Thursday 26th June 2025 ( Series 91 2nd Semi Final )
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2025 10:07 am
Hello and welcome to another Thursday recap..........oh wait... this is no ordinary recap ..........it is our second semi-final and boy do we have a treat for you............it is the battle of the Tim's..........which one of these legends will earn the right to take on the top seed Rhys Jones in Friday's showpiece grand final..........so let's enjoy some tea and biscuits with the best Bone China...........trust me you don't want to miss this !
C1: Champion Tim "The Sheffield Superman " Bridgstock (9 wins, 891 points.)
C2: Champion Tim "The Norwich Nitpicker "James (9 wins, 856 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Bob Harris .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: G T F A E E S N H
R02: W R T U A O D I B
R03: 50, 75, 25, 8, 8, 2, . Target: 192.
TTT: BEERSAKI - "They won't sell you alcohol, but maybe a brandy snap"
R04: P M A O N A L D E
R05: S A C O G V E R E
R06: 4, 3, 8, 9, 7, 10, . Target: 504.
R07: D N S R I U E I D
R08: T R L E O I A B S
R09: 75, 100, 50, 2, 10, 1, . Target: 227.
TTT: CAUSEOUT - "They can cause you to look a bit silly if they're out of sync"
R10: N Y G O E O T K T
R11: S U O R T A U N S
R12: C S J E I E M C M
R13: L S N I E M A E A
R14: 75, 7, 4, 3, 1, 2. Target: 728.
R15: B A R M Y C O C O (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: G T F A E E S N H
Tim Bridgstock: FASTEN (6)
Tim James: FASTEN (6)
DC: AGENTS (6) SHAFT (5)
OT: NEGATES (7) SANGEET (7)
Score: 6–6 (max 7)
Sixes all round to kick the days proceedings in this second semi-final............quite a few sevens to be had.......my spot was the old Countdown favourite Negates........nothing worth fighting over
Round 2: W R T U A O D I B
Tim Bridgstock: OUTWARD (7)
Tim James: OUTWARD (7)
DC: AUDITOR (7) OUTWARD (7)
OT: OUTDRAW (7)
Score: 13–13 (max 14)
Okay next please..........let's jump ahead to the next round !
Round 3: 50, 75, 25, 8, 8, 2. Target: 192.
C1: 192. (25 × 8) − 8 (10)
C2: 192. (25 × 8) − 8 (10)
Score: 23–23 (max 24)
A piece of piss this solve...........this bags our semi-finalists 10 points each
Teatime teaser: BEERSAKI -> BAKERIES
Round 4: P M A O N A L D E
Tim Bridgstock: LOANED (6)
Tim James: MOANED (6)
DC: ALMOND (6) PALMED (6)
OT: NAPALMED (8)
Score: 29–29 (max 32)
Sixes all round........in this evenly poised semi-final..........now the question is who will break ?
Now in other news there was an eight missed by all with Napalmed
Round 5: S A C O G V E R E
Tim Bridgstock: COVERAGE (8)
Tim James: COVERS (6)
DC: COVERAGES (18)
Score: 37–29 (max 50)
Game changer ! and an 8 point lead from our second seed Tim Bridgstock with his 8 Coverage...............adding insult to injury you can put an S on the end of it and stretch to a 9 which is exactly what DC and our recap did........however the gap still remains tight
Round 6: 4, 3, 8, 9, 7, 10. Target: 504.
C1: 504. 7 × 8 × 9 (10)
C2: 504. 7 × 8 × 9 (10)
Score: 47–39 (max 60)
Another easy one......No comment
Round 7: D N S R I U E I D
Tim Bridgstock: sundried
Tim James: SUDDEN (6)
DC: INSIDER (7) INSURED (7) RUDDIES (7)
OT: UNDRIED (7) URIDINE (7)
Score: 47–45 (max 67)
Now this is interesting our no 2 seed Tim having his 8 disallowed by Susie but our 3rd seed Tim James gets to score with his 6 sudden and reduce the arrears to two points.............quite a few sevens to be had............nothing worth arguing over........but no extra points if you spot most of those
Round 8: T R L E O I A B S
Tim Bridgstock: BLOATERS (8)
Tim James: STROBILAE (18)
Score: 47–63 (max 85)
What a way to take the lead in this tight Semi-final contest with a 9 no less and extend your lead further..........Strobilae was my spot as well...........our second seed can only manage an 8 with Bloaters
Round 9: 75, 100, 50, 2, 10, 1. Target: 227.
C1: 227. ((2 + 1) × 75) + (100 ÷ 50) (10)
C2: 227. 75 + 50 + 100 + 2 (10)
Score: 57–73 (max 95)
Nice and straightforward and not too taxing for our semi-finalists.......with everything to play for the gap still remains tight
Teatime teaser: CAUSEOUT -> AUTOCUES
Round 10: N Y G O E O T K T
Tim Bridgstock: GENTOO (6)
Tim James: GOTTEN (6)
DC: GOTTEN (6) GENTOO (6)
OT: KNOTTY (6) OGONEK (6)
Score: 63–79 (max 101)
Sixes all round..........nothing worth fighting over........come on children play nicely now !
