After a tense final between Fiona Wood and Chris Kirby, it was revealed that a forensic accountant from Kinross had become the first woman to be crowned Countdown champion in 26 years. This caps off a series that saw a push for more women to apply for the show, after host Colin Murray, lexicographer Susie Dent, and mathematician Rachel Riley all appealed for female applicants.
Countdown has been airing on Channel 4 since 1982, and Joyce Cansfield, a crossword compiler, won the first season. Since then, just five women had been crowned champions of the show. Hilary Hopper won in 1987, with Liz Barber, Verity Joubert, and Kate Ogilvie winning in 1990, 1995, and 1998, respectively.
Wood attributed her decision to apply to those appeals and managed to correctly identify “lassitude” as the final conundrum to come out as champion. The word means a state of physical or mental weariness. Wood said she had “absolutely no regrets” about applying and encouraged others to follow in her footsteps. Following the push for more female applicants, applications from women reportedly skyrocketed.
Dent, who has appeared in the show’s dictionary corner since 1992, was thrilled with Wood’s victory, saying “Fiona delighted us all and gave us one of the very best moments in our 42-year history.” Colin Murray took over hosting duties in 2020, following the departure of former Weakest Link host Anne Robinson. Richard Whiteley, Carol Vorderman, Nick Hewer, Des Lynam, Des O’Connor, and Jeff Stelling have all previously hosted the show
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