After seeing Chris Kirby Octo on Friday and book his place in the series 90 finals, we welcome two new contestants to the Countdown studios.........the question is who will will be walking away with the Countdown teapot ?
On this day in 1960 the long running soap opera Coronation Street is created by Granada TV make its debut on our TV screens. The programme centres on a cobbled terraced street in the fictional town of Weatherfield in Greater Manchester. The location was itself based on Salford, the hometown of the show's first screenwriter and creator, Tony Warren. It's first episode received mixed reviews and was predicted to only last three weeks, it has tranmitted over 11,000 episodes making it the longest running soap opera in history. William Roache and his character Ken Barlow remains as the longest serving character on Coronation Street. The show itself is no stranger to controversy with hard hitting storylines such as Domestic Violence and Coercive Control, Teenage Pregnancies and the highly controversial storyline about child grooming and it's character Bethany Platt. Two notable episodes that received very high viewing figures one of those was in 1987 the departure of Hilda Ogden that was aired on Christmas Day a record 26.7 million viewers tuned in to watch her final episode, in 1989 a record 27 million viewers watched the demise of Alan Bradley being hit by a Blackpool tram.
Todays show has nothing to do with British/American actor Michael Caine whose career has spanned over eight decades, he has made over 160 films in his long career. One of the most popular films of the 1960s was the crime comedy caper The Italian Job that still remains a cult classic amongst his fans..........there has been several remakes one of those was in 2003 the featured the Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg portraying the titular Character Charlie Croker that was originally portrayed by Michael Caine. The most famous line from the film itself "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!". After a glittering career that lasted eight decades Michael Caine retired from acting in 2023.
A song of the same name by the popular SKA band Madness featuring the actor Michael Caine in their promotion video was released way back in 1984 peaking at Number 11 in the UK charts
C1: Challenger Michael Kane.
C2: Challenger Gill Russell.
DC: Susie Dent and Rory Bremner.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: C S R U O M B E D
R02: G R F I O A E S N
R03: 50, 4, 1, 6, 9, 8, . Target: 342.
TTT: IRATECUT - " Catherine was distressed by a nettle"
R04: K G S N U A E L I
R05: D T G O A P S I E
R06: 50, 10, 6, 1, 6, 8. Target: 710.
R07: W T G A O H R E N
R08: J L O E A Q R I T
R09: 25, 9, 10, 6, 5, 4, . Target: 807.
TTT: SIDPETER - "Sid and Peter were the daftest people I'd ever met"
R10: F R M E A O V I N
R11: P N M A U T B E T
R12: A I D R G E O T S
R13: N S C E O T W A U
R14: 75, 1, 3, 5, 6, 2. Target: 816.
R15: S E L C H I N T Z (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: C S R U O M B E D
Michael: CRUMBED (7)
Gill: SCOURED (7)
DC: OBSCURED (8)
OT: DECORUMS (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
Sevens all round from Michael and Gill......................over in DC they get to shine with their Obscured
Round 2: G R F I O A E S N
Michael: SOARING (7)
Gill: FORAGES (7)
DC: REGAINS (7) ORGANISE (8)
OT: ROGAINES (8)
Score: 14–14 (max 16)
Sevens all round.................a couple of eights to be had Organise was the spot from DC and our recap writer..........so let's move forward.......and not complain about it !
Round 3: 50, 4, 1, 6, 9, 8. Target: 342.
C1: 342. (6 + 1) × 50 − 8 (10)
C2: 342. (6 + 1) × 50 − 8 (10)
Score: 24–24 (max 26)
Nice and straightforward from our contestants...........they have no trouble solving this bad boy !
Teatime teaser: IRATECUT -> URTICATE
Round 4: K G S N U A E L I
Michael: LEAKING (7)
Gill: LEAKING (7)
DC: SEALING (7) SLAKING (7)
OT: LINKAGES (8)
Score: 31–31 (max 34)
More of the same..............sevens all round from everybody.........one rather interesting eight missed by all with Linkages
Round 5: D T G O A P S I E
Michael: POSTAGE (7)
Gill: ADIPOSE (7)
DC: DIOPTASE (8) GODETIAS (8)
OT: PODGIEST (8)
Score: 38–38 (max 42)
Sevens all round.........Michael is stamping his authority on this round with his 7 Postage.........Gill comes up with a good 7 Adipose........
