Spoilers for Friday 16 Jan 2009 (CoC Heat 5)

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:18 pm

It's Nick Wainwright v Steve Baines today, so the best of luck to both.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:31 pm

R1: epilate

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:37 pm

R4: Can't remember if LIONISER is in or not...?

Edit: it is. Thought Suze might've mentioned it.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:39 pm

alternate first numbers (though not really worth mentioning as it was easy)

4 x 10 + 1 = 41
41 x 5 = 205

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:41 pm

I can't watch the game today so I am relying on a good recap

Mark Kudlowski · Post by **Mark Kudlowski** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:42 pm

PALETTE in game 1

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:48 pm

What's the scores so far?

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:54 pm

couple of interesting words in the 'DREAMY' round:

REAMY: Charlie Reams-like ("that was a reamy insult")
REAMED: as in "dammit I spelt a word wrong on the forum and Charlie just reamed me"

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:55 pm

alternate numbers:
100x 9 = 900
7 x 8 = 56
9 + 3 = 12

900 + 56 - 12

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:06 pm

R12 (i think)... TERRACE was another equaller for 7

Mark Kudlowski · Post by **Mark Kudlowski** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:10 pm

Last numbers game:

((75+5) x 10) + 9 + 9 - 7.

Katherine Birkett · Post by **Katherine Birkett** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:10 pm

Ready to go - I'm doing my workings-out with red ink today......

** Red pen runs out of ink **

KATHERINE'S RESULTS

Letters 1 - PLEAT

Letters 2 - BOUNDS (why didn't I add the A?

)

Letters 3 - ROOFING

Letters 4 - BOILERS

Numbers 1 - 206 (1 off)

Tea Time Teaser 1 - Can't quite get 'gastric acid' out of my head!

Letters 5 - MORTICE

Letters 6 - ANODES and SEASONS

Letters 7 - LEASE

Letters 8 - MERGED

Numbers 2 - Failed due to interruption.

Tea Time Teaser 2 - got TACKLING

Letters 9 - ZIPPIER

Letters 10 - CAMEO

Letters 11 - TRACER

Numbers 3 - Failed due to utter incompetence.

Conundrum - I'd got the word davenport, but thought it was just a surname so didn't think it'd be acceptable......... I feel a total twit.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:13 pm

R14 from me: (75-9)*(7+5)+10+9. Then I spot the more straightforward way. D'oh.

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:30 pm

Eoin.V.Monaghan wrote:What's the scores so far?

Actually what was the final score?

jeff wharton · Post by **jeff wharton** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:33 pm

Letters mix was a little better today even though there were four letter Ss in one selection.
Susie seemed to struggle to get much animation out of her sidekick.A couple of times she looked
at him as though she thought he might have gone to sleep.I just hope that we will see some of the
old favourites in DC.I would hate it if it was a case of ditch anyone who appeared under the old
regime.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:36 pm

Eoin.V.Monaghan wrote:
Eoin.V.Monaghan wrote:What's the scores so far?
Actually what was the final score?

It was 105 v 85. The recap is up.

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:41 pm

Good luck against Nick, Kai and vice-versa

Simon Myers · Post by **Simon Myers** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:45 pm

jeff wharton wrote:Letters mix was a little better today even though there were four letter Ss in one selection.
Susie seemed to struggle to get much animation out of her sidekick.A couple of times she looked
at him as though she thought he might have gone to sleep.I just hope that we will see some of the
old favourites in DC.I would hate it if it was a case of ditch anyone who appeared under the old
regime.

IIRC Charlie helped the temporary shuffler with the shuffling for this game. I think he was a little embarrassed by the four S's slipping by him though. Perhaps he'll clarify.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:56 pm

Simon Myers wrote: IIRC Charlie helped the temporary shuffler with the shuffling for this game. I think he was a little embarrassed by the four S's slipping by him though. Perhaps he'll clarify.

Yeah, I did the consonants and he did the vowels. However I didn't look at them, I just made sure they were really thoroughly shuffled. Anyway four S's is not so bad; much better than four U's anyway.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:57 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Simon Myers wrote: IIRC Charlie helped the temporary shuffler with the shuffling for this game. I think he was a little embarrassed by the four S's slipping by him though. Perhaps he'll clarify.
Yeah, I did the consonants and he did the vowels. However I didn't look at them, I just made sure they were really thoroughly shuffled. Anyway four S's is not so bad; much better than four U's anyway.

Idiot - you're supposed to claim that you did the vowels.

Kathleen Batlle · Post by **Kathleen Batlle** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:59 pm

Katherine, you did much better than me as I didn't get the conundrum and I know a DAVENPORT is a desk!

