A teenager with strong Donegal connections has become the overall champion of Channel 4’s Countdown quiz programme.
The 17-year-old, dubbed Hurricane Higginson by show hosts, also racked up the highest points tally in any final in the series 40 year history.
While Ronan Higginston may not exactly sound like a strong Donegal name, his tie to the county couldn’t be stronger!
Ronan is the son of proud Glenties (Stracastle to be exact) woman Patricia McMonagle.
He made his debut of series 87 of the show in May and has recorded some stunning successes.
In the final, hosted by Colin Murray and Rachel Riley with Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner, Ronan was competing against another octochamp, Cillian McMulkin in what Colin Murray branded “a clash of the titans.”
Ronan took the title with 150 to 83 points.
Ronan said: “I would like to say how pleased I am to be only the 87th person to win a Countdown Series.
“I’ve wanted to appear on the show for many years and I’m glad that those many years went towards a lot of practice that paid off as much as I could ever have hoped it would.
“Many thanks to everybody who’s been wishing me luck and congratulating me.”
His headteacher Danielle Lancefield said: “We are incredibly proud of Ronan here at Ursuline. Ronan is the epitome of what it is to be understated. He is kind, generous, caring, incredibly astute and highly intelligent.
“He has taken his phenomenal success and new-found fame all in his stride. There is no doubt about it – he is a credit to himself, his family and his school.”
