Friday 19th April 2024 (Series 89, Preliminary 79)

[James Robinson]

Countdown recap for Friday 19 April 2024.

C1: Champion George McAlear (1 win, 93 points.) A retiree from Essex, but originally from Glasgow.
C2: Challenger Andrea Maycock. A retiree from Cornwall.
DC: Susie Dent and Les Dennis.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: D I N A L E R N A
R02: B S T O C I G S U
R03: 50, 8, 7, 3, 6, 1. Target: 826.
TTT: PUMATREK - "The goods for sale were targeted at the wealthy."
R04: V T E R N I T E M
R05: F O T E M U T A S
R06: 50, 6, 10, 5, 1, 8. Target: 215.
R07: Q I S U D E G T O
R08: D B A G P I L O D
R09: 100, 7, 3, 2, 10, 3. Target: 498.
TTT: RICHONCE - "Might you drive along this with a savoury snack?"
R10: W H R E Y S A O F
R11: T E R O W C E S I
R12: T S P U R N A E I
R13: V O L A G P E L N
R14: 25, 2, 3, 10, 4, 3. Target: 238.
R15: P L A N T O A T S (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

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

George: RAINED (6)
Andrea: DENIAL (6)
DC: ADRENAL (7) INLANDER (8)
OT: ADRENALIN (18)
Score: 6–6 (max 18)

Round 2: B S T O C I G S U

George: CUBIST (6)
Andrea: BIGOTS (6)
DC: SCOUTS (6) CUBISTS (7)
Score: 12–12 (max 25)

Round 3: 50, 8, 7, 3, 6, 1. Target: 826.

George: 818. ((8 + 7 + 1) x 50) + (6 x 3) (5)
Andrea: 824. Mistake in working.
RR: 826. (8 + 1 + 50) x (6 / 3) x 7 (10)
Score: 17–12 (max 35)

Teatime teaser: PUMATREK -> UPMARKET

Round 4: V T E R N I T E M

George: TERMITE (7)
Andrea: inventer (declared as 7 too)
DC: VET (3)
OT: VIREMENT (8)
Score: 24–12 (max 43)

Round 5: F O T E M U T A S

George: MUTATES (7)
Andrea: FAMOUS (6)
DC: TOTEM (5) SFUMATO (7)
OT: OUTSTEAM (8)
Score: 31–12 (max 51)

Round 6: 50, 6, 10, 5, 1, 8. Target: 215.

George: 212.
Andrea: 216. ((5 - 1) x 50) + 10 + 6 (7)
RR: 215. (50 - 6 - 1) x 5 (10)
Score: 31–19 (max 61)

Les talks about his recent appearance on Strictly Come Dancing.

Round 7: Q I S U D E G T O

George: OUTSIDE (7)
Andrea: QUOTED (6)
DC: SQUIDGE (7)
OT: DUGITES (7) QUOITED (7) TEDIOUS (7)
Score: 38–19 (max 68)

Round 8: D B A G P I L O D

George: PLOD (4)
Andrea: PLAID (5)
DC: BIPOD (5)
OT: ALGOID (6) GADOID (6) GIDDAP (6) LAPDOG (6) PODIAL (6)
Score: 38–24 (max 74)

Round 9: 100, 7, 3, 2, 10, 3. Target: 498.

George: -
Andrea: 498. Mistake in working.
RR: 498. ((100 x 10) - (7 - 3)) / 2 (10)
Score: 38–24 (max 84)

Teatime teaser: RICHONCE -> CORNICHE

Round 10: W H R E Y S A O F

George: FORESAW (7)
Andrea: WASHER (6)
DC: SHOWERY (7)
OT: WASHERY (7)
Score: 45–24 (max 91)

Round 11: T E R O W C E S I

George: COWRIES (7)
Andrea: COWRIES (7)
DC: crowiest ESOTERIC (8)
OT: COTERIES (8) ROWEITES (8)
Score: 52–31 (max 99)

Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "balderdash".

Round 12: T S P U R N A E I

George: PAINTERS (8)
Andrea: RETAINS (7)
DC: SPURN (5) PANTRIES (8) PURITANS (8)
OT: NEATRUPS (8) PERTAINS (8) PETUNIAS (8) PINASTER (8) PRISTANE (8) PRUINATE (8) REPAINTS (8) REPUNITS (8) RUINATES (8) SUPINATE (8) UNPRAISE (8) UNPRIEST (8) URANITES (8) URINATES (8)
Score: 60–31 (max 107)

Round 13: V O L A G P E L N

George: POLLEN (6)
Andrea: LOVAGE (6)
DC: NOVELLA (7)
OT: LONGEVAL (8) VOLPLANE (8)
Score: 66–37 (max 115)

Round 14: 25, 2, 3, 10, 4, 3. Target: 238.

George: 238. (25 x 10) - (3 x 4) (10)
Andrea: 238. (25 x 10) - (3 x 4) (10)
Score: 76–47 (max 125)

Round 15: P L A N T O A T S

No one buzzes. The answer was POSTNATAL.
Final Score: 76–47 (max 135)

Statistics Corner

George:
Total score - 76
Raw score - 87
Total % of max - 56
Raw % of max - 64
Total average score per round - 5.1
Raw average score per round - 5.8
Number of maxes - 4

Andrea:
Total score - 47
Raw score - 72
Total % of max - 35
Raw % of max - 53
Total average score per round - 3.1
Raw average score per round - 4.8
Number of maxes - 1

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=89