c4countdown

Will pre-tournament favourite Jon put the 'lime' in Corby or will Richard prove Simon Cowell right and show us all that Brittains Got talent?

(and before anyone starts, Frankie Boyle repeats his jokes too...)

Is Corby really the favourite?

I thought he was a "normal person" style underdog.


Oh well, I'll still be cheering him on tonight.

I'll put a tenner on Richard getting the word MOONSET: ie where the landings were faked

Dinos Sfyris wrote:I'll put a tenner on Richard getting the word MOONSET: ie where the landings were faked

Ian Dent wrote:Is Corby really the favourite?

I thought he was a "normal person" style underdog.


Oh well, I'll still be cheering him on tonight.

He's everything to all people.

Matthew Green wrote:Will pre-tournament favourite Jon put the 'lime' in Corby

I only just got that (I may be a little slow after a few pints at lunchtime)

Awesome.

Ian Dent wrote:Is Corby really the favourite?

Yes

PEEING may have seemed embarrassing, but I would have been declaring MINGE... which isn't even in dictionary... well, not in my ancient Chambers. Will have to check on apterous.

oh well, seems it is in ODE... not that it would have been much use...

LADIFIES beat me (very very good). Other than that, DONATOR and TORNADO as equallers. Also for the numbers, (25+7+5)*9. There's a nice 111 rule which is 37 * 3 = 111, so any target with three identical digits can be factorized that way.

And the words start with BIOPOT...

POOPIES

"There's a nice 111 rule which is 37 * 3 = 111, so any target with three identical digits can be factorized that way."

Will add that to the how-to thread if you don't mind, Martin.

Ooh, I spotted CASSATA!

[pleased]

Second Numbers Game:

(75 + 3) x 8 = 624; 624 + ((100 + 50) / 25) = 630

Third Numbers Game:

9 x (10-1) x 8 = 648; 648 + 5 = 653.

KATHERINE'S RESULTS

Letters 1 - FAILED

Letters 2 - GLOATED

Letters 3 - LOAN (oops)

Letters 4 - PEEING (oops x2)

Numbers 1 - 332 (yay - 1 off!)

Got Tea Time Teaser of TROTTERS

Letters 5 - CHAINS

Letters 6 - BIGOT

Letters 7 - EPISODE

Letters 8 - COASTS

Numbers 2 - That infamous mental freeze again!

Tea Time teaser 2 - Got MUDDIEST

Letters 9 - disallowed TOMMY

Letters 10 - HORSIER

Letters 11 - ALONE

Numbers 3 - 650 (3 off) - WELL DONE RACHEL!!!!

CONUNDRUM - Nowhere near.

Kai Laddiman wrote:And the words start with BIOPOT...

Clinically proven to enhance your digestive tract......

I got the conundrum quite quickly but blobbed on the numbers. I couldn't beat Jon on an round, apart from his disallowed word. I suppose when you have aguy who raises money for charity playing a Hilterian, not hard to choose who you want to win.

PS CASSATA I suppose comes from the Italian CASSARE which means to break. Am I right?

Jon Corby wrote:

Matthew Green wrote:Will pre-tournament favourite Jon put the 'lime' in Corby

I only just got that (I may be a little slow after a few pints at lunchtime)

Awesome.

I don't get it! lol!

Another alternative to 3rd numbers game:- 4 + 9 = 13 x 10 - 1 = 129 x 5 + 8

I'm completely taken aback by today's show. I'd never seen a show with Richard Brittain before, but the guy appears to be nearly illiterate, not to mention a bit of a cock. How on earth did he win a series? Did the other finalists not show up?

Martin Gardner wrote:...playing a Hilterian...

He liks Paris Hilton?

Seriously though SALONEEN? The way Susie pretended it might actually be plausible was quality!

Stewart Holden wrote: How on earth did he win a series?

Witchcraft?

Excellent performance from Jon, thought there was a perfect game in the offing until the CASSATA round.

