Tuesday, 6th May (Series 58: Game 86)

[David O'Donnell]

Countdown recap for Tuesday 6th May 2008.

C1: Challenger Peter Davies.
C2: Challenger Stephen Rooney.
DC: Susie Dent and Jenny Bond.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: T N R O A U L Z E
R02: R D T A I A F U M
R03: S S V I E A T N R
R04: G R Q E O U C G E
R05: 8, 8, 5, 2, 25, 100. Target: 149.
TTT: SURESIZE - "Physical attacks belonging to the emperor."
R06: R S F U A I Y T O
R07: X R T P I A E L M
R08: S D D O I A R C O
R09: B W D E I O R T B
R10: 4, 10, 10, 8, 2, 50. Target: 148.
TTT: HYPERCOP - "I predict you'll all get this answer."
R11: S R H A E I T L N
R12: P G S L E A O M A
R13: D K S E O A P N P
R14: 9, 3, 6, 1, 7, 100. Target: 408.
R15: E L I T E C U L L (conundrum)


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Peter is assured of a place in the hearts of Countdownians everywhere after some nice finds, particularly nice was FOREPAW (as Jim mentioned). He's motoring along rather nicely, skillfully negotiating the obstacles placed in his way. Will he continue his winning form? Well, given that this recap is four days late I guess we already know the answer to this question. I have to apologise for the delay which was caused by me not being remotely interested in doing it this week, I also missed my third meeting in a row of Apathetics Anonymous.


Round 1: T N R O A U L Z E
C1: ZEALOT (6)
C2: ZEALOT (6)
DC: NEUTRAL (7)
OT: TORULAE (7) No outlearn^.
Score: 6–6 (max 7)

TORULAE is any of a group of fungi similar to the yeasts but lacking asci, many of which ferment sugars and are commonly found in dairy products. Also called torula yeast.

Round 2: R D T A I A F U M
C1: AFRAID (6)
C2: DRAFT (5)
DC: ATRIUM (6) TRAUMA (6)
OT: Only sixes of which one is RADIUM (6) which I had occasion to miss in the heats.
Score: 12–6 (max 13)

Round 3: S S V I E A T N R
C1: STRIVEN (7)
C2: STRAINS (7)
DC: SERVANTS (8)
OT: ARTINESS (8) RETSINAS (8) (Joseph) STAINERS (8) VERSANTS (8)
Score: 19–13 (max 21)

A VERSANT is 1. The slope of a side of a mountain or mountain range; 2. The general slope of a region.


Round 4: G R Q E O U C G E
C1: GORGE (5)
C2: QUEER (5)
DC: GORGE (5) QUEER (5)
OT: No gougere^ (Karen Pearson) but GOUGER (6) is fine
Score: 24–18 (max 27)

Round 5: 8, 8, 5, 2, 25, 100. Target: 149.
C1: 149.Same. (10)
C2: 149.2*25+100-8/8 (10)
Score: 34–28 (max 37)

Teatime teaser: SURESIZE -> SEIZURES

Round 6: R S F U A I Y T O
C1: FRUITY (6)
C2: FROSTY (6)
DC: RATIFY (6)
OT: SAUTOIR (7) (Kirk Bevins)
Score: 40–34 (max 44)

Round 7: X R T P I A E L M
C1: templar (capitalised- serves him right for reading Dan Brown books in the first place!)
C2: TRAMPLE (7)
DC: TRIPLE (6) TRIPLEX (7)
OT: A few other sevens.
Score: 40–41 (max 51)

Round 8: S D D O I A R C O
C1: RADIOS (6)
C2: CARDS (5)
DC: DISCORD (7) DISCARD (7)
OT: SARCOID (7) (Kirk Bevins) completes the sevens.
Score: 46–41 (max 58)

Round 9: B W D E I O R T B
C1: RIBBED (6) (For her pleasure?).
C2: TRIBE (5)
DC: ORBITED (7)
OT: It's the Darren.
Score: 52–41 (max 65)

Round 10: 4, 10, 10, 8, 2, 50. Target: 148.
C1: 148.50*2+4*10+8 (10)
C2: 148.10*10+50-2 (10)
Score: 62–51 (max 75)

Teatime teaser: HYPERCOP -> PROPHECY

Round 11: S R H A E I T L N
C1: ENTRAILS (8)
C2: HEARTS (6)
DC: LATRINES (8)
OT: Quite a few 8s including HAIRNETS (8) which I unfortunately seem to need less and less.
Score: 70–51 (max 83)

Round 12: P G S L E A O M A
C1: GLEAMS (6)
C2: GLEAMS (6)
DC: GOSPEL (6) SAMPLE (6) MAPLES (6)
OT: Quite a few sixes but nothing better.
Score: 76–57 (max 89)

Round 13: D K S E O A P N P
C1: SPANKED (7) (Given this word and Peter's FRUITY, RIBBED condoms I guess we can infer he was feeling a little amorous).
C2: SOAPED (6)
DC: DAPSONE (7)
OT: A few sevens but I hadn't heard of KNAPPED! (7)
Score: 83–57 (max 96)

Round 14: 9, 3, 6, 1, 7, 100. Target: 408.
C1: 408.(7-3)*100+9-1 (10)
C2: 408.Same. (10)
Score: 93–67 (max 106)

Round 15: E L I T E C U L L
No one buzzes. The answer was CELLULITE.
Score: 93–67 (max 116)


Stephen seemed to be making a good fist of it (as Des put it) but once he got into the lead it ruined him: suddenly the spectre of a potential victory loomed on the horizon and Mr. Rooney began preparing his 'thank-you speech' to all the people who made this possible only to find that Mr. 'ever alert' Davies had snatched the flamed torch from his delicate grasp.

A horrendously flat selection of letters today would see some of us armchair heros hit the relatively elusive heights of a perfect game: my guess is that for most of you it depended on whether or not you had the stones to risk, GOUGER.


Further summaries are at:
http://www.thecountdowncorral.com/cd/se ... ?series=58