Both contestants were returning contestants, with Massey having previously appeared in Series 48 and Newnham in Series 57.
C1: Champion Neil Massey (1 win, 84 points.)
C2: Challenger Terence Newnham.
DC: Susie Dent and Debbie McGee.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: N R S I O E L C F
R02: T S R I U I G P E
R03: 50, 2, 1, 7, 8, 7. Target: 123.
TTT: CAYMANCOP - "Set up a commercial business – just go with it"
R04: T R G T A I O P N
R05: V N M D E I A R F
R06: 25, 50, 5, 7, 4, 10. Target: 631.
R07: T S D E A M Y E T
R08: L B U O N G R A T
R09: 100, 8, 9, 8, 1, 7. Target: 534.
TTT: TINARAGES - "Tina rages at anything to do with change – she's not for it."
R10: S H R E I U N G N
R11: K M S A O G E R W
R12: D P T I U E Z T O
R13: L S W A E S A M D
R14: 100, 10, 7, 1, 9, 8. Target: 102.
R15: N I N E C A R E T (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: N R S I O E L C F
Neil: recoins
Terence: FORENSIC (8)
DC: CONIFERS (8)
OT: FORNICES (8) LICENSOR (8)
Score: 0–8 (max 8)
A great start from our challenger Terence with his eight Forensic which was my spot.............over in DC they spot an alternative eight with Conifers
A still from the highly successful TV Series Quincy ME that was created by the late great Glen A Larson who also created the highly successful and popular action crime drama Knight Rider than ran for 4 seasons and 90 episodes.Qunicy ME ran from 1976 to 1983 for eight seasons and 148 episodes during it's run. It starred the late Jack Klugman as a Medical Examiner in Los Angeles who solves crimes and deals with social issues of the time.
Round 2: T S R I U I G P E
Neil: GUSTIER (7)
Terence: PRIEST (6)
DC: GUSTIER (7) PURGES (6)
OT: GUTSIER (7) PERITUS (7) PISTEUR (7) TIPSIER (7)
Score: 7–8 (max 15)
Another good round from our champion Neil with his 7 Gustier that puts him back in it................there were a few of those..........nothing worth squabbling over...........let's play nicely now !
Round 3: 50, 2, 1, 7, 8, 7. Target: 123.
C1: 123. (50 + 8) × 2 + 7 (10)
C2: 123. (50 + 8) × 2 + 7 (10)
Score: 17–18 (max 25)
A piece of piss this solve..................I am going to count some sheep..............it is that easy !
Teatime teaser: CAYMANCOP -> ACCOMPANY
Round 4: T R G T A I O P N
Neil: pirating
Terence: PATTING (7)
DC: ROTATING (8)
Score: 17–25 (max 33)
It is clearly not Neil's day as Susie disallows his word as there is not another I in this selection of letters................our challenger gets to score with his 7 that gives him a brief but narrow lead............over in DC they get to show off with their 8 Rotating as does our recap writer !
Round 5: V N M D E I A R F
Neil: RAVINE (6)
Terence: FRAMED (6)
DC: RAVINED (7) INVADER (7) FIREMAN (7)
OT: VERMIAN (7)
Score: 23–31 (max 40)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger.................there were a few sevens to be had...........one of those was Fireman which was my spot........ now that's a man in uniform ! These guys risk their lives to save other people.............please do not misuse or abuse this service it is not a plaything for your own personal amusement..................you could be putting your own life and other peoples in jeopardy.
Round 6: 25, 50, 5, 7, 4, 10. Target: 631.
C1: -
C2: 624. (50 + 5 + 7) × 10 + 4 (5)
RR: 631. 50 ÷ (7 − 5) × 25 + 10 − 4 (10)
Score: 23–36 (max 50)
A good 7 away solve and 5 useful points for our challenger Terence who is now 13 points in this rather tight contest
Ms Riley shows us how it is done and prodcues a perfect 10
Round 7: T S D E A M Y E T
Neil: STEAMED (7)
Terence: STEAMED (7)
DC: METATES (7)
Score: 30–43 (max 57)
Sevens all round..............let's move on for now !