On the downside I can't think of another game with such diabolical letters selections. I had a 3 in the MOTIF round. Hopefullly the shuffling was sorted out for the later games or we could have same painful rounds coming up.

Matthew Green wrote:Will pre-tournament favourite Jon put the 'lime' in Corby

lulz

Hold on Countmax lists GANDISEEG as a valid word

Corby + LIME= Cor bLIMEy, just for those who struggled like me...

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Hold on Countmax lists GANDISEEG as a valid word

You must have an old version then

would mAake basis for great cryptic crossword clue. nice spot.

Flippin' 'eck, Corby goes well with lime (3, 6)

Stewart Holden wrote:I'm completely taken aback by today's show. I'd never seen a show with Richard Brittain before, but the guy appears to be nearly illiterate, not to mention a bit of a cock. How on earth did he win a series? Did the other finalists not show up?

I say we applaud Richard for having the balls to turn up and compete in CoC. I know Richard was far from his best because he was relatively out of practise. But he won a series containing Steven Briers, which takes some doing. Moreover, the prospect of playing Corby must have been off putting but he came nevertheless, rather than staying at home and shitting his pants. Takes some guts, hey Stewart? As someone who's met the guy, I can say he is slightly eccentric and downright weird at times. But a cock he is not.

or

Add lime to get amazing player (5)

or

Flippin' 'eck, Corby eats lime! (3, 6)

OK, am shutting up now.

PS I know nothing about RB, saw him for first time today, but he looked to me like he was extremely uncomfortable. It's easy for people to come across as cold when actually they're just shy, nervous, struggling to conform, whatever.

Yeah I've only ever beaten one series champ in real life or Apterous, which is Richard Brittain, and I think I've beaten him three times out of four. In one game when I got slightly ahead (not that much) he started going for completely made up stuff. So yeah, I think he's out of practice. Re: perfect game, I think Corby only missed the max in three rounds? Of course for CASSATO^ and the conundrum, he didn't score anything.

For more general stuff, the fact that Rachel puts the numbers up more slowly means you can actually write them down in time! Not to mention, isn't that the first time she's beaten the contestants on the numbers? Well done!

Junaid Mubeen wrote:I say we applaud Richard for having the balls to turn up and compete in CoC. I know Richard was far from his best because he was relatively out of practise. But he won a series containing Steven Briers, which takes some doing. Moreover, the prospect of playing Corby must have been off putting but he came nevertheless, rather than staying at home and shitting his pants. Takes some guts, hey Stewart? As someone who's met the guy, I can say he is slightly eccentric and downright weird at times. But a cock he is not.

I have hardly watched the show in the last five years so I don't know how good Corby or Briers are or aren't, I was just going on my impression of him today combined with realising halfway through that he'd won a series in the past. His level of ability seems very questionable (OMMIT* ??) and messing around on the conundrum like that in a CofC, or any show for that matter, is enough to earn the 'cock' epithet from me. If I'm wrong then so be it, I'm just saying what I saw.

Paul Howe wrote:Excellent performance from Jon, thought there was a perfect game in the offing until the CASSATA round.

On the downside I can't think of another game with such diabolical letters selections. I had a 3 in the MOTIF round. Hopefullly the shuffling was sorted out for the later games or we could have same painful rounds coming up.

Matthew Green wrote:Will pre-tournament favourite Jon put the 'lime' in Corby

lulz

I got OMIT in this round. I still haven't checked my 'risky five' from earlier in the game. It's true that the letters shuffling has changed, maybe they've just gone for pure randomness, I don't know.

Clare Sudbery wrote:I know nothing about RB, saw him for first time today, but he looked to me like he was extremely uncomfortable. It's easy for people to come across as cold when actually they're just shy, nervous, struggling to conform, whatever.