Round 11: S U O R T A U N S
Tim Bridgstock: OUTRAN (6)
Tim James: OUTRUNS (7)
DC: SNORTS (6) OUTRUNS (7)
OT: SANTOURS (8)
Score: 63–86 (max 109)
Another good round from our third seed Tim James that alllows him to extend his lead further........but there was one interesting 8 missed by all with Santours..........so lets get over it !
Round 12: C S J E I E M C M
Tim Bridgstock: JEMMIES (7)
Tim James: MIMES (5)
Score: 70–86 (max 116)
A fantatsic round from our No 3 seed Tim Brigdstock with his 7 Jemmies, with a 16 point difference and everything to play for...... is there still a final push to get himself back in this contest ?
Round 13: L S N I E M A E A
Tim Bridgstock: ANIMALS (7)
Tim James: ENAMELS (7)
DC: AMNESIA (7) SEMINAL (7)
OT: LAMINAE (7) MALAISE (7) MEALIES (7) MEANIES (7) MELAENA (7) MENIALS (7) NEMESIA (7)
Score: 77–93 (max 123)
Sevens all round from our semi-finalists Tim B needs maximum points from the next round to keep this semi-final alive..........nothing worth squabbling over..........so let's play nicely children !
Round 14: 75, 7, 4, 3, 1, 2. Target: 728.
C1: -
C2: 729. ((75 − 2) × (7 + 3)) − 1 (7)
RR: 728. ((75 ÷ 3) + 1) × (4 × 7) (10)
Score: 77–100 (max 133)
A good one away solve from our No 3 Seed Tim James can only mean one thing he is the grand final ! Sadly for our second seed Tim Bridgstock it is game over
Ms Riley gets to steal the show and produce the perfect solution...........but 728 is divisible by 4 7 or 8 my method of getting there was using 4 times table to provide the correct answer.
7/3=25
25+1=26
26*7=182
182*4=728
Round 15: B A R M Y C O C O
C1 buzzes on 29.25 seconds to say OMBOCRACY which is incorrect.
C2 does not buzz.
The answer was MOBOCRACY.
Final Score: 77–100 (max 143)
Neither contestant solves the conundrum, Tim Bridgstock buzzes in but it guesses it incorrectly, however it is left to a certain recap wiriter by the name of Tracey Mills to pick up the slack, firstly congratulations to Tim James on advancing to the grand final where he will earn the right to play the top seed Rhys Jones. Take nothing away from our second seed Tim he will be proud of what he has achieved his Countdown career, being a Countdown octo-champ and a finalist is a huge achievement in it's self..............stand by for a cracker tomorrow as we reach the conclusion of series 91. In the meantime it's a wrap !
C1: Champion Tim "The Sheffield Superman " Bridgstock (9 wins, 891 points.)
C2: Champion Tim "The Norwich Nitpicker "James (9 wins, 856 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Bob Harris .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: G T F A E E S N H
R02: W R T U A O D I B
R03: 50, 75, 25, 8, 8, 2, . Target: 192.
TTT: BEERSAKI - "They won't sell you alcohol, but maybe a brandy snap"
R04: P M A O N A L D E
R05: S A C O G V E R E
R06: 4, 3, 8, 9, 7, 10, . Target: 504.
R07: D N S R I U E I D
R08: T R L E O I A B S
R09: 75, 100, 50, 2, 10, 1, . Target: 227.
TTT: CAUSEOUT - "They can cause you to look a bit silly if they're out of sync"
R10: N Y G O E O T K T
R11: S U O R T A U N S
R12: C S J E I E M C M
R13: L S N I E M A E A
R14: 75, 7, 4, 3, 1, 2. Target: 728.
R15: B A R M Y C O C O (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
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: G T F A E E S N H
Tim Bridgstock: FASTEN (6)
Tim James: FASTEN (6)
DC: AGENTS (6) SHAFT (5)
OT: NEGATES (7) SANGEET (7)
Score: 6–6 (max 7)
Sixes all round to kick the days proceedings in this second semi-final............quite a few sevens to be had.......my spot was the old Countdown favourite Negates........nothing worth fighting over
Round 2: W R T U A O D I B
Tim Bridgstock: OUTWARD (7)
Tim James: OUTWARD (7)
DC: AUDITOR (7) OUTWARD (7)
OT: OUTDRAW (7)
Score: 13–13 (max 14)
Okay next please..........let's jump ahead to the next round !
Round 3: 50, 75, 25, 8, 8, 2. Target: 192.
C1: 192. (25 × 8) − 8 (10)
C2: 192. (25 × 8) − 8 (10)
Score: 23–23 (max 24)
A piece of piss this solve...........this bags our semi-finalists 10 points each
Teatime teaser: BEERSAKI -> BAKERIES
Round 4: P M A O N A L D E
Tim Bridgstock: LOANED (6)
Tim James: MOANED (6)
DC: ALMOND (6) PALMED (6)
OT: NAPALMED (8)
Score: 29–29 (max 32)
Sixes all round........in this evenly poised semi-final..........now the question is who will break ?
