Tuesday 21st January (Series 70, prelim 12)

[Callum Todd]

Countdown recap for Tuesday 21st January 2014.

Nick starts the show by talking about George Orwell and Rachel talks about the Google Glass, of which Nick doesn’t approve.

C1: Jamie Halliwell, on his 3rd game today.
C2: Priscilla Munday, who was rescued three cats. I am told she is a very strong scrabble player, so let’s see if she can offer good challenge to our champion.
DC: Susie Dent and Matt Alwright.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: R M T H P O E I A
R02: S R E U G T O E S
R03: 50, 100, 9, 2, 6, 5. Target: 818
TTT: COATAPAN - “Coat a pan with olive oil and get cooking this”
R04: D P O I T D A O Y
R05: S P T M E A R O M
R06: 25, 3, 4, 3, 1, 8. Target: 683
R07: D Q T E A I N G A
R08: F S U O E H J N I
R09: 50, 5, 3, 8, 7, 3. Target: 773
TTT: MANGIVES - "The man gives up all animal products and turns to this."
R10: S N A U X I L S O
R11: R H W E I O U S L
R12: N K O E D T R A B
R13: I E I L R P E D L
R14: 25, 9, 2, 1, 2, 4. Target: 957
R15: G I A N T D I V E (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: R M T H P O E I A

C1: METAPHOR (8)
C2: moither x
DC: APOTHEM (7)
OT: TERAPHIM (8)
Score: 8-0 (max 8)

Priscilla’s scrabble knowledge hinders her here as her CSW-valid seven isn’t in the Countdown dictionary. It wouldn’t have scored anyway, however, as Jamie does well to spot METAPHOR for eight. The other eight there is TERAPHIM, which means “small images or cult objects used as domestic deities or oracles by ancient Semitic peoples”.

Round 2: S R E U G T O E S

C1: roguest x
C2: GUESTS (6)
DC: GESTURES (8)
OT: GROUSEST (8)
Score: 8-6 (max 16)

Jamie is very unlucky to have his seven disallowed, so Priscilla takes some points. ROGUE is apparently a noun and a verb, but not an adjective.

Round 3: 50, 100, 9, 2, 6, 5. Target: 818

C1: 0
C2: 819. (2+6)x100+50/5+6
RR: 818. 9x100-50-6x5-2
Score: 8-13 (max 26)

Jamie struggles with the numbers here, so Priscilla takes the lead. Rachel shows us how to get the target exactly.

Teatime teaser: COATAPAN -> CAPONATA

Round 4: D P O I T D A O Y

C1: ADOPT (5)
C2: PADDY (5)
DC: ODDITY (6)
Score: 13-18 (max 32)

Both contestants get fives, while DC spots the darrenic six.

Round 5: S P T M E A R O M

C1: STOMPER (7)
C2: TAMPERS (7)
DC: MARMOSET (8)
Score: 20-25 (max 40)

A great spot from DC evades the contestants, but they both get good sevens to keep the game going.

Round 6: 25, 3, 4, 3, 1, 8. Target: 683

C1: 683 x mistake in working
C2: 690 x mistake in working
RR: 683. ((25+3)x8+4)x3-1
Score: 20-25 (max 50)

Both contestants make mistakes in their working, and Rachel shows us a nice method to solve it.

Matt tells us some more about cowboys and cowgirls.

Round 7: D Q T E A I N G A

C1: DATING (6)
C2: DATING (6)
DC: TINGED (6), AGNATE (6)
OT: ADNATE (6), AGENDA (6), DETAIN (6), EATING (6), GAINED (6), TAENIA (6), TAGINE (6), TANGED (6), TEAING (6), TIENDA (6)
Score: 26-31 (max 56)

There are loads of sixes to choose from here in a very flat round.

Round 8: F S U O E H J N I

C1: inhouse x
C2: inhouse x
DC: HEINOUS (7)
Score: 26-31 (max 63)

Both contestants have their word allowed as in-house is hyphenated, although Susie reckons it won’t be for much longer. HEINOUS is the valid anagram, spotted by DC.

Round 9: 50, 5, 3, 8, 7, 3. Target: 773

C1: 795 x
C2: 774. 3x5x15+8*3
RR: 773. (50x3+3)x5+8
Score: 26-38 (max 73)

Priscilla capitalises on Jamie’s blip to extend her lead. Rachel shows us how it’s done for the third time today.

Teatime teaser: MANGIVES -> VEGANISM

Round 10: S N A U X I L S O

C1: AXIONS (6)
C2: SLAIN (5)
DC: OXALIS (6), ANXIOUS (7)
OT: SUASION (7)
Score: 32-38 (max 80)

Jamie gets himself back in the game with a good six. For a moment I was worried he had said AUXINS, which isn’t in the dictionary although, in my opinion, it should be. SUASION was there to match DC’s ANXIOUS.

