Monday 29th September 2014 (series 71, prelim 54)

[Andy McGurn]

Countdown recap for Monday 29 September 2014.

C1: Champion Michael McDowell (2 wins. 149 points) A computer programmer from Westcliff-on-sea, notched up two wins last week, including a win over c4c member, Paul Worsley


C2: Challenger Alan Chumbley. An account senior from Coventry. He’s a big fan of the Lord of the Rings books and once rejoiced when Coventry City won the FA cup at Wembley in 1987.


DC: Susie Dent and Margaret Mountford.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: C D A I N D A R E
R02: N O T A G O E T Y
R03: 5, 3, 8, 2, 10, 100. Target: 900.
TTT: DRABROSE - "they don't go home after school, they go surfing"
R04: S A G E L A G T U
R05: B S R O U P E L R
R06: 9, 6, 4, 8, 5, 50. Target: 669.
R07: U I V D M E T P I
R08: D E L I B R A S O
R09: 4, 6, 9, 9, 6, 100. Target: 945.
TTT: AGEINSUN - "he spent an age in the sun and his face turned this"
R10: K S A L E O A Z G
R11: S N T I N A I T E
R12: H A N R I E O M S
R13: Q T L E U S N E T
R14: 8, 6, 1, 10, 25, 75. Target: 596.
R15: M O I S T E G G S (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: C D A I N D A R E

Michael: DRAINED (7)
Alan: DRAINED (7)
DC: RADIANCE (8)
OT: RIDDANCE (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)

DRAINED gets both contestants on the board straight away, but there were two 8’s available





Round 2: N O T A G O E T Y

Michael: ATONE (5)
Alan: notty
DC: NOTATE (6) GENTOO (6)
OT: GOTTEN (6) TETANY (6)
Score: 12–7 (max 14)

Notty good round for Alan as Michael gets the valid word to take the lead. There were some relatively straightforward sixes there though, suggesting that this may not turn out to be the best game in terms of quality.





Round 3: 5, 3, 8, 2, 10, 100. Target: 900.

Michael: 900. (8+3-2)*100 (10)
Alan: 900. (10-(3-2))*100 (10)
Score: 22–17 (max 24)

A very simple numbers game that Rachael doesn’t write on the board.




Teatime teaser: DRABROSE -> BOARDERS

Round 4: S A G E L A G T U

Michael: STAGE (5)
Alan: lagates
DC: GATEAUS (7)
Score: 27–17 (max 31)

Alan must have misremembered LEGATES from watching previous editions of the show. Once again Michael gets five points despite it being a less than stellar round from him.



Round 5: B S R O U P E L R

Michael: PROBES (6)
Alan: BLOUSE (6)
DC: ROUBLES (7) LEPROUS (7)
OT: PELORUS (7) POURERS (7) PROBERS (7) PUEBLOS (7) PURLERS (7)
Score: 33–23 (max 38)

Not for the first time today the contestants score one below the max. There were seven sevens available however.



Round 6: 9, 6, 4, 8, 5, 50. Target: 669.

Michael: 669. ((8+6)*50)-(9*4)+5 (10)
Alan: 669. ((4+9)*50)+8+6+5 (10)
Score: 43–33 (max 48)

A slightly (but not significantly) tougher numbers round that the previous sees both contestants increase their scores by 10.




DC Guest – Margaret has recently done a doctorate in Greco-Roman studies and as a result she relates her knowledge of Greek Myth, including Helen of Troy.




Round 7: U I V D M E T P I

Michael: IMPUTED (7)
Alan: TIMID (5)
DC: TEDIUM (6)
Score: 50–33 (max 55)

This is the first letters round today in which either contestant has maxed a round and its Michael who gets it to take a 17 point lead.




Round 8: D E L I B R A S O

Michael: BRIDALS (7)
Alan: BROILED (7)
DC: DARIOLES (8)
Score: 57–40 (max 63)

One below the max is becoming a habit as the Darren is missed by both Michael and Alan.




Round 9: 4, 6, 9, 9, 6, 100. Target: 945.

Michael: 945. ((100+4)*9)+9 (10)
Alan: 944.
Score: 67–40 (max 73)

This numbers game isn’t any harder than the last one but it’s a miss for Alan who is slipping further off the pace as we reach the end of part two.



Teatime teaser: AGEINSUN -> SANGUINE

Round 10: K S A L E O A Z G

Michael: LAKES (5)
Alan: GALES (5)
DC: SOAKAGE (7)
Score: 72–45 (max 80)

A combination of LAKES and GALES may well result in SOAKAGE if one stands too near.


Round 11: S N T I N A I T E

Michael: STATEN (6)
Alan: TENNIS (6)
OT: TINNIEST (8)
Score: 78–51 (max 88)

Has anyone ever offered the word TENNIS on countdown before?



OoW – Susie explains the origin of the phrase “your name’s mud”.




Round 12: H A N R I E O M S

Michael: REMAINS (7)
Alan: MOANERS (7)
DC: HARMONISE (18) HARMONIES (18)
Score: 85–58 (max 106)

The contestants both get very easy sevens and its left to DC to shine with the two nines. The gap is 27 points and Michael looks home and dry to seal his third win.





Round 13: Q T L E U S N E T

Michael: QUEENS (6)
Alan: NETTLES (7)
DC: NUTLETS (7) LUNETTES (8)
OT: UNSETTLE (8)
Score: 85–65 (max 114)

But that winner from Alan keeps him in it as he pulls back to 20 behind with 20 points left, can he surge back to win on a tie-break?




Round 14: 8, 6, 1, 10, 25, 75. Target: 596.

Michael: 596. (75*8)-10+6 (10)
Alan: 596. ((75+25-1)*6)+(10-8) (10)
Score: 95–75 (max 124)

It turns out he can’t as we are four out of four on easy numbers games today. Michael has sealed his third win and can have a relaxin shot at the conundrum.



Round 15: M O I S T E G G S

Alan buzzes on 15 seconds to say EGOTISM which is incorrect.
Michael does not buzz.
The answer was SMOGGIEST.
Final Score: 95–75 (max 134)


Alan is some way off with his conundrum guess and Michael can’t get it either.

Despite this not being the highest standard of games Michael has managed to win with 95 points and makes it three wins. He’d be an unlikely octochamp, but anything can happen as we move through the week.

Tune in tomorrow to see if he can make it four…




Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=71

[James Robinson]

Round 11: S N T I N A I T E

Michael: STATEN (6)
Alan: TENNIS (6)
OT: TINNIEST (8)
Score: 78–51 (max 88)

Has anyone ever offered the word TENNIS on countdown before?

Yes, yes and yes.

[Innis Carson]

Round 8: D E L I B R A S O

Michael: BRIDALS (7)
Alan: BROILED (7)
DC: DARIOLES (8)
Score: 57–40 (max 63)

One below the max is becoming a habit as the Darren is missed by both Michael and Alan.

BRIDALS isn't valid, think he must have meant BRIDLES.