On this day in 1953 English musician and multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield was born. In 1973 he released his debut album Tubular Bells at the age of 19 where he played most of the instruments himself ! it was rejected by all the major record labels before catching the attention of Richard Branson who signed Mike Oldfield to his fledgling record label Virgin Records making them rather rich in the process, sales were slow at first but quickly gained attention when a segment of Tubular Bells was used in the successful 1973 horror flick The Exorcist this helped increase the sales of the album sending it to top of the album charts dislodging his own album Hergest Ridge off the top and becoming the second artist to have done so, this raised the profile of Mike Oldfield as a musician and also his popularity.
Other notable highlights in his career include his 1976 smash hit Portsmouth a favourite amongst the Pompey faithful as their walk on song when their football team Portsmouth FC enter the pitch, he went on to compose a theme tune to the popular children's TV programme Blue Peter in 1979. Mike Oldfield went to compose a film soundtrack to the 1984 film The Killing Fields which is about the Cambodian genocide and in 1988 segments of his fifth album Platinum were used in the children's quiz show First Class. He has performed in the 2012 London Olympics using sections of his well known works, after a long career Mike Oldfield retired from the music business in 2023.
And here is the debut album of Mike Oldfield all in it's glory, it was one of the most popular albums of the 1970s selling over 15 million copies worldwide, and winning a Grammy Award for the best instrumental composition in 1974. It is one of my all time favourite albums and one that I own........ as does a fair few households !
C1: Champion Rachel Evans (2 wins, 195 points.)
C2: Challenger Deborah Maguire.
DC: Susie Dent and Richie Anderson .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: U A I K L G S E B
R02: D U T N E P T O N
R03: 50, 25, 8, 6, 1, 5, . Target: 551.
TTT: MOLEWHALE - "She cleared everything off her plate, including the brown bread."
R04: V I F E H R I N D
R05: P E T I A D S E M
R06: 100, 9, 7, 6, 4, 10. Target: 342.
R07: S D G L I A O I P
R08: X T M A U O N T E
R09: 25, 75, 100, 50, 6, 4, . Target: 944.
TTT: THICKCAPS - "The men mark the papers as correct, but need some lip treatment"
R10: L U G S I T E J A
R11: R I C O R E B H O
R12: S W E C U R L E S
R13: A E I M S N E T C
R14: 25, 5, 2, 6, 2, 1. Target: 601.
R15: M U T T I M A U L (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Enjoy the show.
Round 1: U A I K L G S E B
Rachel: likable
Deborah: GABLES (6)
DC: SKIABLE (7) BELUGAS (7)
OT: BLAGUES (7) ISABGUL (7)
Score: 0–6 (max 7)
Not a great start from our champion Rachel with her 7 Likable.........there is no second L in this selection of letters..........it is specified as Likeable that would stretch to an 8.....................our challenger Deborah gets to score with 6 Gables.............there were a few sevens to be had.........no extra points if you spot most of those.............nothing worth arguing over.........let's play nice now !
Round 2: D U T N E P T O N
Rachel: unpotted
Deborah: POTENT (6)
DC: UNTONED (7) UNNOTED (7)
Score: 0–12 (max 14)
What an unfortunate risk for our champion Rachel as her eight Unpotted is disallowed by Susie............our challenger Deborah gets to score with her six Potent..........but there were a couple of Sevens from DC...........nothing worth squabbling over
Round 3: 50, 25, 8, 6, 1, 5. Target: 551.
C1: 551. (6 + 5) × 50 + 1 (10)
C2: -
Score: 10–12 (max 24)
Nice and straightforward when it comes to this numbers solve..........our champion has no trouble solving this bad boy......and getting a much needed 10 points on the board
Teatime teaser: MOLEWHALE -> WHOLEMEAL
Round 4: V I F E H R I N D
Rachel: FRIEND (6)
Deborah: HINDER (6)
DC: DIVINER (7)
Score: 16–18 (max 31)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger.............over in DC they get to shine with their 7 Diviner
Round 5: P E T I A D S E M
Rachel: STAMPED (7)
Deborah: STAMPEDE (8)
DC: STAMPEDE (8) SIDEMEAT (8)
OT: MEDIATES (8)
Score: 16–26 (max 39)
Our champion must be kicking herself knowing that you can add an E onto Stamped.............but to rub salt into the wound.........our challenger Deborah does exactly that and increases her lead by 10 points !
