Spoilers for Friday, 24th October

[Joseph Bolas]

Today marks the end of two impressive runs.

Not only will Charlie most definitely become an Octochamp but DaveC will have completed his 200th recap.

[Ben Hunter]

This guy's giving Charlie a bit of a run for his money. Probably nervous on his 8th game.

[Joseph Bolas]

1st Number Alt: ((100 - 7) x (3 + 1)) + 9

I think thats right.

[Ben Hunter]

Carol and Susie looked genuinely troubled when the challenger got his ten point lead back!

[John Douglas]

I don't remember Carol getting the numbers game so badly wrong before. Is she losing it (now she's going)?

[Mark Kudlowski]

2nd numbers game:

(5 x 10) + (25 - 1) = 74; 74 x (7 + 4) = 814.

[Ben Hunter]

Now two disallowed sixes. Time to post in the "have you ever cried at Countdown" thread.

[Nick Wainwright]

I was quite pleased to get both the two tricky numbers games. I'm sure in studio conditions I would've been 1 away with both though.
2nd numbers game:
(7*4+5)*25-10-1 = 814
3rd numbers game:
((25*5)-(10-3))*8+2 = 946

Well done to Charlie and good luck in the finals.

[Matthew Green]

Good stuff Charlie. Although my abiding memory of this whole 8 games will be the bizarre way your opponent applauded you today.

[Mark Kudlowski]

Beat me on that third numbers game, Nick.

I knew that 946 was a multiple of 11 (as was 814 in the last round), so I took the 3 and 8 out (to make 11), and tried to get the others to make 86. That failed, so I tried for 43 x (25 - 3) but I couldn't make 43.

The 'multiple of 11' test, incidentally, is to check alternate digit sums of the number. If these sums equal or differ by 11, 22, 33... then the number is a multiple of 11.

In 946, 9 + 6 = 15, and 15-4 = 11
In 814, 8 + 4 = 12, and 12-1 = 11
In 594, 5 + 4 = 9

and so on

[Joseph Bolas]

Well done Charlie for becoming an Octochamp and for claiming the number #1 seed

The best of luck to you in the QF, SF and Final

[Ralph Gillions]

Splendid Charlie.
Well done. I am very pleased.

[Martin Gardner]

That was a really tight game, Charlie! I was a bit surprised although PATIENTS was a really good spot in the first game. I had DRAGONET on the letters, I don't think anyone's mentioned that (been a while since I got a DC-beater). Still I'm glad you're the #1 seed although it looked like you might get nearly 900, you didn't get it. With Junaid near to 800 and Kai not far behind, I don't think Charlie will be such a hot favourite as DOD was in the last series. But I hope you win it, I remember you joining Gevincountdown years ago (was it about 2004?) and since then you've become one of the best players on the whole forum, well done.

[Ben Wilson]

Well done on Octochampdom Charlie, and commiserations to your washing machine after that close one.

[Kirk Bevins]

Was so pleased that he bottled that last numbers to give you an 11 point cushion. You could tell the pressure was there as you were missing some common-lettered words that you were hitting earlier on in the run.

I had two DC beaters with MORAINIC (round 4) and DRAGONET (round 9). I was pleased to get the 9 but didn't get a single numbers game today! You beat me with EMPTILY though, nice spot.

[Michael Wallace]

Wow, was genuinely worried for him today. Usually I'd feel a bit sorry for the challenger in that sort of game, but he looked so bloody miserable!

No plug for the forum *or* Charlie's girlfriend hopes today, though. Shocker.

[Jimmy Gough]

Yep, that really was the strangest applauding I've evr witnessed. I got INEPTLY - is that ok or is it even worth mentioning?

[Michael Wallace]

I missed this guy's applauding, is it describable?

[Richard Priest]

Well done Charlie, great run, looking forward to watching the finals.

[Joseph Bolas]

I missed this guy's applauding, is it describable?

You can rewatch the episode here.

[Michael Wallace]

I missed this guy's applauding, is it describable?

You can rewatch the episode here.

