On this day in 1982 was the launch of Channel 4 it's flagship programme Countdown, Happy 41st Birthday to Countdown and a huge thank you to all the contestants who have been on the show, lets raise our glasses to Countdown where many more legends will be created.
C1: Champion Caroline McManus (6 wins, 510 points.)
C2: Challenger Dean Whearty.
DC: Susie Dent and Ben Hanlin .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: M T X R E I O A L
R02: W E T N K I A B N
R03: 100, 5, 6, 2, 8, 3. Target: 110.
TTT: GETDELTA - "If your lace isn't this, it'll be at a loose end."
R04: S E A R P S N G O
R05: N J C S I A I T U
R06: 25, 1, 9, 4, 2, 10, . Target: 926.
R07: F S N R E A O D B
R08: P E U Z T M E A L
R09: 25, 3, 8, 2, 1, 6. Target: 686.
TTT: DEEMBITS - "For most people, these change a lot at the weekend."
R10: N U A D G L R I S
R11: D C T O E I R A H
R12: O Y D E R N D A M
R13: F R P L U E I C O
R14: 100, 3, 5, 7, 9, 6. Target: 977.
R15: N O R E D S O U P (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: M T X R E I O A L
Caroline: OXTAIL (6)
Dean: MALTIER (7)
DC: MALTIER (7)
OT: LOAMIER (7) MARLITE (7) MOTLIER (7)
Score: 0–7 (max 7)
A great start from our Challenger Dean.........which means that Caroline is playing catch up after declaring her 6 Oxtail which is not Souper !!!
Round 2: W E T N K I A B N
Caroline: TWEAK (5)
Dean: TWINE (5)
DC: BEATNIK (7)
OT: NEATNIK (7)
Score: 5–12 (max 14)
5s all round from our Champion and Challenger............but Susie gets to shine with her 7 Beatnik
Round 3: 100, 5, 6, 2, 8, 3. Target: 110.
C1: 110. 100 + 8 + 2 (10)
C2: 110. 100 + 8 + 2 (10)
Score: 15–22 (max 24)
Piss Ez this numbers game !!!
But there was a LNAFP ( 6+5)* (8+2)
Teatime teaser: GETDELTA -> AGLETTED
Round 4: S E A R P S N G O
Caroline: PRONGS (6)
Dean: PRONGS (6)
DC: PERSONAS (8)
OT: PARENGOS (8) PRONASES (8) RESPONSA (8) SPONGERS (8)
Score: 21–28 (max 32)
6s all round..............but there were a few 8s hidden away
Round 5: N J C S I A I T U
Caroline: JAUNTS (6)
Dean: uncast
DC: UNICAST (7) JUNTAS (6)
OT: NAUTICS (7)
Score: 27–28 (max 39)
A good 6 from Caroline.........sadly Dean has his disallowed by Susie................over DC they get to shine with their 7 Unicast
Round 6: 25, 1, 9, 4, 2, 10. Target: 926.
C1: -
C2: 926. Mistake in working.
RR: 926. (25 + 1) × 9 × 4 − 10 (10)
Score: 27–28 (max 49)
Both of our contestants blank this round............but Ms Riley shows us how it is done and produces the perfect 10
Round 7: F S N R E A O D B
Caroline: BOARDS (6)
Dean: REASON (6)
DC: BROADENS (8)
OT: BANDORES (8)
Score: 33–34 (max 57)
6s all round.............DC get to shine with their 8 Broadens
Round 8: P E U Z T M E A L
Caroline: PETAL (5)
Dean: METAL (5)
DC: EMULATE (7)
OT: AMPUTEE (7) PLUMATE (7) PLUMETE (7)
Score: 38–39 (max 64)
5s all round...........there were a fair few 7s one of those was spotted by DC which was Emulate
Round 9: 25, 3, 8, 2, 1, 6. Target: 686.
C1: 683. Mistake in working.
C2: -
RR: 686. (3 × 8 + 25) × (6 + 1) × 2 (10)
Score: 38–39 (max 74)
Another numbers round blanked by our Champion and Challenger........but Rachel shows us how it is done
Teatime teaser: DEEMBITS -> BEDTIMES
Round 10: N U A D G L R I S
Caroline: DARLINGS (8)
Dean: ☓7 (0)
DC: SINGULAR (8)
Score: 46–39 (max 82)
Round 11: D C T O E I R A H
Caroline: CHARTED (7)
Dean: CHARTED (7)
DC: CHARIOTED (18)
Score: 53–46 (max 100)
7s all round DC get to shine with their 9 Charioted.........you guessed it I spotted this one !
Round 12: O Y D E R N D A M
Caroline: ADORNED (7)
Dean: RANDOM (6)
DC: ROADMEN (7)
OT: ANYMORE (7) DEMONRY (7) DORYMAN (7) DORYMEN (7) DRAMEDY (7) DRAYMEN (7) MADDERY (7) MADRONE (7) MANDORE (7) ROMNEYA (7) YARDMEN (7)
Score: 60–46 (max 107)
Lots of 7s here but the gap still remains at 14 points
Round 13: F R P L U E I C O
Caroline: COUPLER (7)
Dean: COUPLER (7)
DC: PRICEFUL (8)
Score: 67–53 (max 115)
Sevens all round..........but Susie pulls a gem out of the bag with her 8 Priceful
Round 14: 100, 3, 5, 7, 9, 6. Target: 977.
C1: 978.
C2: 977. (6 + 5) × 7 + 100 × 9 (10)
Score: 67–63 (max 125)
A good round from our Challenger Dean that reduces the gap to 4 points.........this can only mean one thing a crucial conundrum !
Round 15: N O R E D S O U P
C2 buzzes on 29.75 seconds to say UNPONDERS which is incorrect.
C1 does not buzz.
The answer was PONDEROUS.
Final Score: 67–63 (max 135)
What close contest this has been firstly congratulations to Caroline for holding her nerve, secondly take nothing away from Dean who gave Caroline a really good run for her money........join me again to see if Caroline can achieve Octo-Champdom in the meantime it is bye for now !