Was a bit cringeworthy watching RB shrink in his seat as Jeff read out his hobbies - chess, birdwatching, classical music, and another, trainspotting or something.
I'm not rubbishing any of these hobbies by the way, but I've certainly experienced plenty of geeks who don't like to be reminded how geeky they are.

Richard Brittain is my new hero.

Matt Morrison wrote:

Clare Sudbery wrote:I know nothing about RB, saw him for first time today, but he looked to me like he was extremely uncomfortable. It's easy for people to come across as cold when actually they're just shy, nervous, struggling to conform, whatever.

Was a bit cringeworthy watching RB shrink in his seat as Jeff read out his hobbies - chess, birdwatching, classical music, and another, trainspotting or something.
I'm not rubbishing any of these hobbies by the way, but I've certainly experienced plenty of geeks who don't like to be reminded how geeky they are.

The one you forgot was collecting wild mushrooms

Chris Corby wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:Was a bit cringeworthy watching RB shrink in his seat as Jeff read out his hobbies - chess, birdwatching, classical music, and another, trainspotting or something.

The one you forgot was collecting wild mushrooms

That was the one!
I reckon he's a bit leftfield, rather than sorting them by alphabetical order of latin names, they're organised by Mushroom Power Factor, a combination of deadliness and depth of colour.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to watch the show yet. But, I'm curious as to why I inspire such hatred in a certain nerdy section of the population.

Matt, I don't consider any of those hobbies geeky, apart from chess, and I don't recall shrinking in my seat. If I was, it had nothing to do with what Jeff was saying.

I was considering replying to all the wild and wacky accusations directed at me in this thread, but then I thought... nah. Instead, I suggest some of you get out more.

Matthew Green wrote:Richard Brittain is my new hero.

Thank you.

Matt Morrison wrote: and another, trainspotting or something.
I'm not rubbishing any of these hobbies by the way, but I've certainly experienced plenty of geeks who don't like to be reminded how geeky they are.

Oi, lay off the trainspotting mate. You clearly are stereotyping that trainspotters are geeks and some aren't. Admittedly a few are but I'm sure you get that in a lot of hobbies which involve obsession, uh hum....

Oh and for what it's worth, I didn't speak to Brittain much whilst in the studio but watching from the audience, I was absolutely amazed at how much he was risking. No offence, when he buzzed instantly for the conundrum, I knew he'd say "sorry I've fluffed it" but he actually tried guessing a ridiculous word which I couldn't help but laugh at. It certainly has been the most "odd" performance so far.

Richard Brittain wrote:Matt, I don't consider any of those hobbies geeky, apart from chess.

Didn't mean to cause any offence which is why I did my best to make it clear I wasn't rubbishing any of the aforementioned hobbies.
(hope you weren't suggesting I was hating on you - I suggest you maintain your tactics of ignoring it 'cos other threads seem to be even more scatching of you, no idea why)

Admittedly you can make any 'cool' hobby 'geeky' eg. skateboarding - keeping a list of all the places you've skated in a book and marking them out of 10 for excitement and ride smoothness
...just like you can make any 'geeky' hobby 'cool' eg. trainspotting - get a group of mates, break into a trainyard, last one to find the train with the lowest number has to run round naked smeared in oil

You have every right to not think of those hobbies as geeky, but I fear you'll be in the minority.

Kirk Bevins wrote:Oi, lay off the trainspotting mate. You clearly are stereotyping that trainspotters are geeks and some aren't.

Hehe... again no offence intended, my granddad's a trainspotter and I've got 'nuff respect for him!
Though he's nowadays more a simple 'train photographer' - it's the jotting down numbers in a book I've never understood - can you explain what it is that you're actually noting, and where the pleasure is derived from? Maybe I'd understand it better if you could, but again, certainly don't hold it against anyone - each to their own. I used to collect trading cards and cut bits out of magazines until I discovered how cool I was.

