Thursday 31st October 2024 (Series 90, Preliminary 82)
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 10:16 pm
Hello and Welcome to another Thursday recap ! Today is Halloween ..............will today's show end in a bloodbath or will it be a trick or treat ! Or will the Countdown team be generous enough to hand out some lovely candies !
And here is the Countdown set decorated for Halloween
To celebrate Halloween let's indulge in some of the best horror films from different decades
One of the best horror movies of the 1970s The Omen that was released in 1976 and directed by the late Richard Donner and written by David Seltzer. The film's plot follows Damien Thorn, a young child replaced at birth by his father, unbeknownst to his wife, after their biological child dies shortly after birth. As a series of mysterious events and violent deaths occur around the family and Damien enters childhood, they come to learn he is in fact the prophesied Antichrist. It was a box office success grossing over $60M worldwide, a remake in 2006 was just as successful grossing over $120M at the box office but it received mixed reviews.
Now who doesn't like Italian horror flicks ? both of these were directed by the late Lucio Fulci who garnered an international cult following for his giallo and horror films. The Black Cat that was released in 1981 which is based The film is based loosely on the 1843 story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe..........as it is Halloween I thought that this would be appropriate ! City of the Living Dead (Italian: Paura nella città dei morti viventi, lit. 'Fear in the city of the living dead', also released as The Gates of Hell) is a 1980 Italian supernatural horror film co-written and directed by Lucio Fulci............if you like blood and gore then this is for you............it is certainly not for the faint hearted or the squeamish.......as I have found out the hard way !
One more honourable mention goes to Trick or Treat is a 1986 American supernatural slasher film. The plot centers on an outcast metalhead teenager who is haunted by the ghost of his rock hero. Despite initially mixed reviews, Trick or Treat has developed a cult following.
Finally last but not least............ Candyman is a 1992 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Bernard Rose and starring Virginia Madsen, and the late Tony Todd, Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons, and Vanessa E. Williams. Based on Clive Barker's short story "The Forbidden", the film follows a Chicago graduate student completing a thesis on urban legends and folklore, which leads her to the legend of the "Candyman", the hook-handed ghost of Daniel Robitaille, an African-American artist and son of a slave who was murdered in the late 19th century for his relationship with the daughter of a wealthy white man, who now appears whenever his name is chanted 5 times in front of the mirror. The music is composed by American composer Philip Glass. It was remade in 2021 as a more up to date version.
C1: Champion David Roe (3 wins, 285 points.)
C2: Challenger Will Rogers.
DC: Susie Dent and Neil Delamere.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: T N A E W R O F E
R02: A U D M R W O A O
R03: 9, 2, 6, 8, 3, 8. Target: 344.
TTT: HIGHSOUL - "The spooky character reminds me of a small Yorkshire town."
R04: T E O S P E S O N
R05: P E G L I E G P M
R06: 100, 9, 5, 8, 4, 7. Target: 567.
R07: N Q S I U E N S R
R08: A D L N I E C G E
R09: 75, 100, 50, 25, 2, 6. Target: 151.
TTT: GOREEMUS - "Took part in grisly activities at the allotment"
R10: S L G A E Y O I R
R11: T M K U E I T R O
R12: T L S A E D O N F
R13: T I H E S T V A C
R14: 25, 8, 4, 9, 2, 3. Target: 299.
R15: B H A L O W E E N (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: T N A E W R O F E
David: FOREWENT (8)
Will: entree
DC: ORNATE (6)
Score: 8–0 (max 8)
A great start from our champion David with his eight Forewent..........but not for Will sadly Entree is valid but there is no spare E in this selection of letters....... lets move on
Round 2: A U D M R W O A O
David: MARAUD (6)
Will: AWARD (5)
DC: MARAUD (6) DRAMA (5)
OT: AMADOU (6)
Score: 14–0 (max 14)
Another fine round from David with hids 6 Maraud which was the spot from DC as well.............it is not Will's day as he comes up short and doesn't score.............so let's move forward
Round 3: 9, 2, 6, 8, 3, 8. Target: 344.
