Thursday 16th May 2025 ( Series 91 Preliminary 95 )

[Tracey Anne Mills]

Countdown recap for Friday 16 Unknown month '05' 2025.

C1: Champion Deborah Maguire (1 win, 87 points.)
C2: Challenger Tim Bridgstock.
DC: Susie Dent and Richie Anderson.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: N O E T D S I O P
R02: M S E A W H O C R
R03: 75, 6, 5, 8, 10, 2. Target: 311.
TTT: CLARETTEA - "Have a noisy argument when trying to change Miss Bush."
R04: J E A G L I N L O
R05: U K A D L E Y S O
R06: 25, 75, 9, 7, 2, 1. Target: 147.
R07: D E R I C T A U N
R08: R E Q I O M P N S
R09: 100, 6, 8, 3, 4, 6. Target: 659.
TTT: POACHTAIL - "It's not just the tail that's been poached to make this – it's the other bits as well."
R10: P S A O M L A T F
R11: B R O C E A R N G
R12: W R E U A N P S E
R13: A E N H T L I G E
R14: 50, 8, 1, 4, 5, 1, . Target: 607.
R15: A T O N I C O I L (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: N O E T D S I O P

Deborah: DEPOSIT (7)
Tim: DOPIEST (7)
DC: POISONED (8) OPTIONED (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)

Round 2: M S E A W H O C R

Deborah: CASHEW (6)
Tim: ROACHES (7)
DC: MARCHES (7)
OT: MACHERS (7) MORCHAS (7) OCHREAS (7) ORACHES (7) SCHMEAR (7)
Score: 7–14 (max 15)

Round 3: 75, 6, 5, 8, 10, 2. Target: 311.

C1: 313.
C2: 311. 8 ÷ 2 × 75 + 6 + 5 (10)
Score: 7–24 (max 25)

Teatime teaser: CLARETTEA -> ALTERCATE

Round 4: J E A G L I N L O

Deborah: GALLEON (7)
Tim: GALLEON (7)
DC: NIGELLA (7) JELLING (7)
OT: ALLONGE (7) GALJOEN (7) JOLLING (7)
Score: 14–31 (max 32)

Round 5: U K A D L E Y S O

Deborah: SADLY (5)
Tim: YODELS (6)
DC: DOULAS (6) SULKED (6)
OT: ALKYDS (6) DALEKS (6) DELAYS (6) KAYOED (6) KAYOES (6) KYLOES (6) LOKEYS (6) LOUSED (6) OKAYED (6) SLAKED (6) SLAYED (6) SOAKED (6) SOULED (6) YOKELS (6) YOLKED (6)
Score: 14–37 (max 38)

Round 6: 25, 75, 9, 7, 2, 1. Target: 147.

C1: 143.
C2: 147. 75 × 2 − (9 − 7 + 1) (10)
Score: 14–47 (max 48)

Round 7: D E R I C T A U N

Deborah: CERTAIN (7)
Tim: CURTAINED (18)
DC: UNDERACT (8)
Score: 14–65 (max 66)

Round 8: R E Q I O M P N S

Deborah: imposer
Tim: PROMISE (7)
DC: MERINOS (7) PROMISE (7)
OT: NORMIES (7) ORPINES (7)
Score: 14–72 (max 73)

Round 9: 100, 6, 8, 3, 4, 6. Target: 659.

C1: -
C2: 660. (100 + 8 + 3) × 6 − 6 (7)
RR: 659. 100 × 6 + (8 + 6) × 4 + 3 (10)
Score: 14–79 (max 83)

Teatime teaser: POACHTAIL -> CHIPOLATA

Round 10: P S A O M L A T F

Deborah: FLOATS (6)
Tim: FLOTSAM (7)
DC: FLOTSAM (7)
Score: 14–86 (max 90)

Round 11: B R O C E A R N G

Deborah: BANGER (6)
Tim: CARBON (6)
DC: GROANER (7) BACONER (7) BEGORRA (7)
OT: BRACERO (7)
Score: 20–92 (max 97)

Round 12: W R E U A N P S E

Deborah: PRAWNS (6)
Tim: RESPAWN (7)
DC: UNWRAPS (7) ENWRAPS (7) SPAWNER (7) WEANERS (7)
Score: 20–99 (max 104)

Round 13: A E N H T L I G E

Deborah: LIGHTEN (7)
Tim: ELEGANT (7)
DC: HEATING (7) GELATINE (8)
OT: ATHELING (8) LEGATINE (8)
Score: 27–106 (max 112)

Round 14: 50, 8, 1, 4, 5, 1. Target: 607.

C1: 607. (8 + 4) × 50 + 5 + 1 + 1 (10)
C2: 607. (8 + 4) × 50 + 5 + 1 + 1 (10)
Score: 37–116 (max 122)

Round 15: A T O N I C O I L

C2 buzzes on 5 seconds to say COALITION which is correct.
Final Score: 37–126 (max 132)