01/2021 P Will Blackman 110 – 59 Gary Willerton Colin Murray Rachel Riley Prue Leith Susie Dent 135
7427 21/01/2021 P Will Blackman 63 – 79 James Cope Colin Murray Rachel Riley Prue Leith Susie Dent 133
7428 22/01/2021 P James Cope 48 – 39 Hayley Scarrow Colin Murray Rachel Riley Prue Leith Susie Dent 123
7429 25/01/2021 P James Cope 81 – 52 Jodi Morgan Colin Murray Rachel Riley Prue Leith Susie Dent 143
7430 26/01/2021 P James Cope 89 – 66 Martyn Pegram Colin Murray Rachel Riley Prue Leith Susie Dent 156
7431 27/01/2021 P James Cope 102 – 60 Aaron Rattan Colin Murray Rachel Riley Adrian Chiles Susie Dent 135
7432 28/01/2021 P James Cope 64 – 95 Conor Morgan Colin Murray Rachel Riley Adrian Chiles Susie Dent 132
7433 29/01/2021 P Conor Morgan 103 – 51 Kristian Turner Colin Murray Rachel Riley Adrian Chiles Susie Dent 137
7434 01/02/2021 P Conor Morgan 72 – 82* Adam Latchford Colin Murray Rachel Riley Adrian Chiles Susie Dent 137
7435 02/02/2021 P Adam Latchford 87 – 49 Aneesh Aggarwal Colin Murray Rachel Riley Adrian Chiles Susie Dent 121
7436 03/02/2021 P Adam Latchford 115 – 51 Jacky Treacy Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 148
7437 04/02/2021 P Adam Latchford 95 – 56 Chiedza Mutongwizo Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 126
7438 05/02/2021 P Adam Latchford 96 – 40 Charles Biggs Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 122
7439 08/02/2021 P Adam Latchford 100 – 62 Louis Moen Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 123
7440 09/02/2021 P Adam Latchford 82 – 75 Arran Smith Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 155
7441 10/02/2021 P Adam Latchford 85 – 70 Jeremy Bradley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Pasha Kovalev Susie Dent 145
7442 11/02/2021 P Judith Marshall 67 – 79 Declan McGurk Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Pasha Kovalev Susie Dent 125
7443 12/02/2021 P Declan McGurk 91 – 51 Jason Menzies Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Pasha Kovalev Susie Dent 141
7444 15/02/2021 P Declan McGurk 88 – 83 Phil Lloyd-Bushell Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Pasha Kovalev Susie Dent 134
7445 16/02/2021 P Declan McGurk 117 – 37 Danny Lofthouse Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Pasha Kovalev Susie Dent 142
7446 17/02/2021 P Declan McGurk 73 – 53 Martin K Lewis Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jeremy Thompson Susie Dent 142
7447 18/02/2021 P Declan McGurk 102 – 27 Jack Coyle Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jeremy Thompson Susie Dent 166
7448 19/02/2021 P Declan McGurk 66 – 100 Coral Heath Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jeremy Thompson Susie Dent 125
7449 22/02/2021 P Coral Heath 79 – 74 Claire Spinks Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jeremy Thompson Susie Dent 124
7450 23/02/2021 P Coral Heath 74 – 63 George Thomson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jeremy Thompson Susie Dent 134
7451 24/02/2021 P Coral Heath 97 – 28 Yvonne Parkes Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Linda Papadopoulos Susie Dent 131
7452 25/02/2021 P Coral Heath 90 – 35 Matthew Marko Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Linda Papadopoulos Susie Dent 146
7453 26/02/2021 P Coral Heath 88 – 86 Dave Bowley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Linda Papadopoulos Susie Dent 122
7454 01/03/2021 P Coral Heath 83 – 54 Danny Webster Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Linda Papadopoulos Susie Dent 133
7455 02/03/2021 P Coral Heath 106 – 73 Neil McFarlane Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Linda Papadopoulos Susie Dent 126
7456 03/03/2021 P Joey Burton 95 – 31 Steve Caron Colin Murray Rachel Riley Tanni Grey-Thompson Susie Dent 136
7457 04/03/2021 P Joey Burton 93 – 48 Jake Perry Colin Murray Rachel Riley Tanni Grey-Thompson Susie Dent 135
7458 05/03/2021 P Joey Burton 57 – 83 Ruth Cappleman Colin Murray Rachel Riley Tanni Grey-Thompson Susie Dent 137
7459 08/03/2021 P Ruth Cappleman 90 – 64 Chloe Lavan Colin Murray Rachel Riley Tanni Grey-Thompson Susie Dent 128
7460 09/03/2021 P Ruth Cappleman 108 – 61 Andrei Karlsson Colin Murray Rachel Riley Tanni Grey-Thompson Susie Dent 125
7461 10/03/2021 P Ruth Cappleman 104 – 58 Michael Hastings Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 146
7462 11/03/2021 P Ruth Cappleman 60 – 84 Tom Vincent Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 140
7463 12/03/2021 P Tom Vincent 88* – 78 Ian Simpson Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 135
7464 15/03/2021 P Tom Vincent 115 – 32 Connor Niblett Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 155