Now in other news there was an eight missed by all with Napalmed
Round 5: S A C O G V E R E
Tim Bridgstock: COVERAGE (8)
Tim James: COVERS (6)
DC: COVERAGES (18)
Score: 37–29 (max 50)
Game changer ! and an 8 point lead from our second seed Tim Bridgstock with his 8 Coverage...............adding insult to injury you can put an S on the end of it and stretch to a 9 which is exactly what DC and our recap did........however the gap still remains tight
Round 6: 4, 3, 8, 9, 7, 10. Target: 504.
C1: 504. 7 × 8 × 9 (10)
C2: 504. 7 × 8 × 9 (10)
Score: 47–39 (max 60)
Another easy one......No comment
Round 7: D N S R I U E I D
Tim Bridgstock: sundried
Tim James: SUDDEN (6)
DC: INSIDER (7) INSURED (7) RUDDIES (7)
OT: UNDRIED (7) URIDINE (7)
Score: 47–45 (max 67)
Now this is interesting our no 2 seed Tim having his 8 disallowed by Susie but our 3rd seed Tim James gets to score with his 6 sudden and reduce the arrears to two points.............quite a few sevens to be had............nothing worth arguing over........but no extra points if you spot most of those
Round 8: T R L E O I A B S
Tim Bridgstock: BLOATERS (8)
Tim James: STROBILAE (18)
Score: 47–63 (max 85)
What a way to take the lead in this tight Semi-final contest with a 9 no less and extend your lead further..........Strobilae was my spot as well...........our second seed can only manage an 8 with Bloaters
Round 9: 75, 100, 50, 2, 10, 1. Target: 227.
C1: 227. ((2 + 1) × 75) + (100 ÷ 50) (10)
C2: 227. 75 + 50 + 100 + 2 (10)
Score: 57–73 (max 95)
Nice and straightforward and not too taxing for our semi-finalists.......with everything to play for the gap still remains tight
Teatime teaser: CAUSEOUT -> AUTOCUES
Round 10: N Y G O E O T K T
Tim Bridgstock: GENTOO (6)
Tim James: GOTTEN (6)
DC: GOTTEN (6) GENTOO (6)
OT: KNOTTY (6) OGONEK (6)
Score: 63–79 (max 101)
Sixes all round..........nothing worth fighting over........come on children play nicely now !
Round 11: S U O R T A U N S
Tim Bridgstock: OUTRAN (6)
Tim James: OUTRUNS (7)
DC: SNORTS (6) OUTRUNS (7)
OT: SANTOURS (8)
Score: 63–86 (max 109)
Another good round from our third seed Tim James that alllows him to extend his lead further........but there was one interesting 8 missed by all with Santours..........so lets get over it !
Round 12: C S J E I E M C M
Tim Bridgstock: JEMMIES (7)
Tim James: MIMES (5)
Score: 70–86 (max 116)
A fantatsic round from our No 3 seed Tim Brigdstock with his 7 Jemmies, with a 16 point difference and everything to play for...... is there still a final push to get himself back in this contest ?
Round 13: L S N I E M A E A
Tim Bridgstock: ANIMALS (7)
Tim James: ENAMELS (7)
DC: AMNESIA (7) SEMINAL (7)
OT: LAMINAE (7) MALAISE (7) MEALIES (7) MEANIES (7) MELAENA (7) MENIALS (7) NEMESIA (7)
Score: 77–93 (max 123)
Sevens all round from our semi-finalists Tim B needs maximum points from the next round to keep this semi-final alive..........nothing worth squabbling over..........so let's play nicely children !
Round 14: 75, 7, 4, 3, 1, 2. Target: 728.
C1: -
C2: 729. ((75 − 2) × (7 + 3)) − 1 (7)
RR: 728. ((75 ÷ 3) + 1) × (4 × 7) (10)
Score: 77–100 (max 133)
A good one away solve from our No 3 Seed Tim James can only mean one thing he is the grand final ! Sadly for our second seed Tim Bridgstock it is game over
Ms Riley gets to steal the show and produce the perfect solution...........but 728 is divisible by 4 7 or 8 my method of getting there was using 4 times table to provide the correct answer.
7/3=25
25+1=26
26*7=182
182*4=728
Round 15: B A R M Y C O C O
C1 buzzes on 29.25 seconds to say OMBOCRACY which is incorrect.
C2 does not buzz.
The answer was MOBOCRACY.
Final Score: 77–100 (max 143)
Neither contestant solves the conundrum, Tim Bridgstock buzzes in but it guesses it incorrectly, however it is left to a certain recap wiriter by the name of Tracey Mills to pick up the slack, firstly congratulations to Tim James on advancing to the grand final where he will earn the right to play the top seed Rhys Jones. Take nothing away from our second seed Tim he will be proud of what he has achieved his Countdown career, being a Countdown octo-champ and a finalist is a huge achievement in it's self..............stand by for a cracker tomorrow as we reach the conclusion of series 91. In the meantime it's a wrap !