Spoilers for Thursday 17th September 2009

Darren Carter · Post by **Darren Carter** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:13 am

Will Jeff build on his one win? Will Rachel be accidentally called Carol?

Exciting stuff.....

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:38 am

Darren Carter wrote:Will Rachel be accidentally called Carol?

Somehow, Darren, I don't think that bit is going to be broadcast.

Ian Dent · Post by **Ian Dent** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:10 am

One more day.

Derek Hazell · Post by **Derek Hazell** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:01 pm

Darren Carter wrote:Will Jeff build on his one win? Will Rachel be accidentally called Carol?

That's not one of those "Is this a spoiler? Is the pope a Nazi?" type of double-questions is it?

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:33 pm

Going for a final consonant instead of a vowel in round 1 would have given a second T for GARROTTE. As it was, GARRET was there as a DC-equaller.

Phil Makepeace · Post by **Phil Makepeace** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:35 pm

R2: TAILORS

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:39 pm

Phil Makepeace wrote:R2: TAILORS

My dad got that. GARTER and GRATER were words I kicked myself for not getting in round 1.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:45 pm

MINUTED round 6.

Phil Makepeace · Post by **Phil Makepeace** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:47 pm

CONSOLER in R7. And SPREADS in R8.

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:52 pm

My Dad got PARADES as well- those 3 rounds from 6 to 8 were probably my worst 3 rounds so far in my Countdown/Apterous life. And yes, I was looking for the O for EBONISED in round 9.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:53 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:Going for a final consonant instead of a vowel in round 1 would have given a second T for GARROTTE. As it was, GARRET was there as a DC-equaller.

Isn't GARROTTE there with only 1 T. I'm only asking because when I go to the recordings, i bring the Countdown Dictionary with me, not the OED, before anyone asks, and in it is GARROTE.

So, if it's not a word, it must be American spelling, because the front cover is of the beige set and back then American spellings were still allowed.

It probably American spelling, but whoever did that dictionary can't properly be working on the show, as there were quite a few words that you could never get on the show such as PZAZZ!

I was thinking at first that everyone had a sort of mental block at the start for missing GARROTE and then TAILORS straight afterwards!

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:55 pm

I always thought it was GAROTTE. A poor numbers miss from me as well- extend my worst ever rounds of Countdown/Apterous from rounds 6-10, bar EBONISED.

Second alt:
75+3=78
78*7=546
546-8+3=541.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:57 pm

James Robinson wrote:Isn't GARROTTE there with only 1 T.

Wouldn't it be great if there was some sort of tool that would answer these questions for you...

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:58 pm

Jeffrey Burgin wrote:I always thought it was GAROTTE.

Yep, which is what I originally spotted, but it seems GARROTTE is in as an alternative spelling.

Bob De Caux · Post by **Bob De Caux** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:59 pm

I got GARROTE in the audience, as I always thought it had three variant spellings. In the OED it's the US spelling though.

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:01 pm

I had PREHEAT but when Phil declared a 5, and with PREHEAT potentially being hyphenated, I played safe with 6.

Phil Makepeace · Post by **Phil Makepeace** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:03 pm

DAEMONS for 7 in R13 as well.

Aaron Higgs · Post by **Aaron Higgs** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:03 pm

NOYADES round 13

Derek Hazell · Post by **Derek Hazell** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:05 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:Wouldn't it be great if there was some sort of tool that would answer these questions for you...

The closest Phil will ever get to channelling Charlie.

Darren Carter · Post by **Darren Carter** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:34 pm

Still can't believe Jeff (Stelling, not Burgin!) was allowed to get away with the DOND joke, was very funny though. As was the letter that he read out at the start.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:45 pm

DAEMONS in round 13.

Alternative to 2nd numbers:

75 x 7 = 525

3 + 3 - 4 = 2

2 x 8 = 16

525 + 16 = 541

JackHurst · Post by **JackHurst** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:27 pm

GARROTTE is the spelling in the oed
GAROTTE is an alternate spelling
garrote is an alternate US spelling
garote is not in at all.

I get incredibly confused when any of these words are available in a selection.

Martin Smith · Post by **Martin Smith** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:28 am

I knew SOMEONE would say 'Carol' eventually. Good play on PREHEAT there Jeffrey, I didn't see it.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:31 am

Martin Smith wrote:I knew SOMEONE would say 'Carol' eventually. Good play on PREHEAT there Jeffrey, I didn't see it.

So who did say 'Carol', and when, and what happened please?

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:35 am

Jon Corby wrote:
Martin Smith wrote:I knew SOMEONE would say 'Carol' eventually. Good play on PREHEAT there Jeffrey, I didn't see it.
So who did say 'Carol', and when, and what happened please?

It was Phil's first letters game. He said "Can I have a consonant please, Car...", which was then followed by a slight hush in the audience and him apologise and criticising himself for saying it in the place.