C1: -
C2: -
RR: 344. (8 × 6 − 3 − 2) × 8 (10)
Score: 14–0 (max 24)
Both contestants draw a blank in this round...........allowing Rachel to mop up and produce the perfect solution
Teatime teaser: HIGHSOUL -> GHOULISH
Round 4: T E O S P E S O N
David: poteens
Will: -
DC: STEPSON (7)
OT: PENTOSES (8)
Score: 14–0 (max 32)
Both our champion and challenger draw a blank in this round with David having a word disallowed by Susie and Will not declaring a word..........over in DC they get to shine with their relatively good 7 stepson............but there was a good 8 missed by all Pentoses
Round 5: P E G L I E G P M
David: IMPEL (5)
Will: pegleg
DC: MEGILP (6)
Score: 19–0 (max 38)
What a nasty set letters our champion does well to get a five out of it...........sadly not for Will though as Susie disallows his six Peg-Leg is specified as two words he needs some points to avoid a whitewash............over DC they get to shine with their 6 Meglip
Round 6: 100, 9, 5, 8, 4, 7. Target: 567.
C1: 567. (100 − 8 × 5 + 7 − 4) × 9 (10)
C2: 567. 100 × 5 + 9 × 7 + 4 (10)
Score: 29–10 (max 48)
At long last Will gets some points on the board...............not too taxing when it comes to this numbers solve.........nice and straightforward
Round 7: N Q S I U E N S R
David: SQUIRES (7)
Will: INSURES (7)
DC: SEQUINS (7) SINNERS (7)
OT: NURSIES (7) SUNNIER (7) SUNNIES (7) SUNRISE (7) UNRISEN (7)
Score: 36–17 (max 55)
Sevens all round............nothing having a catfight over.........so let's jump to the next round
Round 8: A D L N I E C G E
David: LEADING (7)
Will: LEADING (7)
DC: ANGELIC (7) ENCAGED (7)
OT: ALIGNED (7) ANGLICE (7) CLANGED (7) CLEANED (7) DEALIGN (7) DEALING (7) DECLINE (7) DELEING (7) ELEGIAC (7) ENLACED (7) GALENIC (7) GLANCED (7) GLEANED (7) LINEAGE (7)
Score: 43–24 (max 62)
Again more of the same let's move on
Round 9: 75, 100, 50, 25, 2, 6. Target: 151.
C1: 151. 100 + 50 + 75 ÷ 25 − 2 (10)
C2: 151. 100 + 50 + 75 ÷ 25 − 2 (10)
Score: 53–34 (max 72)
Enough said..............a piece of piss when it comes to this solve that bags our champion and challenger 10 points each
Teatime teaser: GOREEMUS -> GRUESOME
Round 10: S L G A E Y O I R
David: GREASILY (8)
Will: GOALIES (7)
DC: GREASILY (8) GORY (4)
OT: GASOLIER (8) GIRASOLE (8) SERAGLIO (8)
Score: 61–34 (max 80)
Our champion is on fire with his eight Greasily.............then again so is our recap writer who spots the old Countdown favourite Seraglio as her eight
Round 11: T M K U E I T R O
David: mottie
Will: MUTER (5)
DC: TIMEOUT (7)
Score: 61–39 (max 87)
Our champion has six his disallowed by Susie but the damage is minor at this point as he has a healthy lead over our challenger Will.........but over in DC they get to shine with their seven Timeout......because it's Halloween I am going with a sparkly GIF
Round 12: T L S A E D O N F
David: FONDLES (7)
Will: FLOATED (7)
DC: SLANTED (7) FONDLES (7) FLOATED (7)
OT: DALTONS (7) DENTALS (7) DONATES (7) ENFOLDS (7) ETALONS (7) FANTODS (7) FOLATES (7) FONDEST (7) SANDLOT (7) TALONED (7) TENFOLD (7)
Score: 68–46 (max 94)
Sevens all round............nothing worth having a scrap over.........so let's jump ahead to the next round
Round 13: T I H E S T V A C
David: AITCHES (7)
Will: ATHEIST (7)
DC: ACHIEST (7) ACTIVES (7)
OT: CATTIES (7) CATTISH (7) STAITHE (7) STATICE (7) STATIVE (7) TITCHES (7)
Score: 75–53 (max 101)
More of the same...........let's move on
Round 14: 25, 8, 4, 9, 2, 3. Target: 299.
C1: 299. (8 + 4) × 25 − (3 − 2) (10)
C2: 300.
Score: 85–53 (max 111)
Another fine solve from our champion David that sews up his 4th win
Round 15: B H A L O W E E N
C1 buzzes on 26 seconds to say WHALEBONE which is correct.
