Monday 3rd March 2014 (series 70 prelim 41)

[Andy McGurn]

Countdown recap for Monday 3 March 2014.


When introducing the contestants Nick seems particularly fain to give the contestants nice intros, something he’s not always done. While this may not be the fainest he’s ever been to give such positive introductions, I would say that he’s fainer to do it that he normally is. Maybe he’s had a nice break before these recordings.


C1: Challenger Sean Connors. Sean is an accounts manager for Banardos from Sale in Manchester. Sean talks about the many aspects of charity work that Barnados now does, which Nick is fain to let him do.

C2: Challenger Bill Donaldson. A retired university professor from Glasgow. His subject was applied mathematics. His daughter competed for the GB winter Olympics team in Salt Lake City in 2002.

DC: Susie Dent and Gloria Hunniford.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: L D N E O A S T R
R02: X S L S U I E N O
R03: 8, 1, 3, 7, 5, 50. Target: 846.
TTT: SOAPHARM - "you'll probably need to raise these jugs with both hands"
R04: G P N D A O E B I
R05: M D R N A O I S M
R06: 2, 10, 3, 8, 1, 100. Target: 755.
R07: R P T E A E K S M
R08: V R F C I U O E L
R09: 7, 4, 100, 75, 25, 50. Target: 385.
TTT: SUSIEROD - "it turns out Susie had a big thing about Rod"
R10: R P S C A E O T A
R11: G B T E I O S W D
R12: H N T N E U E F V
R13: S T N I A O L R U
R14: 3, 5, 4, 8, 10, 100. Target: 317.
R15: L O V E B R O W N (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Round 1: L D N E O A S T R

C1: ROASTED (7)
C2: ROASTED (7)
DC: LEOTARDS (8) SOLANDER (8)
OT: DELATORS (8) LODESTAR (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)

Both contestants open with a seven. The fact that neither spots LEOTARDS suggests that perhaps neither are long time fans of the show.



Round 2: X S L S U I E N O

C1: NOISES (6)
C2: LOUSE (5)
DC: UNISEX (6) LIONESS (7) LESIONS (7)
OT: ELUSIONS (8)
Score: 13–7 (max 16)

Sean takes the first lead of this contest between two newcomers. Some nice words from DC but its surprising that they miss ELUSIONS.


Round 3: 8, 1, 3, 7, 5, 50. Target: 846.

C1: 844.
C2: 845. ((8+7+3-1)*50)-5 (7)
RR: 846. (50+7)*(5*3)-8-1 (10)
Score: 13–14 (max 26)

Bill hits back immediately to take a one point lead. Impressive solve by Rachel to show them how its done.


Teatime teaser: SOAPHARM -> AMPHORAS

Round 4: G P N D A O E B I

C1: BEADING (7)
C2: BEADING (7)
DC: BEGONIA (7) BONDAGE (7)
OT: BOINGED (7) DOGBANE (7)
Score: 20–21 (max 33)

The contestants max a round for the first time and Bill maintains his one point lead.

DOGBANE is a north American plant with bell shaped flowers that is reputedly poisonous to dogs.


Round 5: M D R N A O I S M

C1: DRAMS (5)
C2: INROADS (7)
DC: RANDOM (6)
OT: MONADISM (8) NOMADISM (8)
Score: 20–28 (max 41)

Nice spot by Bill, as Sean is stuck on five. Two nice eights here are missed by DC.

MONADISM is the belief in an indivisible entity such as an atom.




Round 6: 2, 10, 3, 8, 1, 100. Target: 755.

C1: -
C2: 751. ((10+8-3)*100)/2-1 (7)
RR: 755. (100+8)*(10-3)-1 (10)
Score: 20–35 (max 51)

Seven more points for Bill as Sean blanks. Once again Rachel gets the solution.



Round 7: R P T E A E K S M

C1: MARKETS (7)
C2: REPEATS (7)
DC: MEERKATS (8)
Score: 27–42 (max 59)



Round 8: V R F C I U O E L

C1: CLOVER (6)
C2: CLOVER (6)
DC: FROLIC (6) FRIVOL (6)
OT: LUCIFER (7)
Score: 33–48 (max 66)


Lucky spot for the contestants keeps the gap at 15.

LUCIFER (when not capitalised) is an archaic term for a match struck by rubbing on a rough surface.


Round 9: 7, 4, 100, 75, 25, 50. Target: 385.

C1: 391. (4*100)-((50/25)+7) (5)
C2: -
RR: 385. (((75+25)/100)+4+50)*7 (10)
Score: 38–48 (max 76)


Credit to Sean for taking a gamble with four large and his six away gets him five points to make up a bit of ground.


Teatime teaser: SUSIEROD -> DESIROUS


Round 10: R P S C A E O T A

C1: CARPETS (7)
C2: SCRAPE (6)
DC: COASTER (7)
OT: CAPROATES (18)
Score: 45–48 (max 94)


Poor round by Bill enables Sean to pull back to just three behind. There was a nine here however.

CAPROATES are salts of caproic acid.


Round 11: G B T E I O S W D

C1: BODIES (6)
C2: BODIES (6)
DC: BIGOTED (7) WIDGETS (7)
OT: BODGIES (7) GODWITS (7)
Score: 51–54 (max 101)


GODWITS are long legged wading birds.



Round 12: H N T N E U E F V

C1: HUNT (4)
C2: VENT (4)
DC: VENUE (5) EVENT (5) UNEVEN (6)
Score: 55–58 (max 107)

Bill fails to at the E to the front of his word which would’ve enable him to stretch his miniscule lead a tad. It’s been an UNEVEN game so far between these contestants



Round 13: S T N I A O L R U

C1: TAILORS (7)
C2: STRAIN (6)
DC: INSULATOR (18)
Score: 62–58 (max 125)


Bill maybe feeling the STRAIN now, having lost what was a good lead a few rounds back. Sean takes the lead for the first time since round 2 and this game is anybody’s as we reach the final round. Another nine means the game is headed for a high max.


Round 14: 3, 5, 4, 8, 10, 100. Target: 317.

C1: 317. (3*100)+10+8-(5-4) (10)
C2: 317. ((100+5)*3)+(8/4) (10)
Score: 72–68 (max 135)


Simple numbers game means a crucial conundrum.


Round 15: L O V E B R O W N

C1 buzzes on 5 seconds to say OVERBLOWN which is correct.
Final Score: 82–68 (max 145)


And its Sean from Sale that gets the conundrum to take his place in the champions chair. I’m sure few will see him as a potential series champion, but he is now a teapot owner and no one can deny him that fine piece of porcelain.

Bill seems to be fain to give praise to his victorious opponent, I would say he is one of the fainest contestants this series to give positive credit to the victor which is always nice to see in this game.



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[Ian Volante]

Round 9 numbers needs paranthetic additions.

[Andy McGurn]

"Yes, its Pa(ren)thetic isnt it"