It probably explains why he just said "Consonant, please" or "Vowel, please", just to make sure he didn't add Carol.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:40 am

James Robinson wrote:
Jon Corby wrote:
Martin Smith wrote:I knew SOMEONE would say 'Carol' eventually. Good play on PREHEAT there Jeffrey, I didn't see it.
So who did say 'Carol', and when, and what happened please?
It was Phil's first letters game. He said "Can I have a consonant please, Car...", which was then followed by a slight hush in the audience and him apologise and criticising himself for saying it in the place.

It probably explains why he just said "Consonant, please" or "Vowel, please", just to make sure he didn't add Carol.

Aw bless, and within minutes he was 24-0 down. Probably not all he was hoping it would be...

Simon Myers · Post by **Simon Myers** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 12:40 pm

Martin Smith wrote:I knew SOMEONE would say 'Carol' eventually.

It's happened loads; I've personally seen it happen twice in the studio. The best was during Kirk's second heat game where his hapless opponent tried to cover it up by claiming she "hadn't put her glasses on"

They tend to get edited out to save embarrassment though.

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:21 pm

Jon Corby wrote:So who did say 'Carol', and when, and what happened please?

I reckon he said it deliberately to try and be 'funny'. His 'horror' at saying it seemed a little too staged to be true for me, plus the reaction of Jay the floor manager sounded as if he's seen it done so many times before.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:24 pm

Jeffrey Burgin wrote:
Jon Corby wrote:So who did say 'Carol', and when, and what happened please?
I reckon he said it deliberately to try and be 'funny'. His 'horror' at saying it seemed a little too staged to be true for me, plus the reaction of Jay the floor manager sounded as if he's seen it done so many times before.

Ah okay. Funnily enough, I did wonder that too, there was something about him. I retract my earlier "bless". Is this the smallest u-turn ever etc etc

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:37 pm

Jon Corby wrote:Ah okay. Funnily enough, I did wonder that too, there was something about him. I retract my earlier "bless". Is this the smallest u-turn ever etc etc

I felt that too, all the other contestants that day were great and really sociable, but he looked really pissed off when he lost and buggered off after our show. I'm sure Darren said that Phil kept saying he thought he would do really well or something in the Green Room as well.

Darren Carter · Post by **Darren Carter** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:41 pm

Jeffrey Burgin wrote:
Jon Corby wrote:Ah okay. Funnily enough, I did wonder that too, there was something about him. I retract my earlier "bless". Is this the smallest u-turn ever etc etc
I felt that too, all the other contestants that day were great and really sociable, but he looked really pissed off when he lost and buggered off after our show. I'm sure Darren said that Phil kept saying he thought he would do really well or something in the Green Room as well.

No I said I thought he would do well as he was coming up with some good words whilst watching the BdC v Simon game.

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:45 pm

Darren Carter wrote:No I said I thought he would do well as he was coming up with some good words whilst watching the BdC v Simon game.

Oh ok, my bad. Still, he wasn't a patch on you or Bobo.

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:49 pm

Is the third numbers possible? 1-3-4-5-6-100 - 938

thanks ~ L x

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:52 pm

Lesley Jeavons wrote:Is the third numbers possible? 1-3-4-5-6-100 - 938

thanks ~ L x

It's not Lesley. 1 away is the best you can get. Jeffrey did 937, and 939 is also achievable.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 2:04 pm

Jeffrey Burgin wrote:Jay the floor manager sounded as if he's seen it done so many times before.

I bet he has, the saucy minx.

Peter Mabey · Post by **Peter Mabey** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 2:19 pm

JackHurst wrote:GARROTTE is the spelling in the oed
GAROTTE is an alternate spelling
garrote is an alternate US spelling
garote is not in at all.

I get incredibly confused when any of these words are available in a selection.

... and, to add to the confusion, all are in SOWPODS, (& GARROT too

)

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 4:54 pm

Jon Corby wrote:It's not Lesley. 1 away is the best you can get. Jeffrey did 937, and 939 is also achievable.

Thanks. I only give up once I hear from one of you - if you say it's impossible then I believe it is.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:21 pm

I actually had fan mail delivered to my school - 2 sides of A4 and a picture drawn by this guy. He's 27 and has aspergers syndrome and basically said it was extremely important that I had his phone number. Anyway he said he had a friend who would appear on Countdown on 17th September and he told him to wear his green tie (which is what you saw at the beginning - the reference to the green tie). Anyway this guy then ordered me to wear certain clothing next time I'm on including his green tie. Hmmm...

Sue Sanders · Post by **Sue Sanders** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:38 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:I actually had fan mail delivered to my school - 2 sides of A4 and a picture drawn by this guy. He's 27 and has aspergers syndrome and basically said it was extremely important that I had his phone number. Anyway he said he had a friend who would appear on Countdown on 17th September and he told him to wear his green tie (which is what you saw at the beginning - the reference to the green tie). Anyway this guy then ordered me to wear certain clothing next time I'm on including his green tie. Hmmm...