Final Score: 95–53 (max 121)
Another fine game from our champion David who is going rather well at the moment.........now the question is can he reach the dizzying heights of octo-champdom next week ? Will gave as good as he got but sadly it wasn't to be...............Join me again for the next recap.........in the meantime it is bye now for and happy Halloween
And here is the Countdown set decorated for Halloween
To celebrate Halloween let's indulge in some of the best horror films from different decades
One of the best horror movies of the 1970s The Omen that was released in 1976 and directed by the late Richard Donner and written by David Seltzer. The film's plot follows Damien Thorn, a young child replaced at birth by his father, unbeknownst to his wife, after their biological child dies shortly after birth. As a series of mysterious events and violent deaths occur around the family and Damien enters childhood, they come to learn he is in fact the prophesied Antichrist. It was a box office success grossing over $60M worldwide, a remake in 2006 was just as successful grossing over $120M at the box office but it received mixed reviews.
Now who doesn't like Italian horror flicks ? both of these were directed by the late Lucio Fulci who garnered an international cult following for his giallo and horror films. The Black Cat that was released in 1981 which is based The film is based loosely on the 1843 story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe..........as it is Halloween I thought that this would be appropriate ! City of the Living Dead (Italian: Paura nella città dei morti viventi, lit. 'Fear in the city of the living dead', also released as The Gates of Hell) is a 1980 Italian supernatural horror film co-written and directed by Lucio Fulci............if you like blood and gore then this is for you............it is certainly not for the faint hearted or the squeamish.......as I have found out the hard way !
One more honourable mention goes to Trick or Treat is a 1986 American supernatural slasher film. The plot centers on an outcast metalhead teenager who is haunted by the ghost of his rock hero. Despite initially mixed reviews, Trick or Treat has developed a cult following.
Finally last but not least............ Candyman is a 1992 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Bernard Rose and starring Virginia Madsen, and the late Tony Todd, Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons, and Vanessa E. Williams. Based on Clive Barker's short story "The Forbidden", the film follows a Chicago graduate student completing a thesis on urban legends and folklore, which leads her to the legend of the "Candyman", the hook-handed ghost of Daniel Robitaille, an African-American artist and son of a slave who was murdered in the late 19th century for his relationship with the daughter of a wealthy white man, who now appears whenever his name is chanted 5 times in front of the mirror. The music is composed by American composer Philip Glass. It was remade in 2021 as a more up to date version.
C1: Champion David Roe (3 wins, 285 points.)
C2: Challenger Will Rogers.
DC: Susie Dent and Neil Delamere.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: T N A E W R O F E
R02: A U D M R W O A O
R03: 9, 2, 6, 8, 3, 8. Target: 344.
TTT: HIGHSOUL - "The spooky character reminds me of a small Yorkshire town."
R04: T E O S P E S O N
R05: P E G L I E G P M
R06: 100, 9, 5, 8, 4, 7. Target: 567.
R07: N Q S I U E N S R
R08: A D L N I E C G E
R09: 75, 100, 50, 25, 2, 6. Target: 151.
TTT: GOREEMUS - "Took part in grisly activities at the allotment"
R10: S L G A E Y O I R
R11: T M K U E I T R O
R12: T L S A E D O N F
R13: T I H E S T V A C
R14: 25, 8, 4, 9, 2, 3. Target: 299.
R15: B H A L O W E E N (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: T N A E W R O F E
David: FOREWENT (8)
Will: entree
DC: ORNATE (6)
Score: 8–0 (max 8)
A great start from our champion David with his eight Forewent..........but not for Will sadly Entree is valid but there is no spare E in this selection of letters....... lets move on
Round 2: A U D M R W O A O
David: MARAUD (6)
Will: AWARD (5)
DC: MARAUD (6) DRAMA (5)
OT: AMADOU (6)
Score: 14–0 (max 14)
Another fine round from David with hids 6 Maraud which was the spot from DC as well.............it is not Will's day as he comes up short and doesn't score.............so let's move forward
Round 3: 9, 2, 6, 8, 3, 8. Target: 344.
