The first ever series of Countdown was won that year by crossword compiler Joyce Cansfield. Since then, four more women have won the series - Hilary Hopper (in 1987), Liz Barber (1990), Verity Joubert ...

Channel 4’s long-running Countdown quiz has crowned its first female champion in an astonishing 26 years. The show, which has been on almost every day of Channel 4’s 42-year history ...

Ms Wood with the trophy standing next to Chris Kirby, the runner-up Credit: PA/Channel 4 It was not the first time Ms Wood competed in Countdown. In 1991, she reached the semi-finals of the show ...

A forensic accountant from Scotland has become the first woman to be crowned Countdown champion in 26 years. The long-running numbers and words game show has had five other female champions since ...