Friday 17 September 2010 (Series 63, Prelim 50)

[Mike Brown]

Countdown recap for Friday 17 September 2010 (Series 63, Prelim 50).

C1: Champion Eoin Monaghan (2 wins, 213 points.)
C2: Challenger Pauline Wedell.
DC: Susie Dent and Alastair Stewart.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

It’s time to get that Friday feeling once more, as we reach the end of Week 10 of the current series. Our very own Eoin Monaghan from Banbridge in County Down is in the champion’s chair with two wins (and two centuries) under his belt already, while today’s challenger is Pauline Wedell, who hails from the rather lovely Shropshire town of Ludlow – why not go there now? (although not until you’ve read this recap, of course!) As they used to say in Shakespeare’s day, to horse!

R01: E A U G D R S E Y
R02: C L G I E I F T E
R03: O E A R B P S M O
R04: R S T A E I S R C
R05: 75, 5, 10, 6, 7, 9. Target: 608.
TTT: RUDETURN - "Did this with plants and ambitions."
R06: N P N E A E T S D
R07: O E U W N T G A N
R08: Z T W U E O T H T
R09: I O E R N L R U P
R10: 75, 6, 2, 9, 6, 3. Target: 124.
TTT: LOSEWIRE - "They're the favourite haunts of certain nightbirds."
R11: E I E R S N G A S
R12: D K R O A E N L C
R13: A E I V S N S E M
R14: 75, 7, 2, 5, 8, 7. Target: 986.
R15: S U M O I L I A C (conundrum)

Countdown is sponsored by Our (Well)Kid

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Jeff opens the show by musing about how we tend to build people up too quickly in this country and cites the example of X Factor winners. He then challenges Rachel to name all six victors on the programme. To be fair, she manages to name three-and-a-half of them, which isn’t bad at all – the ‘half’ being Steve Brookstein, whom she calls “Steve the dustman”. Wasn’t that Andy Abraham?

Round 1: E A U G D R S E Y

C1: GREASED (7)
C2: SUGARED (7)
DC: GUARDEES (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)

A good start for our contestants, but DC go one better with the brilliant GUARDEES. And for the record, GUARDEES are guardsmen, not people being guarded.

Round 2: C L G I E I F T E

C1: FLEET (5)
C2: CLEFT (5)
DC: FICTILE (7)
Score: 12–12 (max 15)

Eoin and Pauline are locked together for a second time, while DC again come over all darrenic with FICTILE, which means ‘made by a potter’. And being left-handed, I suppose Pauline should really have spotted LEFTIE for six.

Round 3: O E A R B P S M O

C1: PROSOMA (7)
C2: BREAMS (6)
OT: BOOMERS (7)
Score: 19–12 (max 22)

An excellent spot from Eoin with the sort of word only Apterites tend to know. Despite listening to it two or three times, Pauline’s BREAMS still sounds like BREAPS^, but that can’t be right and the Wiki agrees, and that’s good enough for me.

Round 4: R S T A E I S R C

C1: SCARIEST (8)
C2: SCARIEST (8)
DC: ERRATICS (8)
OT: TARSIERS (8)
Score: 27–20 (max 30)

Unfortunately, something can’t be the SCARRIEST (or even SCARRY), so everyone will have to settle for lowly eights. ERRATICS are boulders differing from their surroundings, while TARSIERS are insectivorous, tree-dwelling, nocturnal primates found in South-East Asia.

Round 5: 75, 5, 10, 6, 7, 9. Target: 608.

C1: 608. (75+6-5)x(10-9+7) (10)
C2: 610.
Score: 37–20 (max 40)

Eoin’s numbers prowess allows him to extend his lead to seventeen points.

Alastair rounds off his week in the Corner with an anecdote involving the Prime Ministerial debate and the eruption of the Icelandic volcano.

Teatime teaser: RUDETURN -> NURTURED

Round 6: N P N E A E T S D

C1: PENDANTS (8)
C2: SPANNED (7)
Score: 45–20 (max 48)

Eoin has no intention of hanging around and offers PENDANTS for eight.

Round 7: O E U W N T G A N

C1: TONNEAU (7)
C2: TONNAGE (7)
DC: NOUGAT (6)
Score: 52–27 (max 55)

Apparently, as well as being part of a car, a TONNEAU is a shorter way of describing 900 litres of Bordeaux wine.

Round 8: Z T W U E O T H T

C1: TOUT (4)
C2: HOT (3)
OT: HOWE THEW WHET THOU TOTE
Score: 56–27 (max 59)

What a rubbish selection. HOWE can mean either a hill or a depression. I love the English language.

Round 9: I O E R N L R U P

C1: PLEURON (7)
C2: ROPIER (6)
DC: PURLOINER (18)
Score: 63–27 (max 77)

Another Apterosian word from Eoin, although I was slightly surprised he missed PURLOINER for nine. NEUROPIL (also spelt NEUROPILE), which is a network of nerve fibres, is also there for eight.

OoW: Susie tells us the origins of the ‘hot dog’. Onions, tomato, and a dash of mustard on mine, please. Mmm, I’m hungry now!

Round 10: 75, 6, 2, 9, 6, 3. Target: 124.

