The last of the quarter finals today and it's #4 seed Andy Noden vs #5 seed Kevin Steede. Nick starts us off talking about Les Paul, inventor of the electric guitar and asks Rachel whether she was musical. Rachel says she had a few piano lessons but never played any string instruments. Well, Piano is technically a string instrument, since the keys
C1: Champion Andy "The St. Helens Storm" Noden (8 wins, 828 points.) A retail adviser from St Helens who got a Countdown tattoo which can be seen here https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater
C2: Champion Kevin "The Plymouth Powerhouse Steede (8 wins, 792 points.) An occupational therapist from Plymouth but originally from Galway, Republic of Ireland.
DC: Susie Dent and Jo Brand.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: L N H D A U E U T
R02: G D R A I E M S R
R03: 5, 1, 10, 5, 8, 25. Target: 490.
TTT: EATBIGGY - "Streaming on your mobile can eat up lots of data"
R04: D C Z A I I N E D
R05: O B P T W G A E I
R06: 4, 6, 100, 50, 75, 25. Target: 408.
R07: O M E N O D U N S
R08: Q P L A O E T A C
R09: 8, 4, 5, 3, 10, 100. Target: 341.
TTT: HEALROSY - "I can't wait for my sore throat to heal, Rosy whispered"
R10: R J S I E O H T E
R11: I O G U A D S N L
R12: Y R S E A E T M I
R13: E A V S R T O I K
R14: 5, 3, 75, 100, 50, 25. Target: 531.
R15: M E T A L I C C A (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: L N H D A U E U T
Andy: HALTED (6)
Kevin: HAUNTED (7)
DC: UNDULATE (8)
Score: 0–7 (max 8)
It's first blood to Kevin but it's up to Susie to give us the Darren
Round 2: G D R A I E M S R
Andy: MIRAGES (7)
Kevin: MARRIED (7)
DC: MARRIEDS (8) ADMIRERS (8)
OT: ARMIGERS (8) DISARMER (8)
Score: 7–14 (max 16)
Andy's on the board now but Kevin could have had an 8 if he'd plurialised MARRIEDS (sounds weird I know). Jo (as in round 1) makes something up but is much funnier than when the likes of Sean and Jon do it on Catsdown.
Round 3: 5, 1, 10, 5, 8, 25. Target: 490.
Andy: 490. (5-1)*5*25-10 (10)
Kevin: 490. (5-1)*5*25-10 (10)
Score: 17–24 (max 26)
Nice and easy as we go into the first adbreak
Teatime teaser: EATBIGGY -> GIGABYTE
Round 4: D C Z A I I N E D
Andy: CANDID (6)
Kevin: CANED (5)
DC: CANDIED (7)
Score: 23–24 (max 33)
Andy pulls the deficit back to a solitary point but he could have drawn level with the Darren if he'd stuck an E into CANDID
Round 5: O B P T W G A E I
Andy: OPIATE (6)
Kevin: OPIATE (6)
DC: BIGOT (5) POTAGE (6)
OT: BOATIE (6) TOWAGE (6)
Score: 29–30 (max 39)
6's all round here
Round 6: 4, 6, 100, 50, 75, 25. Target: 408.
Andy: 408. (100+(50/25))*4 (10)
Kevin: 408. 100*4+6+(50/25) (10)
Score: 39–40 (max 49)
It's a 4 large from Kevin but an easy one and it's 10 points each for our quarter-finalists. A good contest here at half-time
Jo Brand talks about her former career as a nurse and how they use a lot of latin abbrevations and overly complicated terms.
Round 7: O M E N O D U N S
Andy: MENUDOS (7)
Kevin: MENUDOS (7)
DC: MOUNDS (6)
Score: 46–47 (max 56)
It's an excellent spot from our contestants and both Andy and Kevin have it
Round 8: Q P L A O E T A C
Andy: PLACATE (7)
Kevin: PLACATE (7)
DC: POLECAT (7)
Score: 53–54 (max 63)
Another max here while DC mop up with the alternative
Round 9: 8, 4, 5, 3, 10, 100. Target: 341.
Andy: 341. Mistake in working.
Kevin: 342. 100*3+(5*10)-8 (7)
RR: 341. (100+8+4)*3+5 (10)
Score: 53–61 (max 73)
Andy realises he's made a mistake straightaway and allows Kevin to extend his lead to 8 points.
Teatime teaser: HEALROSY -> HOARSELY
Round 10: R J S I E O H T E
Andy: THEORISE (8)
Kevin: THEORIES (8)
DC: HOISTER (7)
OT: ISOTHERE (8)
Score: 61–69 (max 81)
Just a small switch here for the final letters, 8 points each
Round 11: I O G U A D S N L
Andy: ANDISOL (7)
Kevin: LOADING (7)
OT: DOLINAS (7) DOUSING (7) GANOIDS (7) GUIDONS (7) LADINGS (7) LADINOS (7) LANGUID (7) LAUDING (7) LIGANDS (7) LOUSING (7) SUNDIAL (7) UNLOADS (7)
Score: 68–76 (max 88)
Flat round here, one of those where it looks like there should be more
OoW: Susie busts some grammar myths
Round 12: Y R S E A E T M I
Andy: EMIRATES (8)
Kevin: STEAMIER (8)
OT: YEASTIER (8)
Nick: MEATIER (7)
Score: 76–84 (max 96)
Two more 8s from the contestants but the third one is missed by DC
Round 13: E A V S R T O I K
Andy: VOTARIES (8)
Kevin: VOTARIES (8)
OT: OVERTASK (8)
Score: 84–92 (max 104)
Well these two were clearly paying attenion in the studio and pick up the 8 that was missed by Tracey and Jordan yesterday. All to play for going into the final numbers.
Round 14: 5, 3, 75, 100, 50, 25. Target: 531.
Andy: 528.
Kevin: 532. (100-3)*5+50-(75/25) (7)
RR: 531. (100+75+(50/25))*3 (10)
Score: 84–99 (max 114)
Kevin gambles with another 4large to get him over the finish line...... AND IT PAYS OFF as he is one away and is over the finish line. Rachel gets it spot on.
Round 15: M E T A L I C C A
Kevin buzzes on 5 seconds to say which is incorrect.
Andy buzzes on 7 seconds to say ACCLIMATE which is correct.
Final Score: 94–99 (max 124)
Kevin buzzes but realises he's wrong so we continue, Andy comes in almost instantly to get the conundrum and bring this high quality game to a close. It's been a great contest and Andy goes off into the sunset with his trophy (Nick seems to have stopped calling it Kryptonite).
Kevin's reward for pulling off a minor shock is a semi-final against Tom Cappleman, starting right now on Channel 4. I think Jen is taking the Tuesday recaps back when Series 73 starts so thanks for having me and and I'll see you soon. Auf Wiedersehen.
