[20080418] Friday, 18th April 2008, S58 G74

[DaveC]

Countdown recap for Friday 18th April 2008

C1: Champion Len Marshall, 1 win, 84 points
C2: Challenger Ben Hanks
DC: Susie Dent and Jo Brand.. who is 50 in a couple of weeks time.
CV: Carol Vorderman
OT: Other words or solutions.
DC: Appearing in numbers rounds is my solution.
JB: Jo Brand, to be taken with a pinch/spadeful of salt obviously.

R01: R C E U X R A S N
R02: J U R P E O T S K
R03: L T A O S N E S N
R04: L Q S O E I C T Z
R05: 75 3 6 7 2 4. Target: 785
TTT: RUDERAMS - "They'll help you over here, while over there"
R06: D A E R M B A M D
R07: G D E I L V E T D
R08: T T R A U N A E Y
R09: N P A E H L I R G
R10: 100 5 2 4 9 4. Target: 572
TTT: HALTSNAP - "A walking stick for Arthur or Robert"
R11: D H E O F B I D W
R12: R S T U A E N S S
R13: T R O E R S A P F
R14: 100 25 5 2 2 6. Target: 520
R15: THICKPROF (conundrum)

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R01: R C E U X R A S N
C1: SAUCER (6)
C2: SAUCER (6)
DC: CRANES (6)
OT: CANERS (6), CARERS (6), CAUSER (6), CRUXES (6), CURARE (6), CURERS (6), CURSER (6), RACERS (6), RECURS (6), RERUNS (6), SCARER (6), SNARER (6), UNCASE (6), USANCE (6)
JB: excar (X)
Score: 6-6 (max 6)

R02: J U R P E O T S K
C1: SPOUTER (7)
C2: SPOUTER (7)
DC: POUTERS, UPSTROKE (8)
OT: JOUSTER, PETROUS, POSTURE, PROTEUS*, TROUPES (MC)
JB: justpoke (X)
Score: 13-13 (max 14)

*proteus = a bacterium found in the intestines of animals and the soil, not to be confused with Proteus the Greek sea god. Proteus Syndrome is the condition Joseph Merrick, aka "The Elephant Man" suffered from.

R03: L T A O S N E S N
C1: STONES (6)
C2: STONES (6)
DC: ETALONS (7)
OT: NELSONS (7), SANTONS (7), SONNETS (J.Bolas, 7), TELSONS (7), TENSONS (7)
JB: tanless (X)
Score: 19-19 (max 21)

R04: L Q S O E I C T Z
C1: STOIC
C2: CLOSET (6)
OT: ZLOTIES (J.Bolas, 7), CITOLES (7), COLIES, COTISE, LOCIES, TELCOS, TOILES
JB: zitclose (X), coziest (X)* see bottom of review.
Score: 19-25 (max 28)

R05: 75 3 6 7 2 4. Target: 785
C1: 786. (75+4)*(7+3)-6+2 (7)
C2: 786. 75*(7+3)+((2+4)*6) (7)
CV: 785. 75*(6+4)+((3+2)*7) (10)
DC: 785. (75+3)*(6+4)+7-2 (10) + Matt Coates
Score: 26-32 (max 38)

RUDERAMS -> EARDRUMS .. "overhear"

R06: D A E R M B A M D
C1: MADDER (6)
C2: MADDER (6)
DC: DAMMED
OT: ABRADED (7), ABRADE, BADDER, BARDED, DAMMAR, RAMMED
JB: baddream (X)
Score: 32-38 (max 45)

R07: G D E I L V E T D
C1: DELVED (6)
C2: VEILED (6)
DC: GLIDED (6)
OT: DIETED (6), EDITED (6), ELIDED (6), GELDED (6), GILDED (6), LEDGED (6), LEVIED (6)
JB: evilted (X)
Score: 38-44 (max 51)

R08: T T R A U N A E Y
C1: TAUNTER (7)
C2: NATTER
OT: ATTUNE, NATTER, NATURE, NUTTER, RATTAN, TANTRA, TARTAN, TAUTEN, TAUTER, TETANY, TREATY, TRUANT, TYRANT, YANTRA, YATTER
JB: runtytea (X)
Score: 45-44 (max 58)

R09: N P A E H L I R G
C1: HEALING (7)
C2: HEARING (7)
DC: PEARLING (8)
OT: NARGHILE (8), RALPHING (8), many 7's
JB: hagpile (X)
Score: 52-51 (max 66)

R10: 100 5 2 4 9 4. Target: 572
C1: 572. (5*100)+((4+4*9)) (10)
C2: 572. (5*100)+((4+4*9)) (10)
DC: 572. (100-2+(9*5))*4 (10)
Score: 62-61 (max 76)

HALTSNAP -> ASHPLANT ... "Arthur Ashe and Robert Plant"

R11: D H E O F B I D W
C1: BOWED (5)
C2: DIODE (5)
DC: BODIED (6)
OT: BIDED, BODED, BOWED, BOWIE, DHOBI, HIDED
Score: 67-66 (max 82)

R12: R S T U A E N S S
C1: SAUNTERS (8)
C2: SAUNTERS (8)
DC: SUNSETS (7)
OT: SUNSTARS (8), ASSENTS, ASSERTS, ASSURES, NATURES, RUSSETS, SARSENS, TRUSSES, UNSEATS
Score: 75-74 (max 90)

R13: T R O E R S A P F
C1: ROASTER (7)
C2: ROASTER (7)
DC: PARROTS, FOREPARTS (9),
OT: FOREPART, PRAETORS/PRORATES** see bottom of review.
OT: ESPARTO, FRATERS, PARTERS, PORTERS, PRAETOR, PRATERS, PRORATE, PROTEAS, RAFTERS, RAPTORS, REPORTS, SEAPORT, SPORTER
Score: 82-81 (max 108)

R14: 100 25 5 2 2 6. Target: 520
C1: 520. (100+2+2)*5 (10)
C2: 520. (25-6+(2/2))+(5*100) (10)
DC: 520. (100-(2/2))*5+25 (10)
DC: 520. 100/5*(25+2/2) (10)
Score: 92-91 (max 118)

R15: T H I C K P R O F

C2 buzzes in after 16 seconds and declares PITCHFORK, the correct answer.

Final Score: 92-101 (max 128)

* COZIEST was specifically disallowed today when offered by Jo Brand on the grounds of being a U.S. variant spelling of COSIEST. In the dictionary under COSY it gives COZY as a U.S. variant then goes on to give (COSIER, COSIEST, COZIER, COZIEST) in brackets. From giving COZY as a U.S. variant it's quite clear that COZIER and COZIEST are also. Can anyone recall them being allowed in the past?

This game was somewhat notable for the letter selections, having just 3 vowels on all occasions apart from Round 8. Well spotted Ray. Give it up for RHYTHM as the new LEOTARD!!! (RHYTHMS is impossible in a standard letters round obviously.. as is PITCHFORK)

** PRAETORS/PRORATES was reachable with the first 8 letters in R13. As has been previously discussed (full credit to Ben) a vowel from here guarantees a 9. Since these words use common letters they are worthy of attention so here's the complete niner list for PRORATES/PRAETORS + ?

+A = SEPARATOR
+D = PREDATORS
+E = PERORATES
+F = FOREPARTS
+I = PRIORATES
+O = OPERATORS
+T = PROSTRATE
+U = PTEROSAUR
+W = SPEARWORT

Further summaries are at:
http://www.sooreams.com/cd/series.asp?series=58

[Jason Larsen]

Ben, first off, I'm sorry for confusing you lately.

Also, congratulations on winning.

If you make it to the finals, what color hair will you have?