Round 8: L B U O N G R A T
Neil: outrang
Terence: BLOAT (5)
DC: GUNBOAT (7) LANGOUR (7)
OT: BUTANOL (7) LANGUOR (7)
Score: 30–48 (max 64)
Another disallowed word for our champion Neil as Outrang is not valid...............Terence gets to score with 5 Bloat and stretch his lead even further...........over in DC they produce a badass 7 Gunboat which was my spot as well !
Round 9: 100, 8, 9, 8, 1, 7. Target: 534.
C1: 536. (7 − 1) × 100 − 8 × 8 (7)
C2: -
RR: 535. (100 − 8) × (7 − 1) − 9 − 8 (7)
Score: 37–48 (max 71)
Another fine solve from our champion Neil that bags him 7 points.............Rachel has said that this cannot be solved perfectly.............both solutions are as good as they get
Teatime teaser: TINARAGES -> AGAINSTER *The second Teatime Teaser, againster ☓, was invalid as it had been removed in the 2024 OED word cull.
Round 10: S H R E I U N G N
Neil: SUNNIER (7)
Terence: USHERING (8)
DC: ENSURING (8)
OT: UNHINGES (8)
Score: 37–56 (max 79)
Another good round from our challenger Terence he means business with this 8 as he stretches his lead to 19 points........there were a couple more 8s to be had..............Ensuring was the one I spotted along with DC..............nothing worth squabbling over
Round 11: K M S A O G E R W
Neil: GAWKERS (7)
Terence: SMOKER (6)
DC: SMOKER (6) SOAKER (6)
Score: 44–56 (max 86)
The lead has noe been cut to 12 points with Neil's 7 Gawkers it was the only one available...............there were a few 6s to be had...........let's move on for now !
Round 12: D P T I U E Z T O
Neil: PITTED (6)
Terence: POTTED (6)
DC: PUTTIED (7) TIPTOED (7)
Score: 50–62 (max 93)
Still everything left to play for with 12 points being the difference in this rather tight contest................sixes all round from our and champion.......a couple of 7s to be had by DC...............nothing worth arguing over
Round 13: L S W A E S A M D
Neil: SALADS (6)
Terence: AMASSED (7)
DC: AMASSED (7) wassled SALADES (7)
OT: DAMSELS (7)
Score: 50–69 (max 100)
Another good round for our challenger Terence with his 7 Amassed our champion can manage a 6 with Salads............over in DC they can put an E into Salads..............and have Salades as their spot..............19 points is the difference between them both.............Our Champion needs a good numbers round and possibly force a crucial conundrum
Round 14: 100, 10, 7, 1, 9, 8. Target: 102.
C1: 102. 10 − 8 + 100 (10)
C2: 102. 9 − 7 + 100 (10)
Score: 60–79 (max 110)
Another easy one...................can only mean one thing that we have a new champion in Terence...........he will coming back tomorrow ! But Neil won't be coming back and for him it is game over
But if you look closely enough...........there was a LNAFP solution
9+8=17
17-1=16
16*7=112
112-10=102
Round 15: N I N E C A R E T
C2 buzzes on 28 seconds to say RETICENCE which is incorrect.
C1 does not buzz.
The answer was NECTARINE.
Final Score: 60–79 (max 120)
Neither contestant solves the conundrum, our challenger buzzes but guesses it incorrectly.................but it is left our recap to pick up the slack and solve it..........firstly congratulations to Terence on becoming a champion and a teapot owner yet again...........secondly take nothing away from our outgoing champion Neil who will be happy with his one win and another teapot ! You can join me for the next recap to see if Terence can bag his second win..........in the meantime it is bye for now !
