Winning footballer smart enough to take each TV word game as it comes

The former Leeds player, 30, saw off reigning champion Adam Guest 89-55 to move into the champions chair and ensure the show's famous teapot trophy will take pride of place among the Turf Moor silverware.

And he told the show's host, Jeff Stelling: "I can't say it's better than winning a big football game – but it's up there!

"It's a lifelong ambition. I'm just delighted to be here," he added during the show. Stelling noted: "Your team-mates can't take the mickey out of you too much now."

Carlisle, who admits he has been an "addict" of the show since childhood, had previously failed an audition during a long-term cruciate ligament injury lay-off from January 2001 to September 2002. But he was crowned "Britain's Brainiest Footballer" in an ITV show hosted by former Countdown number-cruncher Carol Vorderman in January 2002, seeing off a panel of 12 including England's World Cup-winning full-back George Cohen. And, after coming through the audition process successfully this time round, he proved his credentials with a slew of impressive words.

Demonic, dossier and statute were among Carlisle's seven-letter offerings, and a 16-second conundrum added a fitting injury-time flourish. As a result his run on the show continues, with a maximum eight games possible should he keep winning.

Then-Notts County midfielder Neil MacKenzie, now with non-league Tamworth, is the only footballer to have previously appeared on Countdown, winning five games in 2008 before a quarter-final defeat to series 59 champion Junaid Mubeen.