Round 6: 100, 9, 7, 6, 4, 10. Target: 342.
C1: 342. Mistake in working.
C2: 340. (7 × 4 + 6) × 10 (7)
RR: 342. (7 × 4 + 10) × 9 (10)
Score: 16–33 (max 49)
A very useful 7 points for our challenger who extends her lead by 17 points..........but there is still everything to play for..........however Ms Riley solves this perfectly by using the LNAFP method...........but there is a second method that is divisible by 3
100+10=110
110+4=114
9-6=3
114*3=342
Round 7: S D G L I A O I P
Rachel: PLAIDS (6)
Deborah: SPOIL (5)
DC: LAPDOGS (7)
Score: 22–33 (max 56)
Our champion Rachel's risk is paying off with her six Plaids..........over in DC they get to show off with their 7 Lapdogs
Round 8: X T M A U O N T E
Rachel: mutate* misdeclared as a 7
Deborah: AMOUNT (6)
DC: TOMENTA (7) NUTMEAT (7)
Score: 22–39 (max 63)
Sadly it doesn't get any better for our champion Rachel as she misdeclares her word as a 7......................but out challenger Deborah gets to score with her 6 and increases her lead by 17 points............there were a couple of 7s from Susie and Co............let's move on for now !
Round 9: 25, 75, 100, 50, 6, 4. Target: 944.
C1: 947. (6 + 4) × 100 − 50 − 75 ÷ 25 (7)
C2: 947. (6 + 4) × 100 − 50 − 75 ÷ 25 (7)
RR: 944. (25 − 4) × 50 − 100 − 6 (10)
Score: 29–46 (max 73)
Not easiest of 3Ls as our champion and challenger can manage 3 and bag themselves 3 points.............Ms Riley gets to showcase her number talents and produces a perfect 10
Teatime teaser: THICKCAPS -> CHAPSTICK
Round 10: L U G S I T E J A
Rachel: UGLIEST (7)
Deborah: GUILTS (6)
DC: GLUIEST (7)
OT: LIGATES (7)
Score: 36–46 (max 80)
Our champion Rachel cuts back the lead to 10 points with her 7 ugliest..............quite a few 7s to be had no extra points for spotting them.........nothing to see here
Round 11: R I C O R E B H O
Rachel: BROOCH (6)
Deborah: BROOCH (6)
DC: BRIOCHE (7)
Score: 42–52 (max 87)
A lovely diamond cat brooch..........now where did I hide that lottery ticket ?
A lovely brioche.............always a lovely bit of scran with some jam
Round 12: S W E C U R L E S
Rachel: crewless
Deborah: RECLUSES (8)
DC: RECLUSES (8)
Score: 42–60 (max 95)
Our champion Rachel has her 8 disallowed by Susie as you can't be Crewless.............our challenger spots the only 8 available as does DC and our recap writer ........so let's jump ahead to the next round !
Round 13: A E I M S N E T C
Rachel: MEANEST (7)
Deborah: MEANEST (7)
DC: CINEASTE (8) MATINEES (8)
OT: AMNESTIC (8) CASEMENT (8) CENTIMES (8) NEMATICS (8) SEMANTIC (8)
Score: 49–67 (max 103)
Sevens all round from our champion and challenger.............
Over in DC they are taking a trip to the movies with their eights Cineaste and Matinees which happens to be my spot...........on the subject of films............my recap would not be complete without my favourite actor Harrison Ford !
Round 14: 25, 5, 2, 6, 2, 1. Target: 601.
C1: 601. (2 + 2) × 6 × 25 + 1 (10)
C2: 601. (2 + 2) × 6 × 25 + 1 (10)
Score: 59–77 (max 113)
Nice and straightforward...........not too taxing
Round 15: M U T T I M A U L
C2 buzzes on 3 seconds to say ULTIMATUM which is correct.
Final Score: 59–87 (max 123)
We have a new champion in Deborah who is the newest member of the teapot club, but take nothing away from Rachel who will be happy with her 2 wins and the teapot, you can join me for the next recap.................in the meantime it is bye for now !