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:16 pm

kathleen batlle wrote:Katherine, you did much better than me as I didn't get the conundrum and I know a DAVENPORT is a desk!

Actually I've never heard of DAVENPORT as a noun. So yeah, it was a really good game, excellent standard from both players. I'm a little surprised that Steve missed the last numbers game - I assume he was trying to get 11*75 instead of (75+x)*10 like Nick did. In fairness, the odds of beating Nick Wainwright on two crucial conundrums are fairly low. I held him to a crucial conundrum on Apterous once, and he got it in 0.9 seconds! Also, it's the first time I've seen him despite having played him online, because I didn't watch Series 56 and Nick Wainwright gives loads of irrelevant results on Google Images. A bit like Paul Gallen (there's a professional rugby player with that name).

PS did any of the male viewers find themselves distracted during the letters games? I did.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:18 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:alternate first numbers (though not really worth mentioning as it was easy)

4 x 10 + 1 = 41
41 x 5 = 205

I did that, (2 + 3 = 5) is the bit you missed out.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:31 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:PS did any of the male viewers find themselves distracted during the letters games? I did.

Yep. All I could think about was running my fingers through Steve's beard.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:48 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:alternate first numbers (though not really worth mentioning as it was easy)

4 x 10 + 1 = 41
41 x 5 = 205
I did that, (2 + 3 = 5) is the bit you missed out.

oops, well spotted Martin, and thanks for clearing it up!
I honestly did have a "hang on, there wasn't a straight 5 was there?" moment as soon as I'd posted, but laziness won out again

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:05 pm

I had a nice DC equaller in the DREAMY round of DAYMARE. Love that word.

Jimmy Gough · Post by **Jimmy Gough** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:11 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:
kathleen batlle wrote:Katherine, you did much better than me as I didn't get the conundrum and I know a DAVENPORT is a desk!
Actually I've never heard of DAVENPORT as a noun.

Lindsay?

Matthew Green · Post by **Matthew Green** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:34 pm

Does anyone else find Andrew Sachs so meek and irritating that they almost wish Jonathan Ross was reinstated on BBC?

Every letters round Susie had to stare at him and prompt him to tell us their words- it was like watching a special needs child working with their frustrated teaching assistant.

Well played though Nick, solid performance. You are my outside tip for the tournament now James H is out.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:40 pm

Matthew Green wrote:
Well played though Nick, solid performance. You are my outside tip for the tournament now James H is out.

And if Nick gets knocked out, are you going to change again and again until there's one person left - the winner?

Ross Allatt · Post by **Ross Allatt** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:14 pm

Matthew Green wrote:Does anyone else find Andrew Sachs so meek and irritating that they almost wish Jonathan Ross was reinstated on BBC?

Every letters round Susie had to stare at him and prompt him to tell us their words- it was like watching a special needs child working with their frustrated teaching assistant.

Well played though Nick, solid performance. You are my outside tip for the tournament now James H is out.

Seconded. The one downer on an excellent first week for the new team. Really looked like he wished he would rather take Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross out on the town to see the Satanic Sluts than be in the Countdown studio.

David Gunn · Post by **David Gunn** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:12 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:alternate numbers:
100x 9 = 900
7 x 8 = 56
9 + 3 = 12

900 + 56 - 12

I can't believe that no-one else has pointed out that the target was 744, not 944.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:19 pm

David Gunn wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:alternate numbers:
100x 9 = 900
7 x 8 = 56
9 + 3 = 12

900 + 56 - 12
I can't believe that no-one else has pointed out that the target was 744, not 944.

Haha, brilliant. I surprise even myself sometimes. Well, there you go, I was the only one who was able to make 944!

Er, was there a 2 in there or something? Maybe I meant 100 x (9-2)...

EDIT: God I really am on the ball. Already using 6 numbers. Just simply must have read it wrong. Odd, don't think I've ever done that before.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:54 pm

Nice game today for my birthday. Saw OLEATES in one round but wasn't sure about it so stuck with TEASEL. I saw AIRTIME just out of time. I also missed LIONISER, HEMLOCK and was already privy to the conundrum but wouldn't have got it, so 10/15 maxes for me. Chatted briefly with Nick on the Monday CoC recording and was well impressed that he got DAVENPORT. I only got it once he told me it was also a surname. Still PRONATED + V Good to remember!

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:02 am

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Nice game today for my birthday. Saw OLEATES in one round but wasn't sure about it so stuck with TEASEL. I saw AIRTIME just out of time. I also missed LIONISER, HEMLOCK and was already privy to the conundrum but wouldn't have got it, so 10/15 maxes for me. Chatted briefly with Nick on the Monday CoC recording and was well impressed that he got DAVENPORT. I only got it once he told me it was also a surname. Still PRONATED + V Good to remember!

