c4countdown

Inspired by my recent second run at Countdown I thought I'd do a bit of investigating into contestants and their second turns.

I'll prefix this by stating that all I had to go on was the Wiki page of players who've been on more than once so anyone not listed there won't be included, I'm only including up to Series 89 so anyone from Series 90 (including myself) aren't included and also, I'm no computer programmer, this is all done via Excel and I'm error prone.

Here's a few interesting things I discovered...

Of 274 players who've had two attempts 118 did better on the second time around. 112 did exactly the same, with 110 people losing first game both times and 44 did worse. Only Ian Laird, 3 wins on both attempts and Jan Scowcroft, 2 wins on both attempts, won the same amount of games on both attempts without losing both.

206 of the 274 players who've had 2 or more runs have never reached the series finals

29 players lost on their first debut and returned to octochampdom.

Only 24 players have won teapots on 2 occasions (teapots weren't awarded prior to series 40 or that number would have been higher)

Only 3 players have made the finals twice, Glen Webb, Isabelle Heward and Paul Harper, although I expect Fiona Wood will join this group. Isabelle's 14 heat victories is the most of anyone, shared with Martin May who won 6 on his first run without making the finals.

3 players who were octochamps on their debut returned to lose on their second debut.

The longest gap between appearances is Andy Bruno who appeared in series 1 and 82. Andy also holds the record for most heat games without ever making the finals with 9 heat games played. A record he now shares with me.

Only 3 players have been allowed back for a 3rd run without one run being due to an adjudication issue or for a special type. They are

Karyn Cooke series 58, 60 and 87
John Blaker series 41, 69 and 88 and
Mick Purdie series 8, 36 and 78.

Mick is the only one of them to win a game, doing so on two of his runs.

So hope for all of us who've failed to reach the finals on two occasions.

If anyone has any questions they'd like me to try and find out the answer to then feel free to ask but remember I don't do coding or anything exciting, I'll just be working stuff out on my spreadsheet.

Jon Stitcher wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 11:16 pm Only 24 players have won teapots on 2 occasions (teapots weren't awarded prior to series 40 or that number would have been higher)

5 of the 24 played in CoCXVI, making it the most teapot-heavy Champion of Champions ever. I think I'm the only person to have won a teapot on the same date of two different years. I also think my series 85 semi-final against Matt O'Connor was the first meeting between two player who both owned multiple teapots

Great stats.

Jon Stitcher wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 11:16 pm 3 players who were octochamps on their debut returned to lose on their second debut.

Who were they?

Great stats.

Jon Stitcher wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 11:16 pm Only 24 players have won teapots on 2 occasions (teapots weren't awarded prior to series 40 or that number would have been higher)

How many would it have been? I'd say it's the more interesting statistic, since whether they were awarded teapots or not is largely arbitrary.

Recently selling my house, had no comments whatsoever on the CD teapot. My own fault for not displaying two next to each other.

Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 11:04 am Great stats.

Jon Stitcher wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 11:16 pm 3 players who were octochamps on their debut returned to lose on their second debut.

Who were they?

John Hadfield - Octochamp in series 14, lost 2nd debut in series 80
Anthony Jenkin - Octochamp in series 31, lost 2nd debut in series 80
Julia Wilkinson - Octochamp in series 48, lost 2nd debut in series 80

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 11:41 am Great stats.

Jon Stitcher wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 11:16 pm Only 24 players have won teapots on 2 occasions (teapots weren't awarded prior to series 40 or that number would have been higher)

How many would it have been? I'd say it's the more interesting statistic, since whether they were awarded teapots or not is largely arbitrary.

I have 41 players prior to this series who won at least 1 game on 2 separate runs. Of these 41, only 14 have failed to make the series final on either occasion.

Ian Volante wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 12:00 pm Recently selling my house, had no comments whatsoever on the CD teapot. My own fault for not displaying two next to each other.

When I tried to sell my flat many years ago the Countdown Teapot had pride of place on the mantelpiece and one prospective buyer was way more interested in the teapot than the flat.

Currently neither of mine are on display due to the possibility of children knocking them off a shelf. Will think of something to do with them though, maybe bookends.

Jon Stitcher wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 12:44 pm

Ian Volante wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 12:00 pm Recently selling my house, had no comments whatsoever on the CD teapot. My own fault for not displaying two next to each other.

When I tried to sell my flat many years ago the Countdown Teapot had pride of place on the mantelpiece and one prospective buyer was way more interested in the teapot than the flat.

Currently neither of mine are on display due to the possibility of children knocking them off a shelf. Will think of something to do with them though, maybe bookends.

Well I had mine earmarked for my ashes when I kark it, till someone pointed out they wouldn't fit in one teapot. So two would be handy

Fiona T wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 2:42 pm
Well I had mine earmarked for my ashes when I kark it, till someone pointed out they wouldn't fit in one teapot. So two would be handy

When I met Dag Griffiths at Fifteen to One he told me that his family have been told to put his ashes in the ancient Greek urn he won for winning a series of the show back in the WGS days.

I think you've missed the most interesting statistic of them all. How many 2nd time contestants went on to become a series Champion on their 2nd go?

All series Champions from 2014-2015 were 2nd time contestants!

I would so be up for coming back to do worse

Over 300 people have had a second go.

Jon Stitcher wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 3:57 pm

Fiona T wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 2:42 pm
Well I had mine earmarked for my ashes when I kark it, till someone pointed out they wouldn't fit in one teapot. So two would be handy

When I met Dag Griffiths at Fifteen to One he told me that his family have been told to put his ashes in the ancient Greek urn he won for winning a series of the show back in the WGS days.

I was on in 2003 the last series WGS did and finished 10th

Eight that I know of have lost their only game and a had a second go, but went on to be series champions

1.Junaid Mubeen: Originally appeared in series 39 but lost his only game and went on to be the Series 59 Champion
2.Kirk Bevins: Originally appeared in appeared in series 51 but lost his only game and went on to be the Series 60 Champion
3.Paul James : Originally appeared in Series 38 but lost his only game and went to be the Series 67 Champion
4.Mark Murray :Orginally appeared in Series 41 but lost his only game and went on to be the Series 70 Champion
5.Dan McColm : Orginally appeared in Series 64 but lost his only game and went on to be the Series 71 Champion
6.Tom Cappleman: Originally appeared in Series 59 but lost his only game and went on to be the Series 72 Champion..........I wonder who lost to him !
7.Jonathan Wynn :Originally appeared in Series 63 but lost his only game and went on to be the the Series 73 Champion
8.Martin Hurst : Originally appeared in Series 35 but lost his only game and went on to be Series 75 Champion

Honorable Mentions go to

Zarte Siempre who lost his 6th game to the eventual runner up of series 69 and former record holder Dylan Taylor..........then became Series 78 champion

Dinos Sfyris who lost his 4th game in series 57 but went on to be series the Series 80 Champion

Fiona Wood ( Nee Willis ) Was a semi-finalist in series 20 but lost out to the eventual series champion Liz Barber but went on to win Series 90