Richard Brittain wrote: Matt, I don't consider any of those hobbies geeky

I certainly don't think birdwatching is geeky, especially given the success of Springwatch and Autumnwatch. It's almost mainstream now. Comedian Rory McGrath is a birdwatcher and has penned his autobiography, giving it the title 'Bearded Tit'. A very good book, Richard!

Are you doing the Back Garden Birdwatch the weekend after next?

No Katherine, I don't watch any of that stuff. In fact I would consider that quite geeky, watching an eggy BBC show with Alan Titchmarsh, doing what he says and grouping together with other BBC-style people carrying unnecessary plastic walking sticks. My birdwatching involves going out into the hills and sitting with a pair of leather-bound binoculars, watching while contemplating the meaning of Leviticus. The same applies to mushrooming. I don't note anything down.

Oh dear - I normally go birdwatching with my Opticron GS815 telescope with 20-60x zoom lens and tripod, together with my Opticron Savanna 8x42 binoculars....... first bird I saw through the telescope was a Slavonian Grebe....

** adopts shifty facial expression and goes to ground **

Matt Morrison wrote: ...just like you can make any 'geeky' hobby 'cool' eg. trainspotting - get a group of mates, break into a trainyard, last one to find the train with the lowest number has to run round naked smeared in oil

Ha, I'd easily win. I can tell just from looking at the type of wagon if it's a 500-series wagon, or a '460' ballast wagon or a 4 digit green 34xx box.

As for what we do, without explaining it fully as I get fed up with explaining, is we write down the train number (and this makes sense to us, it's not random) and underline them in pre-printed books which list all the trains that exist. Your task is to find them all.

The difficulties come that some trains may only run in Scotland (such as Scotrail units) so you have some travelling to do. Passenger trains are easiest (particularly long distance services, e.g. two days on Doncaster station and you've cleared your National Expresses) but wagons are the most fun and hardest as one day they could be carrying stuff to Cornwall and the next they are on the Doncaster - Aberdeen freight train. It's such a nice feeling (well, comparatively!) when you see a train that you haven't seen since you started spotting 15 years ago.

Ha! Great stuff Kirk... I do have more of an appreciation of trains than you'd probably think, entirely down to my granddad of course. He tells me from time to time about certain train passing through our station, I find it interesting to listen to other people talking about their passions regardless of what those passions are (to a certain extent), and I've often accompanied him down to the sea wall to take a picture of some special edition steam service or a rare diesel engine or something, though my interest has of course been almost entirely about the photography. Some of my earliest memories are having a ride on the Christmas Special they used to run on the Watercress Line, and of drawing pictures of Intercity 125s on family holidays down to Devon before I lived here.

In fact I read in the local paper the other day that the point where the track meets the sea wall and begins running alongside the coast here in Teignmouth is the #1 most photographed train line in the whole of the UK? It is rather beautiful, especially in summer.

And thanks also for your explanations - I presume numbers refer to specific engines as opposed to anything less fixed like routes and lines? Must be a pretty hard hobby to organise too, what with new engines being made all the time and old ones being retired and the rolling stock always changing? I suppose the idea is more to please yourself by spotting a rare one (as you say) than by spotting them all (as you say, but I imagine with tongue firmly in cheek). But when you spot a rare engine (is it just engines, or coaches too?) do you know it is rare by its number or by looking at it, and the number is just a means of tracking it?

Matt Morrison wrote: In fact I read in the local paper the other day that the point where the track meets the sea wall and begins running alongside the coast here in Teignmouth is the #1 most photographed train line in the whole of the UK? It is rather beautiful, especially in summer.

And thanks also for your explanations - I presume numbers refer to specific engines as opposed to anything less fixed like routes and lines? Must be a pretty hard hobby to organise too, what with new engines being made all the time and old ones being retired and the rolling stock always changing? I suppose the idea is more to please yourself by spotting a rare one (as you say) than by spotting them all (as you say, but I imagine with tongue firmly in cheek). But when you spot a rare engine (is it just engines, or coaches too?) do you know it is rare by its number or by looking at it, and the number is just a means of tracking it?

