Tuesday 26th February 2008 (Series 58, Game 40)

[David O'Donnell]

Countdown recap for Tuesday 26th February 2008.

C1: Champion Nick Chamberlain (1 win, 77 points.)
C2: Challenger Jean Simpson.
DC: Susie Dent and John Inverdale.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: T L O D W E T E I
R02: V A D R S E O R A
R03: G J E F N E E R O
R04: T I L N X E I A T
R05: 10, 8, 1, 9, 8, 50. Target: 212.
TTT: ARGUEDAT - "Dustin was qualified to play this role"
R06: S E Z C S E I D S
R07: B S O D T A I L A
R08: N O I S C M I A R
R09: M S I L O N O T O
R10: 3, 3, 7, 6, 5, 75. Target: 500.
TTT: SALTDEEP - "Exalted washbasin perhaps"
R11: Q S I U P H E N T
R12: Y O M A R E K B R
R13: T C O N A H E F M
R14: 8, 6, 6, 5, 3, 50. Target: 123.
R15: H I S F L L E S H (conundrum)


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Nick seemed to win his first game without excelling but as we all know it's consistency that pays off over the 15 rounds rather than moments of inspiration. That being typed he probably will need to move up a gear if he is to maintain his winning form.

Round 1: T L O D W E T E I
C1: wittled (It's WHITTLED)
C2: TOILED (6)
DC: TOILETED (8)
Score: 0–6 (max 8)

Round 2: V A D R S E O R A
C1: SOARED (6) (May not be contestant's actual six)
C2: DROVERS (7)
DC: DROSERA (7) as spotted by young Mr. Travers, in the plural, in his game against Chris Wills
OT: VARROAS (7) ADORERS (7)
Score: 0–13 (max 15)

A VARROA is a mite.

Round 3: G J E F N E E R O
C1: GREEN (5)
C2: GREEN (5)
DC: FORGE (5) RENEGE (6)
Score: 5–18 (max 21)

Round 4: T I L N X E I A T
C1: TALENT (6)
C2: ENTAIL (6)
DC: LATENT (6) TALENT (6)
OT: EXTANT (6) LINTIE (6)
Score: 11–24 (max 27)

A LINTIE is Scots patois for a linnet, a songbird.

Round 5: 10, 8, 1, 9, 8, 50. Target: 212.
C1: -
C2: 210.Mistake in working.
CV: 212. (10+8)*9+50 (late) (10)
Score: 11–24 (max 37)

Teatime teaser: ARGUEDAT -> GRADUATE

Round 6: S E Z C S E I D S
C1: SIEZED (6)
C2: SIZES (5)
DC: SIEZES (6) CESSES (6)
OT: DISSES (6)
Score: 17–24 (max 43)

Round 7: B S O D T A I L A
C1: TAILS (5)
C2: TABLOIDS (8)
DC: SAILBOAT (8)
OT: LOADSA (6) BIODATA (7) SOLATIA (7) but the two eights have been found
Score: 17–32 (max 51)

Round 8: N O I S C M I A R
C1: CRIMSON (7)
C2: CRIMSON (7)
OT: ANOSMIC (7) MACRONS (7) MANOIRS (7) MORAINIC (8) SIMONIAC (8)
Score: 24–39 (max 59)

MACRONS are horizontal lines written/printed over a letter to indicate pronunciation stress; MORAINIC means pertaining to a MORAINE; a SIMONIAC is one who practises simony which relates to the buying and selling of papal pardons/eccelesiastical privileges.

Round 9: M S I L O N O T O
C1: LOTIONS (7)
C2: MOONS (5)
DC: LOTIONS (7) MOTIONS (7) MOONLIT (7)
OT: SOLITON (7)
Score: 31–39 (max 66)

Round 10: 3, 3, 7, 6, 5, 75. Target: 500.
C1: 529.
C2: -
CV: 500. 6*75+[(7+3)]*5 (10)
Score: 31–39 (max 76)

Teatime teaser: SALTDEEP -> PEDESTAL

Round 11: Q S I U P H E N T
C1: PUNIEST (7)
C2: PUNIEST (7)
DC: PIQUET (6)
OT: INQUEST (7) QUINTES (7) PUNTIES (7)
Score: 38–46 (max 83)

Round 12: Y O M A R E K B R
C1: MARKER (6)
C2: BARKER (6)
DC: BROKER (6) REMARK (6) EMBRYO (6)
Score: 44–52 (max 89)

Round 13: T C O N A H E F M
C1: MATCH (5)
C2: FATHOM (6)
OT: MANCHET (7)
Score: 44–58 (max 96)

MANCHET is a small circular loaf of fine wheaten bread.

Round 14: 8, 6, 6, 5, 3, 50. Target: 123.
C1: 125.3*50-8-6-6-5 (7)
C2: 123.Mistake in working.
CV: 123. (50-8-6/6)*3 (10)
Score: 51–58 (max 106)

Round 15: H I S F L L E S H
C1 buzzes on 2 seconds to say SHELLFISH which is correct.
Score: 61–58 (max 116)

Jean definitely was quality on the letters with TABLOIDS being a particularly fine spot but it's highly improbable that you can expect to win when you have dropped 30 points on the numbers. Nick had a bad day on the numbers too so was lucky that his opponent was so accommodating. Of course they were tricky today but you'd still expect the contestants do get near to all three rather than not scoring at all on the first two. Nick can think himself fortunate today but will his luck run out tomorrow?

[Jon Corby]

Of course they were tricky today but you'd still expect the contestants do get near to all three rather than not scoring at all on the first two. Nick can think himself fortunate today but will his luck run out tomorrow?

I think you're being a touch harsh there. Yes, Nick did fail to score in the first two numbers games, but he did declare within 30 on the 2nd. Let's give him some credit.

[Kevin Thurlow]

Round 5: 10, 8, 1, 9, 8, 50. Target: 212.
C1: -
C2: 210.Mistake in working.
CV: 212. (10+8)*9+50 (late) (10)
Score: 11–24 (max 37)

Or indeed (9+8) * 10 = 170 then + 50 -8 seems a bit easier....

Kevin