Monday 22nd January 2024 (Series 89, Preliminary 15)

[James Robinson]

Countdown recap for Monday 22 January 2024.

C1: Champion Mark Finnerty (4 wins, 443 points.) A consultant psychiatrist from Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland.
C2: Challenger Mike Courtney. Originally from County Kerry, but now lives in Country Cork. He's a big fan of The Killers and The Water Boys.
DC: Susie Dent and Jon Culshaw.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: D S R E I E G M U
R02: N H F A O I S W E
R03: 50, 10, 9, 4, 6, 2. Target: 773.
TTT: CABLEHEM - "You'll need to have saucy thoughts to get this."
R04: S M R I U A N E M
R05: D P S A U I T E D
R06: 50, 4, 10, 3, 6, 6. Target: 291.
R07: V R S I U A G L N
R08: T R P E A O D L D
R09: 25, 8, 6, 5, 4, 8. Target: 250.
TTT: UNGEARED - "Is this the Brazilian football legend's favourite fabric?"
R10: S T E A I F T G O
R11: C R Z I E A C G L
R12: T R O E I L W O S
R13: R N B E A O G C I
R14: 50, 25, 100, 8, 9, 6. Target: 472.
R15: S N A C K R I T E (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Enjoy the show.

Round 1: D S R E I E G M U

Mark: GUIDERS (7)
Mike: degrees
DC: REGIMES (7) SMUDGIER (8) DEMIURGES (18)
Score: 7–0 (max 18)

Round 2: N H F A O I S W E

Mark: FASHION (7)
Mike: wished
DC: WAHINES (7)
Score: 14–0 (max 25)

Round 3: 50, 10, 9, 4, 6, 2. Target: 773.

Mark: 773. ((50 - 2) x (10 + 6)) + 9 - 4 (10)
Mike: -
Score: 24–0 (max 35)

Teatime teaser: CABLEHEM -> BECHAMEL

Round 4: S M R I U A N E M

Mark: MARINES (7)
Mike: REMAINS (7)
DC: SEMINAR (7) ANEURISM (8)
OT: MANUMISE (8)
Score: 31–7 (max 43)

Round 5: D P S A U I T E D

Mark: DISPUTED (8)
Mike: DISPUTED (8)
Score: 39–15 (max 51)

Round 6: 50, 4, 10, 3, 6, 6. Target: 291.

Mark: 291. (50 x 6) - (6 + 3) (10)
Mike: 291. (50 x 6) - (6 + 3) (10)
Score: 49–25 (max 61)

Jon talks about on how he was nervous about on appearing on Parkinson.

Round 7: V R S I U A G L N

Mark: SINGULAR (8)
Mike: SINGULAR (8)
DC: SALVING (7)
OT: AVULSING (8)
Score: 57–33 (max 69)

Round 8: T R P E A O D L D

Mark: LEOTARD (7)
Mike: LEOTARD (7)
DC: LEOPARD (7) TADPOLE (7) PROLATED (8) PLODDER (7)
OT: PRODELTA (8)
Score: 64–40 (max 77)

Round 9: 25, 8, 6, 5, 4, 8. Target: 250.

Mark: 250. (6 + 4) x 25 (10)
Mike: 250. (6 + 4) x 25 (10)
Score: 74–50 (max 87)

Teatime teaser: UNGEARED -> DUNGAREE

Round 10: S T E A I F T G O

Mark: GOATIEST (8)
Mike: FATTIES (7)
DC: EGOTIST (7)
Score: 82–50 (max 95)

Round 11: C R Z I E A C G L

Mark: GLAZIER (7)
Mike: GLACIER (7)
DC: GRACILE (7)
OT: ACEGIRL (7) GRAIZLE (7)
Score: 89–57 (max 102)

Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of some modes of transport.

Round 12: T R O E I L W O S

Mark: LOOTERS (7)
Mike: LOITERS (7)
DC: TROWELS (7) SOOTIER (7)
OT: OESTRIOL (8) TOOLSIER (8)
Score: 96–64 (max 110)

Round 13: R N B E A O G C I

Mark: BEARING (7)
Mike: BEARING (7)
DC: CARBINE (7) BEGONIA (7)
OT: ABORIGEN (8) BONGRACE (8)
Score: 103–71 (max 118)

Round 14: 50, 25, 100, 8, 9, 6. Target: 472.

Mark: 472. (50 + 9) x 8 (10)
Mike: 471/473. (Declared "1 away".)
Score: 113–71 (max 128)

Round 15: S N A C K R I T E

Mike buzzes on 2.75 seconds to say CRANKIEST which is correct.
Final Score: 113–81 (max 138)

Statistics Corner

Mark:
Total score - 113
Raw score - 113
Total % of max - 82
Raw % of max - 82
Total average score per round - 7.5
Raw average score per round - 7.5
Number of maxes - 9

Mike:
Total score - 81
Raw score - 95
Total % of max - 59
Raw % of max - 69
Total average score per round - 5.4
Raw average score per round - 6.3
Number of maxes - 6

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=89