Who was your first 15-round octochamp?

[Kai Laddiman]

As requested.

[Innis Carson]

For some reason I distinctly remember Jack Welsby, was ages before I started watching regularly though (which was at your run).

[Steve Durney]

The first series where I actually started to follow the contestants was your one, Kai! So whoever was the first octochamp in Series 59 would be mine. You or Junaid I think.

Edit: Having now looked at the list, I guess that makes it Junaid!

[Charlie Reams]

[Ben Wilson]

The one I watched first was the same one I met first.

[Kirk Bevins]

I remember seeing Wills and Hargreaves on and off but don't remember all the other octochamps round that time. I've voted for Julian Fell as I remember watching his 138 when he jumped out of his chair and it such a magic moment. I was so impressed with his talents and it got me hooked. I wanted to be that good.

[Ian Volante]

I couldn't help but vote for Mr Deshpande. I remember more of the nine-round era, given that I stopped watching regularly when I came to uni in 1995. Briefly got back into in in 98, but since then I've hardly seen much at all. Don Reid is the series champion who jumps out most clearly for me in the olden days.

[Jon Corby]

I've voted for Julian Fell as I remember watching his 138 when he jumped out of his chair and it such a magic moment. I was so impressed with his talents and it got me hooked. I wanted to be that good.

Aww, keep practising mate. You never know.

[Dinos Sfyris]

My passion for Countdown increased about tenfold when I witnessed our very own ginger assassin on our screens. I remember being blown away by his kerrazy 4 large skillz and seeing them in the papers the next day. I thought "Wow. He can't be much older than me (younger it turned out). I bet I could be on Countdown too!" The series after that with Conor, Corby, Paul et al I was hooked

[Jon Corby]

Looking down the list, I've had to say Conor. It's strange, I've always really enjoyed the game and everything, but I don't think I ever made sure I watched every day. I'd see it if I was around but that was all, so I'd almost certainly have seen some of those others at some point, but not seen their whole run or really cared that much for the actual people. Conor was definitely the first whose run I watched with interest from start to finish, as I was actively watching every show of Series 54 and scoring myself against the contestants and suchlike. You'd think it would have put me off, but Conor was already an octochamp before I'd even applied, and I ended up in the same series as him. (Rumour has it that if I hadn't been so shit at the audition I may have gone into the next series)

[Ian Fitzpatrick]

If anyone asked me off the top of my head it would be Chris Wills, but looking at the list it may well be Loz Sands, that name certainly rings a bell somewhere.

*** Charlie, any chance of you resizing your picture? Ah sorry it's your birthday - probably busy. Have a good one! ***

[Charlie Reams]

*** Charlie, any chance of you resizing your picture? Ah sorry it's your birthday - probably busy. Have a good one! ***

Sure, the original probably was a little on the small side for such a sex god, but it's not what you show, it's what you hide.

[Philip Jarvis]

The first Octochamp I recall seeing on telly was Chris Wills.

However, my first encounter with an Octochamp (in waiting) was Kevin Thurlow. Kevin beat me in his 5th game and my vote goes to him.

[Martin Smith]

Obviously Junaid and Conor are the most memorable.

[Gavin Chipper]

Obviously Junaid and Conor are the most memorable.

Oh yeah, obviously!