This week it's my turn to be ridiculously late. Apologies for that. Hard to justify it without making excuses so let's just get on with it. 
Today could see quite a rare event in Countdown these days. An Octochamp who isn't an apterous regular. Yes Stephen Briggs has surprised many people over the last few days and has shown what a difference a few years can make by being one of a number of players who have made their second coming count. Let's see if he makes it over the line today. Nigel Bridge stands in his way today. Enjoy.Countdown recap for Friday 7 August 2015.
C1: Champion Stephen Briggs (7 wins, 758 points.) A 6th form systems college manager from Solihull, Birmingham.
C2: Challenger Nigel Bridge. An Insurance Claims Advisor from Blackburn. Hobbies include Crown Green Bowling and collecting cartoon things.
DC: Susie Dent and Gethin Jones.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: N G S A U E G S A
R02: N E X D O E N A V
R03: 4, 8, 5, 5, 4, 50. Target: 698.
TTT: CHATCUPS - "They meet for a chat over several cups of coffee, and talk about tomato sauces. "
R04: D O F E V A I C R
R05: K G H O E A B N T
R06: 9, 10, 8, 10, 6, 100. Target: 338.
R07: R T M E A E S D A
R08: P I W E T L A R W
R09: 6, 4, 1, 10, 7, 75, . Target: 851.
TTT: ROSIECAB - "Rosie drives a cab by day and to stay fit she teaches this by night."
R10: S U T I C J O M E
R11: P R D I E E T Y L
R12: R U D L O P O H I
R13: S B T O E A R N I
R14: 2, 7, 5, 5, 3, 75. Target: 225.
R15: G R A M P I C A T (conundrum)
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Round 1: N G S A U E G S A
Stephen: SAUSAGE (7)
Nigel: SAUSAGE (7)
DC: ASSUAGE (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
A meaty start as both players get SAUSAGE for 7.
Round 2: N E X D O E N A V
Stephen: ANODE (5)
Nigel: DOVE (4)
DC: NOVENA (6) ANNEXED (7)
Score: 12–7 (max 14)
Stephen goes 5 ahead with ANODE as Nigel gets DOVE for 4.
Round 3: 4, 8, 5, 5, 4, 50. Target: 698.
Stephen: 698. (50 + 4) x (8 + 5) - 4 (10)
Nigel: -
Score: 22–7 (max 24)
Nigel misses the numbers to allow Stephen to extend his lead by 10.
Teatime teaser: CHATCUPS -> CATCHUPS
Round 4: D O F E V A I C R
Stephen: VOICED (6)
Nigel: FORCED (6)
DC: DIVORCE (7) FEDORA (6)
OT: AVOIDER (7)
Score: 28–13 (max 31)
Stephen VOICED a 6 and Nigel FORCED a draw in this round.
Round 5: K G H O E A B N T
Stephen: BATON (5)
Nigel: THANK (5)
DC: THONG (5)
OT: AGENT (5) ATONE (5) BATHE (5) BEANO (5) BEGAN (5) BEGAT (5) BEGOT (5) BENGA (5) BENTO (5) BHANG (5) BOGAN (5) BOHEA (5) BOKEH (5) GENOA (5) GOETH (5) HOGAN (5) KOHEN (5) NEATH (5) OAKEN (5) OATEN (5) OBEAH (5) TAKEN (5) TANGO (5) THANE (5) THANG (5) THEGN (5) TOKEN (5) TONGA (5)
Score: 33–18 (max 36)
Stephen got the BATON for 5, and Nigel was left to THANK this selection.
Round 6: 9, 10, 8, 10, 6, 100. Target: 338.
Stephen: 338. (100 + 10) x (9 - 6) + 8 (10)
Nigel: -
Score: 43–18 (max 46)
It's 10 for Stephen but again Nigel didn't score.
Gethin Jones talks about when he met up with Susie and Rachel and Rachel dropped her bike lock into the men's toilets.
Round 7: R T M E A E S D A
Stephen: STREAMED (8)
Nigel: STREAMED (8)
DC: MASTERED (8)
Score: 51–26 (max 54)
Both players STREAMED an 8 from this selection.
Round 8: P I W E T L A R W
Stephen: RETAIL (6)
Nigel: TRIPLE (6)
DC: WAITER (6) WIRETAP (7)
Score: 57–32 (max 61)
It's 6 each here with RETAIL and TRIPLE.
Round 9: 6, 4, 1, 10, 7, 75. Target: 851.
Stephen: 851. (75 + 10) x (6 + 4) + 1 (10)
Nigel: 850.
Score: 67–32 (max 71)
Again Stephen gets another 10 as Nigel gets 1 away.
Teatime teaser: ROSIECAB -> AEROBICS
Round 10: S U T I C J O M E
Stephen: COSTUME (7)
Nigel: JUSTICE (7)
DC: COMETS (6)
OT: OUTJIES (7) TIMEOUS (7)
Score: 74–39 (max 78)
This round does the COSTUME JUSTICE as both players get 7.
Round 11: P R D I E E T Y L
Stephen: REPLIED (7)
Nigel: TRIPLED (7)
DC: REPTILE (7) TIREDLY (7)
OT: PERLITE (7) RETILED (7) RETYPED (7) TEPIDLY (7) YIELDER (7)
Score: 81–46 (max 85)
It's 7 each again with REPLIED and TRIPLED.
Susie talks about the origins of phrases containing names such as 'Jack the lad' and 'Bob's your Uncle'.
Round 12: R U D L O P O H I
Stephen: UPHOLD (6)
Nigel: PROUD (5)
OT: DOLOUR (6) LUPOID (6) UROPOD (6)
Score: 87–46 (max 91)
Nigel is PROUD of his 5 but Stephen gets 6 to UPHOLD his lead.
Round 13: S B T O E A R N I
Stephen: BARITONES (18)
Nigel: BRAINS (6)
DC: BANTERS (7) OBTAINERS (18)
Score: 105–46 (max 109)
Nigel has BRAINS for 6, but Stephen finishes his prelim letters with BARITONES for 9.
Round 14: 2, 7, 5, 5, 3, 75. Target: 225.
Stephen: 225. 75 x 3 (10)
Nigel: 225. 75 x 3 (10)
Score: 115–56 (max 119)
A simple numbers game allows both players to get 10 points.
Round 15: G R A M P I C A T
Stephen buzzes on 7 seconds to say PRAGMATIC which is correct.
Final Score: 125–56 (max 129)
So we have our first Octochamp of series 73 in the form of Stephen Briggs. With 883 points he is going to take quite some shifting from the number one seed. He will be back in the Quarter Finals and I'm sure we will all look forward to seeing him again. For Nigel, this game was a 'bridge' too far for him unfortunately, but at least he knows he has lost to a very good player who could go a long way in the later stages of this series. We will have 2 new players on Monday. Join Andy McGurn for that. I'll be back next Friday. I hope you will join me then. In the meantime, thank you very much for reading, and goodbye.
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=73
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