C1: 124. (75-9-6+(6/3))x2 (10)
C2: 124. (6x9)-2-3+75 (10)
Score: 73–37 (max 87)

Getting the numbers game spot on means our contestants achieve a palindromic score at the end of Part Two. Eoin appears to be on for another mammoth total. We will see!

Teatime teaser: LOSEWIRE -> OWLERIES

Round 11: E I E R S N G A S

C1: GASSIER (7)
C2: RANGES (6)
DC: GAINERS (7) REASSIGN (8)
OT: ASSIGNEE (8) ASSIGNER (8)
Score: 80–37 (max 95)

He may have missed all the eights, but Eoin’s seven is still enough to stretch his lead to 43.

Round 12: D K R O A E N L C

C1: COLANDER (8)
C2: CLOAKED (7)
DC: CLOAKED (7)
Score: 88–37 (max 103)

There aren’t many holes in Mr Monaghan’s armoury as he seals the game with COLANDER. Let’s SIEVE he can beat his previous high score of 108.

Round 13: A E I V S N S E M

C1: MEANIES (7)
C2: MASSIVE (7)
DC: MASSIVE (7)
OT: NEMESIAS (8)
Score: 95–44 (max 111)

Nice to see Pauline is still trying as she puts the Ludlow Massive on the map. No one spots NEMESIAS for eight, despite them having rather nice funnel-shaped flowers.

Round 14: 75, 7, 2, 5, 8, 7. Target: 986.

C1: 986. ((75+(7/7))x(8+5))-2 (10)
C2: 984.
Score: 105–44 (max 121)

The 75 comes up for the third time today, but that doesn’t prevent Eoin from getting 30 points out of 30. But can he solve the conundrum and hit 115?

Round 15: S U M O I L I A C

C1 buzzes on 1 second to say MALICIOUS which is correct.
Final Score: 115–44 (max 131)

The answer is a resounding ‘yes’, as the young Irishman presses after one-and-a-quarter seconds and gives Jeff the correct answer. Pauline sportingly shakes Eoin’s hand in congratulation, as she did at the start. On another day, she might have done rather better, but in his present form, methinks he is going to be quite hard to beat.

Interestingly, as the credits roll, CECIL seems to have reset himself to zero – all those 75’s must have gone to his head! Countdown returns to C4 on Monday with Dave Spikey as special guest. Don’t miss it!

Recap brought to you by the Ludlow Tourist Information Centre.

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=63

[Rhys Benjamin]

Interestingly, as the credits roll, CECIL seems to have reset himself to zero – all those 75’s must have gone to his head!

Really

[Mike Brown]

Interestingly, as the credits roll, CECIL seems to have reset himself to zero – all those 75’s must have gone to his head!

Really

Did on my telly...

[James Robinson]

Round 12: D K R O A E N L C

C1: COLANDER (8)
C2: CLOAKED (7)
DC: CLOAKED (7)
Score: 88–37 (max 103)

Did she say CLOAKED I was completely stumped by whether she said CROAKED or CLOAKED, so I put CROAKED on the Wiki as DC gave CLOAKED.

[Kai Laddiman]

Pauline’s BREAMS still sounds like BREAPS^

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[Mike Brown]

Round 12: D K R O A E N L C

C1: COLANDER (8)
C2: CLOAKED (7)
DC: CLOAKED (7)
Score: 88–37 (max 103)

Did she say CLOAKED I was completely stumped by whether she said CROAKED or CLOAKED, so I put CROAKED on the Wiki as DC gave CLOAKED.

I've just listened to it again and I'm about 90% certain she said CLOAKED.

[James Robinson]

Round 12: D K R O A E N L C

C1: COLANDER (8)
C2: CLOAKED (7)
DC: CLOAKED (7)
Score: 88–37 (max 103)

Did she say CLOAKED I was completely stumped by whether she said CROAKED or CLOAKED, so I put CROAKED on the Wiki as DC gave CLOAKED.

I've just listened to it again and I'm about 90% certain she said CLOAKED.

The subtitles on Channel 4 and 4OD give it as CROAKED, but I suppose it can't be solved unless we head to Ludlow and ask Pauline herself.

[Mike Brown]

The subtitles on Channel 4 and 4OD give it as CROAKED, but I suppose it can't be solved unless we head to Ludlow and ask Pauline herself.

Better make sure you're not wearing your tracksuit, then.

[Mike Brown]

Pauline’s BREAMS still sounds like BREAPS^

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

No doubt I'm being thick, but me no understand.

[JimBentley]

Pauline’s BREAMS still sounds like BREAPS^

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

No doubt I'm being thick, but me no understand.

Pauline (Huggins), PROMATE^ = PRONATE, I believe. Amirite Kai?

[Kai Laddiman]

Pauline’s BREAMS still sounds like BREAPS^

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

No doubt I'm being thick, but me no understand.

Ask Corby, I'm sure he'll explain. Just mention the name Pauline and he's ranting his head off.

[Mike Brown]

Pauline (Huggins), PROMATE^ = PRONATE, I believe. Amirite Kai?

Ok, thanks guys. I remember that programme, but had totally forgotten her name was Pauline, so didn't make the link.