Spoilers for Wednesday 3rd December 2025

[Philip A]

They've done it again. Another invalid comparative not specified in the dictionary goes unchecked by Dictionary Corner. 'Littler' is not listed and 'little' has 2 syllables, so as per Countdown rules 'littler' is invalid. It should be in the dictionary (littlest pet shop) but it isn't! Why does this keep happening?

[John Garcia]

R2 - GRUNDIES for alt 8
R8 - PAKORAS for alt 7

[Gavin Chipper]

I don't pay much attention to the in-round shots but when I saw it slowing zooming out from the clock in one of the rounds, I didn't think I recognised it. What does Philip say? Have they changed anything recently?

[Philip A]

I don't pay much attention to the in-round shots but when I saw it slowing zooming out from the clock in one of the rounds, I didn't think I recognised it. What does Philip say? Have they changed anything recently?

That zoom out shot has been done sporadically a few times this year, typically during part 3 of the programme. In previous years I don’t think they did that before. I like it though; creates a ‘countdown’ effect as it pans out.

[Howie Myers]

r6 alt: 5*((4*25)-9)+6=461
r14 alt: (5-1)*((9*7)-6)+10=238

[Philip Wilson]

r6 alt: 5*((4*25)-9)+6=461
r14 alt: (5-1)*((9*7)-6)+10=238

R14 the first way I tried worked: (5-1)*6*10-(9-7)

[Philip Wilson]

They've done it again. Another invalid comparative not specified in the dictionary goes unchecked by Dictionary Corner. 'Littler' is not listed and 'little' has 2 syllables, so as per Countdown rules 'littler' is invalid. It should be in the dictionary (littlest pet shop) but it isn't! Why does this keep happening?

I didn't think to question this, as I sometimes do. I wonder if it's because adding the r to little doesn't add to the number of syllables, meaning that the comparative has 2 syllables, which is the normal number in 'valid' comparatives. Maybe Susie thought the same?

[Philip A]

They've done it again. Another invalid comparative not specified in the dictionary goes unchecked by Dictionary Corner. 'Littler' is not listed and 'little' has 2 syllables, so as per Countdown rules 'littler' is invalid. It should be in the dictionary (littlest pet shop) but it isn't! Why does this keep happening?

I didn't think to question this, as I sometimes do. I wonder if it's because adding the r to little doesn't add to the number of syllables, meaning that the comparative has 2 syllables, which is the normal number in 'valid' comparatives. Maybe Susie thought the same?

In my opinion, it’s because of the behaviour of the dictionary. If you type ‘littler’ is takes you to the word ‘little’.

They put more effort into checking the dictionary when a contestant offers a word, rather than when they suggest their own. See viewtopic.php?t=16901.

[Philip Wilson]

They've done it again. Another invalid comparative not specified in the dictionary goes unchecked by Dictionary Corner. 'Littler' is not listed and 'little' has 2 syllables, so as per Countdown rules 'littler' is invalid. It should be in the dictionary (littlest pet shop) but it isn't! Why does this keep happening?

I didn't think to question this, as I sometimes do. I wonder if it's because adding the r to little doesn't add to the number of syllables, meaning that the comparative has 2 syllables, which is the normal number in 'valid' comparatives. Maybe Susie thought the same?

In my opinion, it’s because of the behaviour of the dictionary. If you type ‘littler’ is takes you to the word ‘little’.

They put more effort into checking the dictionary when a contestant offers a word, rather than when they suggest their own. See viewtopic.php?t=16901.

Which is obviously not ideal if a future contestant is about to record, having just seen an invalid word accepted.

[Philip A]

I didn't think to question this, as I sometimes do. I wonder if it's because adding the r to little doesn't add to the number of syllables, meaning that the comparative has 2 syllables, which is the normal number in 'valid' comparatives. Maybe Susie thought the same?

In my opinion, it’s because of the behaviour of the dictionary. If you type ‘littler’ is takes you to the word ‘little’.

They put more effort into checking the dictionary when a contestant offers a word, rather than when they suggest their own. See viewtopic.php?t=16901.

Which is obviously not ideal if a future contestant is about to record, having just seen an invalid word accepted.

Agree 100%.

[Gavin Chipper]

It could come up in the very next round.

[Philip Wilson]

It could come up in the very next round.

Indeed. Am I right in thinking a teaser solution did that once?

[Gavin Chipper]

It could come up in the very next round.

Indeed. Am I right in thinking a teaser solution did that once?

Maybe, probably not an invalid one though?

[Philip Wilson]

It could come up in the very next round.

Indeed. Am I right in thinking a teaser solution did that once?

Maybe, probably not an invalid one though?

Probably not, but shows strange coincidences happen.

[Adam Dexter]

It could come up in the very next round.

Indeed. Am I right in thinking a teaser solution did that once?

Almost happened to me here with TTT1 and R5. Not an invalid word, but an annoying miss even 12+ years later.

https://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5780