Ha, I was in the audience and this old lady sat next to me was impressed that I wrote down DAVENPORT straight away. She asked me what it means and I said I had no idea but it's PRONATED + V. She was really interesting in how I play the game after that.

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:03 am

Matthew Green wrote:Does anyone else find Andrew Sachs so meek and irritating that they almost wish Jonathan Ross was reinstated on BBC?

He certainly seemed less interested than when he was first on and Susie really had a job on her hands just to get him to contribute. But I love his anecdotes to the extent that it makes up for the other stuff. Off the screen he's a really nice guy and makes the effort to chat to contestants, showing a genuine interest.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:59 am

Junaid Mubeen wrote:Off the screen he's a really nice guy and makes the effort to chat to contestants, showing a genuine interest.

I can think of quite a few people who would probably disagree with that.

Chris Corby · Post by **Chris Corby** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:33 am

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Junaid Mubeen wrote:Off the screen he's a really nice guy and makes the effort to chat to contestants, showing a genuine interest.
I can think of quite a few people who would probably disagree with that.

I think part of his quietness was down to Jeff's inexperience. For most of the five days he didn't get a proper introduction so got no applause and when Jeff went to DC, mostly he would say, "Anything else from the corner?" instead of the customary, "Anything else Andrew" which invites him to speak.

Being an actor, he sulked!

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:08 am

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Junaid Mubeen wrote:Off the screen he's a really nice guy and makes the effort to chat to contestants, showing a genuine interest.
I can think of quite a few people who would probably disagree with that.

Yeah fair enough, I'm probably thinking more back to when he was first on, during my heats, before the whole Ross/Brand /Slut affair. He was definitely more cheerful and engaging then.

Nick Wainwright · Post by **Nick Wainwright** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:39 pm

I was pleased to struggle through the game having been fortunate not to be punished for a few bad misses in the letters rounds. Steve 'nice guy' Baines lived up to his reputation by being very sporting in defeat and (like most of the contestants who were able to) staying for the rest of the filming to support the remaining players.

I have Mark Tournoff's book to thank for the conundrum spot as I first saw DAVENPORT in a word list in one of the appendices regarding surnames that are also valid words in Countdown.

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:54 pm

Nick Wainwright wrote:Steve 'nice guy' Baines lived up to his reputation by being very sporting in defeat and (like most of the contestants who were able to) staying for the rest of the filming to support the remaining players.

Yeah, it surprises me that Steve isn't on this forum (or is he?) as he really got into the spirit of things and seemed to be a huge fan of the show. Top guy.

Martin Bishop · Post by **Martin Bishop** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:43 pm

Junaid Mubeen wrote:
Nick Wainwright wrote:Steve 'nice guy' Baines lived up to his reputation by being very sporting in defeat and (like most of the contestants who were able to) staying for the rest of the filming to support the remaining players.
Yeah, it surprises me that Steve isn't on this forum (or is he?) as he really got into the spirit of things and seemed to be a huge fan of the show. Top guy.

A quick search shows that he has an account, but has never posted. Hopefully he's reading and blushing away.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:09 pm

Nick Wainwright wrote:I have Mark Tournoff's book to thank for the conundrum spot as I first saw DAVENPORT in a word list in one of the appendices regarding surnames that are also valid words in Countdown.

What type of word lists are in the book?

Nick Wainwright · Post by **Nick Wainwright** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:14 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:
Nick Wainwright wrote:I have Mark Tournoff's book to thank for the conundrum spot as I first saw DAVENPORT in a word list in one of the appendices regarding surnames that are also valid words in Countdown.
What type of word lists are in the book?

There are various word lists such as common 9-lettered words, words which contain particular endings such as '-ology' & '-head', 9-lettered words containing the letters 'i', 'n' and 'g' which don't end in '-ing', words ending in '-ing' which can be pluralised etc.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:39 pm

Nick Wainwright wrote:
Joseph Bolas wrote:
Nick Wainwright wrote:I have Mark Tournoff's book to thank for the conundrum spot as I first saw DAVENPORT in a word list in one of the appendices regarding surnames that are also valid words in Countdown.
What type of word lists are in the book?
There are various word lists such as common 9-lettered words, words which contain particular endings such as '-ology' & '-head', 9-lettered words containing the letters 'i', 'n' and 'g' which don't end in '-ing', words ending in '-ing' which can be pluralised etc.

