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[[Image:Susie Dent.jpg|right|140px]]
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[[Image:Focal.jpg|right|140px]]'''[[FOCAL]]''' is the voluntary organisation responsible for organising the vast majority of unofficial [[Countdown tournament]]s since 2016. The organisation's name is an acronym for ''Finals Of the Co-event Annual League''. Perhaps coincidentally, "focal" also means "word" in the Irish language.
'''[[Susie Dent]]''' (born September 1967) is a [[lexicographer]] on ''[[Countdown]]''. Her first appearance in [[Dictionary Corner]] was on [[Episode 1263|29 June 1992]], aged 24. At the time, the role of lexicographer rotated regularly between a group of members of the Oxford University Press (OUP) – most commonly [[Richard Samson]] and later [[Alison Heard]] – and occasionally members of the ''Countdown'' production team, [[Mark Nyman]] and [[Damian Eadie]]. For [[Series 50]], Dent became a recurring member of the on-screen team, appearing in all but 15 episodes, and in total she has appeared on [[:Category:Episodes with Susie Dent as lexicographer|over 2000 episodes]] of ''Countdown''.
 
  
Dent adjudicated every episode from [[episode 3758|24 August 2004]] until [[episode 4350|9 May 2007]], when the late [[Michael Wylie]] stepped in under the pseudonym "Susie Gent" to cover a bout of illness. Later in 2007, she took three months' maternity leave, allowing Heard to return for the last two months of [[Series 57]], including the [[episode 4508|series final]]. She returned to the programme in February 2008, and has performed all lexicography work since. She oversaw the final episodes presented by [[Richard Whiteley]], [[Des Lynam]], [[Des O'Connor]], [[Jeff Stelling]] and [[Carol Vorderman]].
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Players play in events across the British Isles throughout the year, with the top 8 highest ranked players at the end of the year receiving free entry into the finals event in Birmingham, held alongside a normal tournament that is open to everyone. 2016's FOCAL Champion was [[Series 66]] champion [[Jack Worsley]], 2017's champion was [[Rob Foster]], 2018 [[Jonathan Wynn]] and 2019 [[Callum Todd]]. All events are hosted on a Saturday, with the exception of the 'hangover' event, held on the Sunday in Lincoln as secondary events.
  
Dent's close association with ''Countdown'' has been acknowledged through variations of her name twice featuring as [[conundrum]]s: the [[Series 31]] [[episode 1782|final]] used the scramble {{word|SUSISDENT}}, and on [[Episode 3892|22 March 2005]] the conundrum was {{word|SUSIEDANT}}. Since [[Series 57]], Dent has been given a regular slot prior to the second [[numbers round]] called [[Origins of Words]], in which she explains the derivations of well-known words or phrases. Away from ''Countdown'', Dent authored a series of annual Language Reports for the OUP between 2003 and 2007, and continues to write about the ongoing evolution of the English language. As well as her native English, she is fluent in French and German. ('''[[Susie Dent|more...]]''')
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The organisation was the brainchild of [[Series 78]] champion and former [[Countdown in Milton Keynes|.co.mk]] organiser [[Zarte Siempre]] in mid-2015. The incumbent FOCAL chairman is [[Series 69]] champion [[Callum Todd]]. The previous chairmen were Siempre in early 2016 and 2017, [[Mark Murray]] in late 2016 and [[Jeff Clayton]] from 2016 to 2021.
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Current standings for the year and many other details can be found at the '''[http://focalcountdown.co.uk/ FOCAL website]''', as well as the [[2020–22 FOCAL season]] page on this wiki. ('''[[FOCAL|more...]]''')
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<noinclude>{{episode|previous=Template:FA August|next=Template:FA October}}
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[[Category:Templates|FA09]]</noinclude>

Revision as of 20:30, 27 July 2021

Focal.jpg

FOCAL is the voluntary organisation responsible for organising the vast majority of unofficial Countdown tournaments since 2016. The organisation's name is an acronym for Finals Of the Co-event Annual League. Perhaps coincidentally, "focal" also means "word" in the Irish language.

Players play in events across the British Isles throughout the year, with the top 8 highest ranked players at the end of the year receiving free entry into the finals event in Birmingham, held alongside a normal tournament that is open to everyone. 2016's FOCAL Champion was Series 66 champion Jack Worsley, 2017's champion was Rob Foster, 2018 Jonathan Wynn and 2019 Callum Todd. All events are hosted on a Saturday, with the exception of the 'hangover' event, held on the Sunday in Lincoln as secondary events.

The organisation was the brainchild of Series 78 champion and former .co.mk organiser Zarte Siempre in mid-2015. The incumbent FOCAL chairman is Series 69 champion Callum Todd. The previous chairmen were Siempre in early 2016 and 2017, Mark Murray in late 2016 and Jeff Clayton from 2016 to 2021.

Current standings for the year and many other details can be found at the FOCAL website, as well as the 2020–22 FOCAL season page on this wiki. (more...)