Not until I sort out Vista on this machine, but thanks anyway.

[Joseph Bolas]

I missed this guy's applauding, is it describable?

You can rewatch the episode here.

Not until I sort out Vista on this machine, but thanks anyway.

Sorry, I didn't know that

This is how I would describe it, the guy is clapping using the front of his left hand and the back of his right but it looks half-arsed.

[Nick Hancock]

Got to agree re the strange clapping, also he seemed rather obnoxious at certain points throughout the game.

[Michael Wallace]

Sorry, I didn't know that

No need to apologise, I don't see how you could've known

This is how I would describe it, the guy is clapping using the front of his left hand and the back of his right but it looks half-arsed.

Yeah, that does seem pretty weird. Although the guy seemed a bit, well, not 'weird', but certainly didn't look like he was enjoying himself (maybe understandably, but I know that when I was on I tried to look like I was enjoying losing :p).

[Charlie Reams]

In defence of my opponent, I should say that he was originally due to play later in the day but, due to some last-minute rescheduling (caused I believe by the non-appearance of the intended contestant), he was put up against me. So I hope it doesn't sound too immodest to say that I understand him being a bit annoyed about being put up as the final hurdle for a 7-time winner, even if it is a hurdle at which many good players have fallen in the past. I will save my full account of the ups and downs of the game for my Countdown Experience on Mike Brown's page, but suffice to say that it was a good game and I was thrilled (and relieved) to emerge as the winner. Thanks to everyone for your kind words; alas you must now endure my gurning bearded mug again some time in December. See you there!

[Howard Somerset]

I missed this guy's applauding, is it describable?

You can rewatch the episode here.

Not until I sort out Vista on this machine, but thanks anyway.

Another opportunity to see it in the early hours of Monday morning on C4, or not quite such an early hour on C4+1. See here for more details.

I didn't notice that applause at all. I'll have to reposition that tape and watch it again.

Congrats Charlie. Not only an octochamp, but an 800 club member. Brilliant! And thanks for letting me get so close today. It was the first time in your eight programmes that I was on a crucial conundrum with you. Look forward to watching you in the finals now.

[Howard Somerset]

I've just skimmed through the tape again. Yes, very unusual way of applauding. However, he didn't just use this method at the end of the programme, he also applauded at least one of DC's offerings in exactly the same way.

[David O'Donnell]

I've just skimmed through the tape again. Yes, very unusual way of applauding. However, he didn't just use this method at the end of the programme, he also applauded at least one of DC's offerings in exactly the same way.

I thought it could be linked to an arthritic condition.

[Matthew Green]

Or possibly AIDS.

[Julie T]

Congratulations, Charlie, on becoming an octochamp!
Good luck in the finals, or hope you did well, if they're already filmed.

[Kai Laddiman]

I think he was clapping oddly because <top secret> the contestants are not meant to clap, only to pretend. He obviously didn't graduate from Acting School.

[Charlie Reams]

I think he was clapping oddly because <top secret> the contestants are not meant to clap, only to pretend. He obviously didn't graduate from Acting School.

That was my first thought too. It seems this advice is widely ignored but it is somewhere in the big pack of stuff you get. I think if you look at some of my episodes you can clearly see that I'm not really clapping, although this seems to coincide surprisingly often with Ann Widdecombe's jokes.

[Howard Somerset]

I think if you look at some of my episodes you can clearly see that I'm not really clapping, although this seems to coincide surprisingly often with Ann Widdecombe's jokes.

I certainly noticed your completely different reaction to the two dictionary corner guests that you had. Looking forward to see how you react to the guest(s) you had in the finals. Wonder if it'll turn out to be MJ.

I did notice you clapping good offerings from DC and Carol, and I believe from some of your opponents.

[DaveC]

In this game I had IRONIC in R4 then INEPTLY in R7. This turned out to be IRONIC because I proceeded to play INEPTLY through most of the remaining rounds.

Review no. 200 is up as promised. Congrats Charlie on an excellent Octochamp run.

DC

[jeff]

Does anybody know who's taking over from carol and des?