I just reread the whole book in the last day and I found it funny scouring the list of nines you should never miss. There's a few in there that I knew but very rarely come up like ADIPOCYTE and AITCHBONE and words I didn't know/wouldn't risk, e.g. COHABITER. The rest are just high probability nines as you'd expect but include PROTAMINE, STROBILAE, LIONHEART, PALINODES etc...words which the average contestant are going to miss but to make it big I guess you should know them.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:42 am

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Nice game today for my birthday. Saw OLEATES in one round but wasn't sure about it so stuck with TEASEL.

That reminds me, I know it's picky, but shouldn't the contestant be asked to spell a word like TEASEL?

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:43 am

Ben Wilson wrote:R14 from me: (75-9)*(7+5)+10+9. Then I spot the more straightforward way. D'oh.

I did it that way too. It's a sign of greatness.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:45 am

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Ben Wilson wrote:R14 from me: (75-9)*(7+5)+10+9. Then I spot the more straightforward way. D'oh.
I did it that way too. It's a sign of greatness.

Add me to this, er, 'illustrious' list.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:55 am

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:Nice game today for my birthday. Saw OLEATES in one round but wasn't sure about it so stuck with TEASEL.
That reminds me, I know it's picky, but shouldn't the contestant be asked to spell a word like TEASEL?

Nah, I initiated this debate with some of the other contestants. There's some oddity with this word, I think both TEAZEL and TEAZLE are valid, but only TEASEL (and not TEASLE) or something like that, so there is definitely potential for misspelling. I thought it warranted clarification. Actually, I think the "debate" consisted of me raising this point, and a few people shrugging their shoulders.

Simon Myers · Post by **Simon Myers** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:49 pm

Jon Corby wrote:
Gavin Chipper wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:Nice game today for my birthday. Saw OLEATES in one round but wasn't sure about it so stuck with TEASEL.
That reminds me, I know it's picky, but shouldn't the contestant be asked to spell a word like TEASEL?
Nah, I initiated this debate with some of the other contestants. There's some oddity with this word, I think both TEAZEL and TEAZLE are valid, but only TEASEL (and not TEASLE) or something like that, so there is definitely potential for misspelling. I thought it warranted clarification. Actually, I think the "debate" consisted of me raising this point, and a few people shrugging their shoulders.

You could of course offer ELATES or STELAE and eliminate any doubt.
That doesn't help matters if the selection is S T J E A E S L E though, for example (TEASELS a darren 7).

Nick Wainwright · Post by **Nick Wainwright** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:17 am

Jon Corby wrote:
Gavin Chipper wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:Nice game today for my birthday. Saw OLEATES in one round but wasn't sure about it so stuck with TEASEL.
That reminds me, I know it's picky, but shouldn't the contestant be asked to spell a word like TEASEL?
Nah, I initiated this debate with some of the other contestants. There's some oddity with this word, I think both TEAZEL and TEAZLE are valid, but only TEASEL (and not TEASLE) or something like that, so there is definitely potential for misspelling. I thought it warranted clarification. Actually, I think the "debate" consisted of me raising this point, and a few people shrugging their shoulders.

Incidentally, i did have TEASEL down correctly, but anyone who has played me on an off-day on apterous will know how erratic my spelling can be. I too was quite surprised not to be asked to spell it.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:18 pm

Junaid Mubeen wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:
Junaid Mubeen wrote:Off the screen he's a really nice guy and makes the effort to chat to contestants, showing a genuine interest.
I can think of quite a few people who would probably disagree with that.
Yeah fair enough, I'm probably thinking more back to when he was first on, during my heats, before the whole Ross/Brand /Slut affair. He was definitely more cheerful and engaging then.

He bumped into me after the first day's filming was over and nearly fell down. Then he looked at me as though I should apologise: I didn't, I steupsed instead and called him "babylon".

Ian Dent · Post by **Ian Dent** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:22 pm

Is Lioniser absolutely definitely okay?

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:35 pm

[quote="Nick Wainwright]Incidentally, i did have TEASEL down correctly, but anyone who has played me on an off-day on apterous will know how erratic my spelling can be. I too was quite surprised not to be asked to spell it.[/quote]

I remember going for TOUNGED against Nick

(while he put TONGUED

).

Howard Somerset · Post by **Howard Somerset** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:37 pm

Ian Dent wrote:Is Lioniser absolutely definitely okay?

There was a similar question a while ago, and the answer is yes.

LIONIZE is listed, together with it's derivative LIONIZER. LIONISE is listed as an alternative spelling for LIONIZE. Following the reasoning which was given before, LIONISER would therefore be allowed.

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:29 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote: I remember going for TOUNGED against Nick (while he put TONGUED ).

Spoiler!

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:33 pm

Junaid Mubeen wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote: I remember going for TOUNGED against Nick (while he put TONGUED ).
Spoiler!

That was on apterous, actually.