Over in DC they get to show off with their eights Godetias and the old Countdown favourite Dioptase.........which was my spot
Round 6: 50, 10, 6, 1, 6, 8. Target: 710.
C1: 710. (8 + 6) × 50 + 10 (10)
C2: 710. (8 + 6) × 50 + 10 (10)
Score: 48–48 (max 52)
Top marks for our contestants as they bag themselves 10 points each
Round 7: W T G A O H R E N
Michael: GATHER (6)
Gill: ANOTHER (7)
DC: WARTHOG (7) ANOTHER (7)
OT: NEGATOR (7) WAGONER (7) WHANGER (7)
Score: 48–55 (max 59)
Another good round from Gill with her 7 Another..............but no prizes for guessing what the rude 7 that I spotted !
Round 8: J L O E A Q R I T
Michael: JOLTIER (7)
Gill: JAILER (6)
DC: JOLTIER (7)
Score: 55–55 (max 66)
Another fine round from Mr Kane that evens up this tight contest with his seven Joltier
Round 9: 25, 9, 10, 6, 5, 4. Target: 807.
C1: 805. Mistake in working.
C2: -
RR: 806. (25 × 5 + 10) × 6 − 4 (7)
Score: 55–55 (max 73)
Both of our contestants blank this round.............Rachel says that this cannot be solved perfectly one away is as good as it gets
Teatime teaser: SIDPETER -> DERPIEST
Round 10: F R M E A O V I N
Michael: INFORM (6)
Gill: FIREMAN (7)
DC: OVERMAN (7) FERMION (7)
OT: FOAMIER (7) FORAMEN (7) FOREMAN (7) MOANIER (7) MORAINE (7) ROMAINE (7) VERMIAN (7)
Score: 55–62 (max 80)
The lead seesaws again a seven from Gill with Fireman...........now that is a man in uniform............there were a fair few 7s no extra points for spotting most of them.......enough said.......so let's move on and let it gooooooooooooooooo !!
Round 11: P N M A U T B E T
Michael: UPBEAT (6)
Gill: BATTEN (6)
DC: PUTAMEN (7)
OT: ABUTMENT (8)
Score: 61–68 (max 88)
Sixes all round..............a rather interesting eight ignored by all with Abutment
Round 12: A I D R G E O T S
Michael: STORAGE (7)
Gill: -
DC: STODGIER (8) ASTEROID (8)
OT: GODETIAS (8) GORDITAS (8)
Score: 68–68 (max 96)
A very useful seven points for Michael that levels up this rather tight contest..............however Gill blanks this round............quite a few eights to be had no extra points if you spot most of those ..........so let's move on for now !
Round 13: N S C E O T W A U
Michael: TOUCANS (7)
Gill: COUNTS (6)
DC: TOUCANS (7) CONTUSE (7) SOUTANE (7)
OT: ACETOUS (7) NOWCAST (7) NUTCASE (7) SNOWCAT (7)
Score: 75–68 (max 103)
A good round for Michael with his 7 Toucans that gives him a narrow lead.............Gill needs perfect numbers in the next round to force a crucial conundrum.........quite a few sevens nothing worth arguing over........so let's play nicely now !
Round 14: 75, 1, 3, 5, 6, 2. Target: 816.
C1: 817. (6 + 5) × 75 − (3 + 1) × 2 (7)
C2: -
RR: 816. (6 + 5) × 75 − (1 + 2) × 3 (10)
Score: 82–68 (max 113)
Sadly Gill doesn't get anywhere near............her countdown adventure has ended........and it is game over...........Michael gets a much needed 7 points that secures him the teapot........Ms Riley gets to shine and produce the perfect solution.............this can mean one thing that Michael is our new champion
Round 15: S E L C H I N T Z
No one buzzes. The answer was SCHNITZEL.
Final Score: 82–68 (max 123)
Neither contestant solves the elusive conundrum but it is left to a certain Rachel Riley and our recap writer to solve it............firstly congratulations to Michael who is the newest member of the teapot club......secondly take nothing away from Gill she gave as good as she got but sadly it wasn't to be...........you can join me for the next recap and to see if Michael can get his second win.........in the meantime.......that all folks and bye for now !