Round 11: R H W E I O U S L

C1: LOUSIER (7)
C2: LOUSIER (7)
DC: SHOWIER (7), HOWLERS (7)
OT: LOURIES (7)
Score: 39-45 (max 87)

Another flat round keeps the contest alive.

Susie’s Origins of Words today tells us about mail-related words, and the history of the root for the word assassin.

Round 12: N K O E D T R A B

C1: ornated x
C2: borated x
DC: ABORTED (7)
OT: BANDORE (7), BARONET (7), BARTEND (7), BROADEN (7), DARKNET (7), TRANKED (7)
Score: 39-45 (max 94)

Another CSW word is disallowed for Priscilla, but luckily for her Jamie’s word is also disallowed. Dictionary Corner find one of the seven sevens.

Round 13: I E I L R P E D L

C1: REPLIED (7)
C2: REPLIED (7)
OT: PERILLED (8)
Score: 46-52 (max 102)

A good seven from both contestants, but the darrenic eight PERILLED evades all in the studio.

Round 14: 25, 9, 2, 1, 2, 4. Target: 957

C1: 0 x
C2: 0 x
RR: (1+2)x(9+2)x(25+4)
Score: 46-52 (max 112)

A tough numbers round sees both contestants thoroughly stumped and Rachel needing more time to solve.

It’s been a close fought game, and now it all comes down to a crucial conundrum. Jamie was very quick yesterday, can he be quick again today?

Round 15: G I A N T D I V E (conundrum)

C buzzes on 2.0 seconds to say DEVIATING which is correct.
Final Score: 46-62 (max 122)

Priscilla gets in there quickly to take the win. Jamie goes home with a teapot and two proud wins. Join JR tomorrow to see how Priscilla gets on. If she is to get far she will have to be on top form, as apterite Sam Hodkin is expected to sit in the challenger’s chair sometime this week.

Statistics Corner

C1: Jamie Halliwell
Total score - 46
Raw score - 46
Total % of max - 37.7
Raw % of max - 37.7
Total average score per round - 3.07
Raw average score per round - 3.07
Number of maxes - 3

C2: Priscilla Munday
Total score - 62
Raw score - 67
Total % of max - 50.8
Raw % of max - 54.9
Total average score per round - 4.13
Raw average score per round - 4.47
Number of maxes - 3

Further summaries at: http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=70

[Bradley Cates]

Round 7: D Q T E A I N G A

C1: DATING (6)
C2: DATING (6)
DC: TINGED (6), AGNATE (6)
OT: ADNATE (6), AGENDA (6), DETAIN (6), EATING (6), GAINED (6), TAENIA (6), TAGINE (6), TANGED (6), TEAING (6), TIENDA (6)

I wonder if there has ever been a letters round where a max was visibly shown in the selection.

[Zarte Siempre]

TNETENNBA!

(great spot)

[James Robinson]

Round 7: D Q T E A I N G A

C1: DATING (6)
C2: DATING (6)
DC: TINGED (6), AGNATE (6)
OT: ADNATE (6), AGENDA (6), DETAIN (6), EATING (6), GAINED (6), TAENIA (6), TAGINE (6), TANGED (6), TEAING (6), TIENDA (6)

I wonder if there has ever been a letters round where a max was visibly shown in the selection.

Oh yes, famously round 8 here: http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_3345

[Rhys Benjamin]

Round 7: D Q T E A I N G A

C1: DATING (6)
C2: DATING (6)
DC: TINGED (6), AGNATE (6)
OT: ADNATE (6), AGENDA (6), DETAIN (6), EATING (6), GAINED (6), TAENIA (6), TAGINE (6), TANGED (6), TEAING (6), TIENDA (6)

I wonder if there has ever been a letters round where a max was visibly shown in the selection.

Oh yes, famously round 8 here: http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_3345

And almost in round 3 here, although the word isn't valid: http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_2749.

[Callum Todd]

Round 7: D Q T E A I N G A

C1: DATING (6)
C2: DATING (6)
DC: TINGED (6), AGNATE (6)
OT: ADNATE (6), AGENDA (6), DETAIN (6), EATING (6), GAINED (6), TAENIA (6), TAGINE (6), TANGED (6), TEAING (6), TIENDA (6)

I wonder if there has ever been a letters round where a max was visibly shown in the selection.

I hadn't noticed that, Bradley, well spotted.

Rhys, what word are you referring to?

[James Robinson]

I hadn't noticed that, Bradley, well spotted.

Rhys, what word are you referring to?

I'm assuming he's referring to AIRPORT.

[James Robinson]

I hadn't noticed that, Bradley, well spotted.

Rhys, what word are you referring to?

I'm assuming he's referring to AIRPORT.