Spoilers For Monday April 1st 2013

[James Robinson]

So, it's March 32nd today (nothing special about that ), and with it being the start of the new week today, it means Countdown is back on our screens.

Unfortunately, due to more horsey business, this time in the Merseyside area, the show is restricted to just 3 showings this week.

Although, we are possibly in for a treat as Giles Hutchings will be making his début on Wednesday, but more on that when it comes.

So, for now, Peter Fenton is now the permanent resident in the champions' chair following the end of Andy Platt's octorun on Thursday. But can he win enough shows to reach the fast approaching finals

Making her DC debut this week is the Countryfile presenter, Julia Bradbury.

Graeme will be around with the recap later.

[James Robinson]

STREAMING/EMIGRANTS in round 4 too.

[Zarte Siempre]

Apparently they didn't want to mention streaming...

[Giles]

PEEPUL was a nice 6 in R2.

[James Robinson]

2nd Numbers Alt.: ((100 + 7) x 4) + 25 + 8 = 461

[James Robinson]

3rd Numbers Alt.: (75 x 5) - 50 - ((100 / 25) / 4) = 324

[James Robinson]

COATEES in round 11 as a nice alternative.

[Jordan F]

Well done Peter, unlucky that you couldn't quite break the 100 mark (I was stuck on REDMAGGOT for that conundrum, for some reason), but a win is still a win.

[Tony Atkins]

Apparently they didn't want to mention streaming...

Nor the EMIGRANTS in the same round...

... though it was nice our pirates got a mention on the second teaser. Arrrr!

[Mark Ivey]

Great game, and well done Peter.

For anyone who's interested, here's how I fared in today's competition (I've been matching myself against both contestants in preparation for my filming two weeks today):

R1 - Novate
R2 - Gulp
R3 - 636: 100-75 = 25 x 25 = 625 + 7 + 4
R4 - Steaming (finding out I could have added the R made me curse myself)
R5 - Diatoms
R6 - My brain completely failed me here. I couldn't even get near it.
R7 - Ornate
R8 - Terrain
R9 - 325 - 100 x 4 = 400 - 75 (NOTE: I actually managed to get the target an alternate way to Rachel, albeit too late. 75 + 5 = 80 x 4 = 320. 100/25 - 4 + 320 = 324).
R10 - Toadies
R11 - Coasted
R12 - Beamed
R13 - Orange
R14 - 245 - On target (same method as Peter)
R15 - Conundrum had me stumped too.

If I've worked it out right, I would have beaten the challenger (whose name I'm ashamed to say can't remember) but would have lost to Peter... but I would have held him to a Crucial Conundrum so that's something.

[John Garcia]

Did anyone else notice that in the letter round immediately after Susie's segment that Rachel looked like she was trying to stop herself laughing?? I noticed a few "tells". She kept clasping her thumb with her other hand between letters (not something she normally does). She also stroked the side of her dress. Am I just imagining things???

[Andy Platt]

Haven't been able to watch it back but I've read through the recap. Nice one again, unlucky on the 100.
Some real bastard letters rounds there, so good job on keeping a cool head in the one good round there was to nail the 9.

[Peter Fenton]

Thanks for the positive comments guys. A bit disappointed with some of the latter rounds but as Andy said, some of the letters weren't particularly fruitful selections anyway.

With regards to the other 9s available...

Apparently they didn't want to mention streaming...

Nor the EMIGRANTS in the same round...

Rachel actually got EMIGRANTS but there was some confusion in the studio at that point and it kind of got lost unfortunately.

Did anyone else notice that in the letter round immediately after Susie's segment that Rachel looked like she was trying to stop herself laughing?? I noticed a few "tells". She kept clasping her thumb with her other hand between letters (not something she normally does). She also stroked the side of her dress. Am I just imagining things???

I only noticed this watching on TV and can't remember what/if anything happened in the studio, so can't shed any more light on it I'm afraid.

[Ian Fitzpatrick]

Thanks for the positive comments guys. A bit disappointed with some of the latter rounds but as Andy said, some of the letters weren't particularly fruitful selections anyway.

With regards to the other 9s available...

Apparently they didn't want to mention streaming...

Nor the EMIGRANTS in the same round...

Rachel actually got EMIGRANTS but there was some confusion in the studio at that point and it kind of got lost unfortunately.

Did anyone else notice that in the letter round immediately after Susie's segment that Rachel looked like she was trying to stop herself laughing?? I noticed a few "tells". She kept clasping her thumb with her other hand between letters (not something she normally does). She also stroked the side of her dress. Am I just imagining things???

I only noticed this watching on TV and can't remember what/if anything happened in the studio, so can't shed any more light on it I'm afraid.

It looked to me like she was being told in her ear-piece that her dress had ridden up from sitting and she was trying to smooth it down, with a smirk on her face - successfully too!

[Brian Moore]

I thought ^WANTONER might have been in (it's in the OED), but alas no. No idea why it's in my mental word bank: never used it and probably never will .... well, apart from in this post.

As you were.