Ah yes, I've been to Teignmouth a few times and indeed that stretch of line between Starcross and Dawlish is photographed often.

You don't often get "rare" trains. If you were to see a Scotrail unit down south, this could be classed as "rare" even though it's common as muck up North. What you mean by "rare" is (I think) ones that I've never seen before. When you've done it for so long, I don't need my book to check as you memorise them. Imagine a list of 35 class 87s, all numbered 87001 to 87035. These are locos pulling passengers (sadly most are abroad/scrapped now). Imagine having them all underlined apart from say 87023. A big gap in the book and you've wanted it for years. You spend hours on loads of stations and keep noting 87013, 87024 (close!) and so on - when you finally get 87023 it's great. It's not "rare" (as it might be common for someone else), it's just "rare" for you I suppose.

It's a bit like real life bingo stretching the UK, but more fun and more cold.

Every year new books come out with updated lists based on what's changed the previous year. Spotters don't have to wait all year though - there are many groups/sites/forums online that discuss new locos or wagons coming into the country and their number series, or indeed buy magazines which are ridiculously overpriced.

P.s Charlie or whoever, could you perhaps move these discussions to Off-topic?

Kirk Bevins wrote:P.s Charlie or whoever, could you perhaps move these discussions to Off-topic?

Can we call the topic "Extremely geeky hobbies" just to annoy Kirk and Richard?
But yes, sorry, I kind of got carried away - should have moved it elsewhere first. I might get round to replying you and pestering you with more queries if/when Charlie moves it, Kirk.

I thought Corby was great, it's a shame I missed his series. Is a Corby-O'Donnell final possible? Cos if it is it could well be the best final ever .

Jimmy wrote:I thought Corby was great, it's a shame I missed his series. Is a Corby-O'Donnell final possible? Cos if it is it could well be the best final ever .

They cannot meet until the final - that is correct

I declared MINGE in front of my parents, but I didn't get any kind of reaction.

Also, does anyone else agree that there may as well have been a sack of potatoes in Andrew Sachs's place? Did he even say anything apart from at the start and in his fast-forward slot? I noticed Susie glancing at him several times as if she was desperate for some kind of contribution.

Strangest selection of letters I have ever seen.One round only contained five different letters,one treble and two doubles .In another round there was three Us.I don,t think I have ever seen three Us in the whole of a game before.
Still it was nice to see the show again even though it seems weird without Carol.

jeff wharton wrote:Strangest selection of letters I have ever seen.One round only contained five different letters,one treble and two doubles .In another round there was three Us.I don,t think I have ever seen three Us in the whole of a game before.
Still it was nice to see the show again even though it seems weird without Carol.

I wonder if anybody can name a word with 3 U's within 9 letters? I can't.

Jimmy wrote:I wonder if anybody can name a word with 3 U's within 9 letters? I can't.

thought I'd end up finding something starting with UN... but it turned out to be VULTUROUS

Jimmy wrote:I wonder if anybody can name a word with 3 U's within 9 letters? I can't.

I can't either, I'll have to give it some thought. Unusually, nobody else has beaten me to this...

Edit: Damn you Matt...

Matt Morrison wrote:

Jimmy wrote:I wonder if anybody can name a word with 3 U's within 9 letters? I can't.

thought I'd end up finding something starting with UN... but it turned out to be VULTUROUS

UNUSUALLY, LUXURIOUS, QUERULOUS, SUCCUBOUS, HUMUNGOUS...

Jon Corby wrote:UNUSUALLY, LUXURIOUS, QUERULOUS, SUCCUBOUS, HUMUNGOUS...

props for UNUSUALLY and HUMUNGOUS. I doubt UNVACUOUS works but I needed to find an UN of my own :-p

My post was too subtle

Next time I'll just so straight to the Thread of Brag.