A YORK teenager who won through to the quarter-finals of Channel 4 television show Countdown is keeping tight-lipped about the results to be screened tomorrow.

A-level student Julian Fell, 18, from Quaker Gardens, Woodthorpe, achieved eight consecutive wins on the long-running television show hosted by Richard Whiteley.

The former Millthorpe School pupil is seeded number one after scoring 924 points. Filming for the quarter-finals took place on November 11, but Julian is sworn to secrecy and is keeping quiet about the results.

He said: "I've done better than I expected to do, so far I'm only at the quarter-final stage, so people shouldn't call me a genius - yet!"

Julian said the whole television experience had been enjoyable and Richard Whiteley and Carol Vorderman were very supportive, friendly and encouraging. Other celebrity guests on the show were Keith Baron and Ingrid Tarrant, who encouraged Julian to apply for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Julian is currently studying A-levels in French, maths, German and law at York College along with a GCSE in Spanish.

He went for an audition in June this year and was called in October to take part in the programme.

Maths curriculum leader at York College, Miggy Biller, said: "He is an excellent maths student and deserves all the success he gets."

Updated: 12:09 Wednesday, December 11, 2002