Still, Kirk, maybe only one step away from girls throwing their undies at you?

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:49 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:Anyway this guy then ordered me to wear certain clothing next time I'm on including his green tie.

What did it involve besides the tie?

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:53 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote: What did it involve besides the tie?

It didn't.

Interestingly enough, I've also had some weird 'fan mail', although it's more Facebook mail- whilst I don't mind the pretty girls, I am a bit disturbed by those who keep adding me and saying 'I saw you on the tv and you looked kinda cool but I'm not a creep so I thought to myself I'll add him and talk to him but I'm not a weirdo but anyway I really really hope you stay on the tv so I can watch but not like a freak ahahaha.'

Sue Sanders · Post by **Sue Sanders** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:05 pm

Jeffrey Burgin wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote: What did it involve besides the tie?
It didn't.

Interestingly enough, I've also had some weird 'fan mail', although it's more Facebook mail- whilst I don't mind the pretty girls, I am a bit disturbed by those who keep adding me and saying 'I saw you on the tv and you looked kinda cool but I'm not a creep so I thought to myself I'll add him and talk to him but I'm not a weirdo but anyway I really really hope you stay on the tv so I can watch but not like a freak ahahaha.'

I think girls are more confident than blokes about stuff like that, and I reckon, just take a punt - and probably only a small percentage of them will be actual freaks.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:22 pm

Awesome, I got a max - 2 today.

Also, I wouldn't have said your surname rhymes with virgin.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:25 pm

Jeffrey Burgin wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote: What did it involve besides the tie?
It didn't.

Interestingly enough, I've also had some weird 'fan mail', although it's more Facebook mail- whilst I don't mind the pretty girls, I am a bit disturbed by those who keep adding me and saying 'I saw you on the tv and you looked kinda cool but I'm not a creep so I thought to myself I'll add him and talk to him but I'm not a weirdo but anyway I really really hope you stay on the tv so I can watch but not like a freak ahahaha.'

Think of the clunge, lad. The clunge!

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:54 pm

I got a max game today too, Kai.

Yes Jeff, I got loads of facebook add requests, mainly from men though. A few girls tried adding me but most of them were in relationships or were like 40. I suppose beggars can't be choosers though! I had one guy on holiday in York who went past my school, recognised the name and dropped in and asked at reception to see me and shake my hand. Sadly I was teaching all afternoon so never got to meet him. This is the first bit of actual mail I've received though.

Phil, without copying exactly what he's put as the sentences are mixed up a little, he said he'd like me to wear a nice tie like a plain green tie or a loud colourful tie or a striped tie or a couple of nice blazers.

He also says he wants me to go for the cross to give 1 large and 5 small, or 3 large and 3 small from opposite corners.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:37 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:I got a max game today too, Kai.

Oops, I was trying to say that I got a max minus 2

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:42 pm

Ben Hunter wrote:Think of the clunge, lad. The clunge!

I didn't say I didn't add them, I just said they were weird. Clunge > everything else.

I'm very interested to see how many old dears come up to me at Waitrose tomorrow and tell me they saw me. I just want one- is that too much to ask?

Ian Dent · Post by **Ian Dent** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:49 pm

How long will you be in Waitrose for?

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:51 pm

Ian Dent wrote:How long will you be in Waitrose for?

Until 12.30, I'm usually in an hour longer but I have to leave early for a footie match- Finchley Road if anyone's passing through.

Sue Sanders · Post by **Sue Sanders** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:51 pm

Jeffrey Burgin wrote:
Ben Hunter wrote:Think of the clunge, lad. The clunge!
I didn't say I didn't add them, I just said they were weird. Clunge > everything else.

I'm very interested to see how many old dears come up to me at Waitrose tomorrow and tell me they saw me. I just want one- is that too much to ask?

Just after saying 'clunge > everything else' That's a strange box to want to tick.

Jeffrey Burgin · Post by **Jeffrey Burgin** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:54 pm

Sue Sanders wrote:Just after saying 'clunge > everything else' That's a strange box to want to tick.

I wasn't suggesting the two were related, but then again I'm not confirming they aren't.

Sue Sanders · Post by **Sue Sanders** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:55 pm

Jeffrey Burgin wrote:
Sue Sanders wrote:Just after saying 'clunge > everything else' That's a strange box to want to tick.
I wasn't suggesting the two were related, but then again I'm not confirming they aren't.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:30 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:I wouldn't have said your surname rhymes with virgin.

Jeffrey assured us on Wednesday that it doesn't and that from Thursday Jeff would be pronouncing it correctly. Weirdly, he hasn't.