7465 16/03/2021 P Tom Vincent 99 – 80 Jamie Jones Colin Murray Rachel Riley Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 123
7466 17/03/2021 P Tom Vincent 93 – 71 Robin R Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 156
7467 18/03/2021 P Tom Vincent 83 – 64 Jane Bennett Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 145
7468 19/03/2021 P Tom Vincent 57 – 138 Luke Boynton Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 144
7469 22/03/2021 P Luke Boynton 141 – 77 Alex Davidson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 146
7470 23/03/2021 P Luke Boynton 136 – 10 Matthew Hallas Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 147
7471 24/03/2021 P Luke Boynton 120 – 6 Bobby Casey Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Konnie Huq Susie Dent 138
7472 25/03/2021 P Luke Boynton 147 – 25 John Lorimer-George Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Konnie Huq Susie Dent 155
7473 26/03/2021 P Luke Boynton 107 – 34 Dan Gardner Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Konnie Huq Susie Dent 149
7474 29/03/2021 P Luke Boynton 137 – 34 Martin Curtis Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Konnie Huq Susie Dent 146
7475 30/03/2021 P Luke Boynton 106 – 78 Adam Peel Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Konnie Huq Susie Dent 124
7476 31/03/2021 P Malcolm Atkinson 66 – 76* Ian Gibson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Thomson Susie Dent 126
7477 01/04/2021 P Ian Gibson 44 – 88 Duncan Simpson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Thomson Susie Dent 156
7478 02/04/2021 P Duncan Simpson 88 – 45 Peter Clegg Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Thomson Susie Dent 122
7479 05/04/2021 P Duncan Simpson 54 – 92 Jane Peet Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Thomson Susie Dent 145
7480 06/04/2021 P Jane Peet 91 – 72 Rob Hughes Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Thomson Susie Dent 142
7481 07/04/2021 P Jane Peet 71 – 44 David Green Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Nicki Chapman Susie Dent 154
7482 08/04/2021 P Jane Peet 104 – 41 Aimee Spinks Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Nicki Chapman Susie Dent 134
7483 09/04/2021 P Jane Peet 68 – 80 Joe Parry Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Nicki Chapman Susie Dent 133
7484 12/04/2021 P Joe Parry 47 – 42 Jay Turner Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Nicki Chapman Susie Dent 134
7485 13/04/2021 P Joe Parry 47 – 95 James Notton Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Nicki Chapman Susie Dent 164
7486 14/04/2021 P James Notton 86 – 61 Mike Bennett Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Amol Rajan Susie Dent 156
7487 15/04/2021 P James Notton 99 – 68 Tom Adlam Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Amol Rajan Susie Dent 156
7488 16/04/2021 P James Notton 83 – 89 Adam Posner Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Amol Rajan Susie Dent 145
7489 19/04/2021 P Adam Posner 72 – 71 Ebony Thurston Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Amol Rajan Susie Dent 133
7490 20/04/2021 P Adam Posner 52 – 90 Dave Lomax Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Amol Rajan Susie Dent 136
7491 21/04/2021 P Dave Lomax 90 – 82 Paul Holland Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Chris Packham Susie Dent 153
7492 22/04/2021 P Dave Lomax 86 – 53 Jack Cannon Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Chris Packham Susie Dent 157
7493 23/04/2021 P Dave Lomax 84 – 56 Andrew Lyster Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Chris Packham Susie Dent 123
7494 26/04/2021 P Dave Lomax 70 – 64 Mike Fortune Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Chris Packham Susie Dent 132
7495 27/04/2021 P Dave Lomax 68 – 81 Tomas Banerjee Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Chris Packham Susie Dent 123
7496 28/04/2021 P Tomas Banerjee 96 – 19 Alba Webb Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jay Rayner Susie Dent 123
7497 29/04/2021 P Tomas Banerjee 99 – 71 Mark Prosser Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jay Rayner Susie Dent 123
7498 30/04/2021 P Tomas Banerjee 55 – 81 Christine Harrison Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jay Rayner Susie Dent 121
7499 03/05/2021 P Christine Harrison 91 – 111 Adam Collett Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jay Rayner Susie Dent 141
7500 04/05/2021 P Adam Collett 71 – 84 Trudy Garbett Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jay Rayner Susie Dent 147
7501 05/05/2021 P Trudy Garbett 105 – 47 Richard Karslake Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 123