C1: -
C2: -
RR: 344. (8 × 6 − 3 − 2) × 8 (10)
Score: 14–0 (max 24)
Both contestants draw a blank in this round...........allowing Rachel to mop up and produce the perfect solution
Teatime teaser: HIGHSOUL -> GHOULISH
Round 4: T E O S P E S O N
David: poteens
Will: -
DC: STEPSON (7)
OT: PENTOSES (8)
Score: 14–0 (max 32)
Both our champion and challenger draw a blank in this round with David having a word disallowed by Susie and Will not declaring a word..........over in DC they get to shine with their relatively good 7 stepson............but there was a good 8 missed by all Pentoses
Round 5: P E G L I E G P M
David: IMPEL (5)
Will: pegleg
DC: MEGILP (6)
Score: 19–0 (max 38)
What a nasty set letters our champion does well to get a five out of it...........sadly not for Will though as Susie disallows his six Peg-Leg is specified as two words he needs some points to avoid a whitewash............over DC they get to shine with their 6 Meglip
Round 6: 100, 9, 5, 8, 4, 7. Target: 567.
C1: 567. (100 − 8 × 5 + 7 − 4) × 9 (10)
C2: 567. 100 × 5 + 9 × 7 + 4 (10)
Score: 29–10 (max 48)
At long last Will gets some points on the board...............not too taxing when it comes to this numbers solve.........nice and straightforward
Round 7: N Q S I U E N S R
David: SQUIRES (7)
Will: INSURES (7)
DC: SEQUINS (7) SINNERS (7)
OT: NURSIES (7) SUNNIER (7) SUNNIES (7) SUNRISE (7) UNRISEN (7)
Score: 36–17 (max 55)
Sevens all round............nothing having a catfight over.........so let's jump to the next round
Round 8: A D L N I E C G E
David: LEADING (7)
Will: LEADING (7)
DC: ANGELIC (7) ENCAGED (7)
OT: ALIGNED (7) ANGLICE (7) CLANGED (7) CLEANED (7) DEALIGN (7) DEALING (7) DECLINE (7) DELEING (7) ELEGIAC (7) ENLACED (7) GALENIC (7) GLANCED (7) GLEANED (7) LINEAGE (7)
Score: 43–24 (max 62)
Again more of the same let's move on
Round 9: 75, 100, 50, 25, 2, 6. Target: 151.
C1: 151. 100 + 50 + 75 ÷ 25 − 2 (10)
C2: 151. 100 + 50 + 75 ÷ 25 − 2 (10)
Score: 53–34 (max 72)
Enough said..............a piece of piss when it comes to this solve that bags our champion and challenger 10 points each
Teatime teaser: GOREEMUS -> GRUESOME
Round 10: S L G A E Y O I R
David: GREASILY (8)
Will: GOALIES (7)
DC: GREASILY (8) GORY (4)
OT: GASOLIER (8) GIRASOLE (8) SERAGLIO (8)
Score: 61–34 (max 80)
Our champion is on fire with his eight Greasily.............then again so is our recap writer who spots the old Countdown favourite Seraglio as her eight
Round 11: T M K U E I T R O
David: mottie
Will: MUTER (5)
DC: TIMEOUT (7)
Score: 61–39 (max 87)
Our champion has six his disallowed by Susie but the damage is minor at this point as he has a healthy lead over our challenger Will.........but over in DC they get to shine with their seven Timeout......because it's Halloween I am going with a sparkly GIF
Round 12: T L S A E D O N F
David: FONDLES (7)
Will: FLOATED (7)
DC: SLANTED (7) FONDLES (7) FLOATED (7)
OT: DALTONS (7) DENTALS (7) DONATES (7) ENFOLDS (7) ETALONS (7) FANTODS (7) FOLATES (7) FONDEST (7) SANDLOT (7) TALONED (7) TENFOLD (7)
Score: 68–46 (max 94)
Sevens all round............nothing worth having a scrap over.........so let's jump ahead to the next round
Round 13: T I H E S T V A C
David: AITCHES (7)
Will: ATHEIST (7)
DC: ACHIEST (7) ACTIVES (7)
OT: CATTIES (7) CATTISH (7) STAITHE (7) STATICE (7) STATIVE (7) TITCHES (7)
Score: 75–53 (max 101)
More of the same...........let's move on
Round 14: 25, 8, 4, 9, 2, 3. Target: 299.
C1: 299. (8 + 4) × 25 − (3 − 2) (10)
C2: 300.
Score: 85–53 (max 111)
Another fine solve from our champion David that sews up his 4th win
Round 15: B H A L O W E E N
C1 buzzes on 26 seconds to say WHALEBONE which is correct.
Final Score: 95–53 (max 121)
Another fine game from our champion David who is going rather well at the moment.........now the question is can he reach the dizzying heights of octo-champdom next week ? Will gave as good as he got but sadly it wasn't to be...............Join me again for the next recap.........in the meantime it is bye now for and happy Halloween