C1: Champion Philippa Griffin (2 wins, 165 points.)
C2: Challenger Ross Watt.
DC: Susie Dent and Martin Jarvis.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: R J N E A I L T H
R02: S M D E E O N Q L
R03: U T G N I E S T D
R04: U E A R F M S D F
R05: 100, 9, 8, 1, 2, 7. Target: 795.
TTT: PONDMITE - "Where you might slope off to in Italy."
R06: C D W R I A E E T
R07: P M T B I O A O E
R08: S N D S I A E Z Y
R09: C R I N A O L R I
R10: 50, 8, 5, 10, 2, 5. Target: 832.
TTT: NORADRIP - "One usually signals the start of many."
R11: P N E K O R S G E
R12: T X H L S A E U E
R13: V O T R O A P N E
R14: 4, 8, 5, 2, 10, 1. Target: 501.
R15: P I G P R A N C E (conundrum)
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"Philippa, three times now in that chair!" says Des as he introduces our lovely champion. Now I suspect it's only two (as this is only her second game as champion) but I guess we have to acknowledge the possibility that she insisted that the chair be moved after her first victory. After all, would you say no to her? I wouldn't. It's also entirely possible that Des is just trying to confuse us, as today appears to be "Confusion Day" on Countdown. Confused? Good.
Anyway, attempting to halt Miss Griffin's progress today (and break the hearts of... I dunno, about 3 forummers I guess) is Ross Watt, a policeman from West Somethingshire (it sounded a bit like Derbyshire, but I think it might not be...
) He's married to Catherine and has two children Graham and Colin. He likes golf and socialising and has been a member of the Boys' Brigade for 34 years.Round 1: R J N E A I L T H
C1: LATHER (6)
C2: HAILER (6)
DC: LATRINE (7) HAIRNET (7)
Score: 6–6 (max 7)
There are quite a few other sevens here, but they're not very interesting.
Confusion Day continues as Carol asks the audience if ladies still wear hairnets. "No" comes the chorused response, as Des informs us they are nodding
Round 2: S M D E E O N Q L
C1: MODELS (6)
C2: DEMONS (6)
DC: MELONS (6) LEMONS (6)
OT: DOLMENS (7)
Score: 12–12 (max 14)
A dolmen is a megalithic tomb with a large flat stone laid on upright ones, found chiefly in Britain and France.
Round 3: U T G N I E S T D
C1: SETTING (7)
C2: TESTING (7)
DC: DUETTING (8)
Score: 19–19 (max 22)
Round 4: U E A R F M S D F
C1: FARMED (6)
C2: DUFFERS (7)
DC: EARMUFFS (8)
Score: 19–26 (max 30)
Round 5: 100, 9, 8, 1, 2, 7. Target: 795.
C1: 795.8*100-7+2 (10)
C2: 795.8*100-7+2 (10)
Score: 29–36 (max 40)
Teatime teaser: PONDMITE -> PIEDMONT
Confusion time again! Piedmont (not capitalised) is specified in the dictionary as "a gentle slope leading from the foot of mountains to a region of flat land", which prompts Carol to tell us about her recent skiing trip over Christmas - she could turn right but not left on skis, and left but not right on ice skates. "In future I'm going to wear one skate and one ski, and then I can go round in circles" she stated. But surely a pair of skis or a pair of skates would be ideal for going round in circles in either direction? The introduction of a ski/skate combination would actually only jeopardise the whole circle making venture...
Round 6: C D W R I A E E T
C1: CREATED (7)
C2: WATERED (7)
DC: REACTED (7)
Score: 36–43 (max 47)
A few other not-interesting-enough-to-be-listed sevens here as well.
Round 7: P M T B I O A O E
C1: BOATIE (6)
C2: BOOTIE (6)
DC: OPIATE (6)
OT: BIOTOPE (7) IPOMOEA (7)
Score: 42–49 (max 54)
A biotope is a region of a habitat associated with a particular ecological community. An ipomoea is a plant, especially a morning glory (snigger). I'd like to say that I first learnt this word when it was brilliantly offered by Mark Tournoff during the last Championship of Champions, but that would be a bit of a lie because I still haven't learnt it; I've tried to use it subsequently myself in games about 3 times and got the spelling wrong every time. Even now I was looking for the definition in the dictionary under imo-, for Christ's sake.
Round 8: S N D S I A E Z Y
C1: SANDS (5)
C2: DAISY (5)
OT: YANDIES (7)
Score: 47–54 (max 61)
To yandy is an Aussie verb, meaning to separate (grass seed or a mineral) from the surrounding refuse by shaking it in a special shallow dish. Yandy is also the name of this special dish. I'm not sure what's special about it though.
Round 9: C R I N A O L R I
C1: CARRION (7)
C2: CARRION (7)
DC: OILCAN (6)
OT: IRONICAL (8)
Score: 54–61 (max 69)
Another of those occasions where Philippa offered her word first and had it confirmed as valid before Ross was asked for his. Obviously I'm not throwing any accusations around here, but it does seem so unnecessary. Ironical means the same as ironic, I guess. "Like rain on your wedding day" is the example given in the dictionary
Round 10: 50, 8, 5, 10, 2, 5. Target: 832.
C1: -
C2: 830.Mistake in working.
CV: 832. 2*8*(50+10/5) (10)
Score: 54–61 (max 79)
Teatime teaser: NORADRIP -> RAINDROP
Round 11: P N E K O R S G E
C1: GROPES (6)
C2: SPONGER (7)
DC: OPENERS (7)
OT: KEROGEN (7) REOPENS (7)
Score: 54–68 (max 86)
Kerogen is a complex fossilized organic material found in oil shale and other sedementary rock.
Round 12: T X H L S A E U E
C1: EXALTS (6)
C2: THESE (5)
DC: SLEUTH (6) LATHES (6) EXHALES (7) EXHAUST (7)
OT: LATEXES (7) LUXATES (7) ELUATES (7) EXALTES (7)
Score: 60–68 (max 93)
Luxate is a posh medical term for 'dislocate', and an eluate is a solution obtained by elution (washing with a solvent). An exalté is a literary term for an elated or impassioned person.
Round 13: V O T R O A P N E
C1: PRONATE (7)
C2: PROVEN (6)
OT: OPERANT (7) OVERTOP (7) PATROON (7) PROTEAN (7)
Score: 67–68 (max 100)
Yay! A great fightback from Philippa, two rounds ago Ross had the ominous "greater than ten point lead", but the old Countdown favourite pulls her back to within one point. To overtop is to exceed in height, and protean means tending or able to change frequently or easily. A patroon is a person given land and granted certain manorial privileges under the former Dutch governments of New York and New Jersey.
Round 14: 4, 8, 5, 2, 10, 1. Target: 501.
C1: -
C2: 501.(8+2)*10*5+1 (10)
Score: 67–78 (max 110)
Round 15: P I G P R A N C E
C2 buzzes on 11 seconds to say CAPERING which is incorrect.
C1 does not buzz.
The answer, as given after the clock by Ross, was RECAPPING.
Score: 67–78 (max 120)
A sad day indeed as the lovely Philippa departs. The pressure of trailing to her opponent really seemed to get to her as she blobbed on two fairly easy numbers rounds which would have given her victory had she scored in them. Oh well, at least we got to hear her say 'lather' and 'gropes' today. Well done to Ross. I suppose. He wasn't quite as "Sure and Steadfast" as the Boys' Brigade would like, as a slight wobble at the end almost cost him, but on he marches.
Further summaries are at:
http://www.thecountdowncorral.com/cd/se ... ?series=58