7502 06/05/2021 P Trudy Garbett 93 – 49 Paul Booth Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 147
7503 07/05/2021 P Trudy Garbett 86 – 63 Scott Baldock Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 144
7504 10/05/2021 P Trudy Garbett 59 – 79 Mike Morgan Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 126
7505 11/05/2021 P Mike Morgan 52 – 92 Rob Bosher Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 134
7506 12/05/2021 P Rob Bosher 76 – 80 Caroline Stonehouse Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Richard Madeley Susie Dent 121
7507 13/05/2021 P Caroline Stonehouse 79 – 73 Jonny Farrow Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Richard Madeley Susie Dent 131
7508 14/05/2021 P Caroline Stonehouse 40 – 94 Neil McLelland Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Richard Madeley Susie Dent 125
7509 17/05/2021 P Neil McLelland 65 – 91 Cindy Burfoot Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Richard Madeley Susie Dent 125
7510 18/05/2021 P Cindy Burfoot 96 – 52 Zayd Ayo Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Richard Madeley Susie Dent 154
7511 19/05/2021 P Cindy Burfoot 94 – 68 Kevin Tansley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 118
7512 20/05/2021 P Cindy Burfoot 100 – 50 Anthony Massingham Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 125
7513 21/05/2021 P Cindy Burfoot 63 – 70 Christopher Taylor Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 135
7514 24/05/2021 P Christopher Taylor 61 – 79 Jenny Badger Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 142
7515 25/05/2021 P Jenny Badger 58 – 64 Jonathan Williams Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 131
7516 26/05/2021 P Jonathan Williams 61 – 96 Richard Brookwell Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Janet Street-Porter Susie Dent 155
7517 27/05/2021 P Richard Brookwell 73 – 68 Julie Richards Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Janet Street-Porter Susie Dent 122
7518 28/05/2021 P Richard Brookwell 75 – 88 Louis Ross Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Janet Street-Porter Susie Dent 133
7519 31/05/2021 P Louis Ross 93 – 34 Jackie Tong Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Janet Street-Porter Susie Dent 126
7520 01/06/2021 P Louis Ross 76 – 27 Kirsty Watt Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Janet Street-Porter Susie Dent 133
7521 02/06/2021 P Louis Ross 112 – 66 Linda Piper Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 131
7522 03/06/2021 P Louis Ross 99 – 62 Lesley Fernley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 123
7523 04/06/2021 P Louis Ross 92 – 71 Matt Hanson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 125
7524 07/06/2021 P Louis Ross 90 – 61 Patrick Robertson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 131
7525 08/06/2021 P Louis Ross 88 – 83 Jason Butler Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 131
7526 09/06/2021 P Matt Wilson 62 – 79 Declan McSweeney Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 121
7527 10/06/2021 P Declan McSweeney 74 – 57 Charlie Rowlands Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 127
7528 11/06/2021 P Declan McSweeney 62 – 77 Neil Thomas Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 140
7529 14/06/2021 P Neil Thomas 99* – 89 Mark Ward Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 133
7530 15/06/2021 P Neil Thomas 85 – 89 Ant Brown Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 144
7531 16/06/2021 P Ant Brown 55 – 76 Steve Francom Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Rufus Hound Susie Dent 132
7532 17/06/2021 QF Luke Boynton 99 – 47 Dave Lomax Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Rufus Hound Susie Dent 135
7533 18/06/2021 QF James Burley 100 – 66 Tom Vincent Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Rufus Hound Susie Dent 135
7534 21/06/2021 QF Adam Latchford 99 – 40 Declan McGurk Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Rufus Hound Susie Dent 137
7535 22/06/2021 QF Louis Ross 88 – 83 Coral Heath Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Rufus Hound Susie Dent 142
7536 23/06/2021 SF Luke Boynton 98 – 76 Louis Ross Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Rufus Hound Susie Dent 122
7537 24/06/2021 SF James Burley 65 – 82 Adam Latchford Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Rufus Hound Susie Dent 118
7538 25/06/2021 GF Luke Boynton 86 – 101 Adam Latchford Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Rufus Hound Susie Dent 125
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links