Monday 19th February 2024 (Series 89, Preliminary 35)

[James Robinson]

Countdown recap for Monday 19 February 2024.

C1: Champion Michael Calder (4 wins, 317 points.) A Trussell Trust worker from Forfar, Angus.
C2: Challenger Aaron McAree. From Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. He owns a dog called Gucci.
DC: Susie Dent and making her DC debut, Sara Davies.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: H L R N E U A R I
R02: G P A E S L M A R
R03: 25, 2, 7, 9, 3, 4. Target: 130.
TTT: CUREBALL - "It sounds like you could buy a cup of tea from him, and it could make you ill."
R04: D T O E U R C T I
R05: P G N E O A O K E
R06: 50, 10, 5, 2, 9, 3. Target: 320.
R07: H G T O A I R Y A
R08: T W O I E B P O D
R09: 100, 5, 6, 2, 7, 8. Target: 684.
TTT: OPENRANT - "This woman really needs to mind her own business."
R10: N C R I E A M G M
R11: B L D O U A N E S
R12: D N S U E U E Q T
R13: P S N F O E I T U
R14: 75, 50, 5, 2, 6, 7. Target: 153.
R15: I V Y L A P S E S (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: H L R N E U A R I

Michael: HAULIER (7)
Aaron: LEARN (5)
DC: INHALER (7) HERNIA (6)
OT: HERNIAL (7) URANILE (7)
Score: 7–0 (max 7)

Round 2: G P A E S L M A R

Michael: RAMPAGES (8)
Aaron: GRAPES (6)
DC: GLAMPER (7) GLAMPERS (8)
OT: ALMAGRES (8) PLAMASER (8)
Score: 15–0 (max 15)

Round 3: 25, 2, 7, 9, 3, 4. Target: 130.

Michael: 130. ((3 + 2) x 25) + 9 - 4 (10)
Aaron: 130. ((3 + 2) x 25) + 9 - 4 (10)
Score: 25–10 (max 25)

Teatime teaser: CUREBALL -> BRUCELLA

Round 4: D T O E U R C T I

Michael: COURTED (7)
Aaron: TRUCE (5)
DC: DETOUR (6) DOTTIER (7) CORDITE (7)
OT: TOREUTIC (8)
Score: 32–10 (max 33)

Round 5: P G N E O A O K E

Michael: PAGE (4)
Aaron: PAGE (4)
DC: gonk PEONAGE (7)
Score: 36–14 (max 40)

Round 6: 50, 10, 5, 2, 9, 3. Target: 320.

Michael: 320. ((9 - 2) x 50) - (10 x 3) (10)
Aaron: 320. ((9 - 3) x 50) + (10 x 2) (10)
Score: 46–24 (max 50)

Sara talks about her early TV days, selling on QVC, to eventually appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Round 7: H G T O A I R Y A

Michael: RIGHT (5)
Aaron: HAIRY (5)
DC: hairygoat THORIA (6)
OT: GAYATRI (7)
Score: 51–29 (max 57)

Round 8: T W O I E B P O D

Michael: BOOTED (6)
Aaron: BOWED (5)
DC: WOODIE (6)
OT: BIOTOPE (7)
Score: 57–29 (max 64)

Round 9: 100, 5, 6, 2, 7, 8. Target: 684.

Michael: 684. ((100 - 2) x 7) - (8 - 6) (10)
Aaron: 684. (100 x 7) - 8 - 2 - 6 (10)
Score: 67–39 (max 74)

Teatime teaser: OPENRANT -> PATRONNE

Round 10: N C R I E A M G M

Michael: CREAMING (8)
Aaron: CREAMING (8)
DC: MARGIN (6)
OT: AMERCING (8) CRAMMING (8)
Score: 75–47 (max 82)

Round 11: B L D O U A N E S

Michael: DOUBLES (7)
Aaron: LOANED (6)
DC: UNDOABLE (8) undoables
Score: 82–47 (max 90)

Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "higgledy-piggledy".

Round 12: D N S U E U E Q T

Michael: QUEUES (6)
Aaron: QUEENS (6)
DC: QUESTED (7)
OT: DETENUS (7) DETUNES (7) SEQUENT (7)
Score: 88–53 (max 97)

Round 13: P S N F O E I T U

Michael: POUTINES (8)
Aaron: TUNES (5)
DC: OUTSPIN (7) POUFIEST (8)
Score: 96–53 (max 105)

Round 14: 75, 50, 5, 2, 6, 7. Target: 153.

Michael: 153. (75 x 2) + (6 / (7 - 5)) (10)
Aaron: 153. (75 x 2) + (6 / (7 - 5)) (10)
Score: 106–63 (max 115)

Round 15: I V Y L A P S E S

Michael buzzes on 10.5 seconds to say PASSIVELY which is correct.
Final Score: 116–63 (max 125)

Statistics Corner

Michael:
Total score - 116
Raw score - 116
Total % of max - 93
Raw % of max - 93
Total average score per round - 7.7
Raw average score per round - 7.7
Number of maxes - 9

Aaron:
Total score - 63
Raw score - 95
Total % of max - 50
Raw % of max - 76
Total average score per round - 4.2
Raw average score per round - 6.3
Number of maxes - 5

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