Friday 1st August 2025 ( Series 92 Preliminary 25)

[Tracey Anne Mills]

Hello and welcome to another Friday recap

C1: Champion Brett Davids (4 wins, 468 points.)
C2: Challenger Jim Langston.
DC: Susie Dent and Jon Culshaw.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: M N H Q O A I T A
R02: D N S E A P O G E
R03: 25, 6, 7, 3, 7, 1, . Target: 248.
TTT: MADESTEP - " Is it the collective noun for a rush of philatelists?"
R04: R T A E D W I R A
R05: N L G F E I E T J
R06: 100, 75, 5, 8, 7, 1. Target: 473.
R07: S G B N U E A U R
R08: S C K E I A T N L
R09: 75, 6, 8, 4, 9, 3. Target: 398.
TTT: CARTUSER - "Stairs, walls or railings; nothing's an obstacle for these people."
R10: P M R O A H O S U
R11: T B L C I O A I T
R12: E U S R P O W E M
R13: N S R G E A O E Y
R14: 50, 7, 7, 1, 8, 5, . Target: 606.
R15: I V I E S P R O M (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: M N H Q O A I T A

Brett: ANIMATO (7)
Jim: MOAT (4)
DC: HITMAN (6)
OT: MAHONIA (7)
Score: 7–0 (max 7)

Round 2: D N S E A P O G E

Brett: DAPSONE (7)
Jim: SPONGED (7)
DC: APOGEES (7)
OT: PEONAGES (8)
Score: 14–7 (max 15)

Round 3: 25, 6, 7, 3, 7, 1. Target: 248.

C1: 248. (7 + 3) × 25) − (7 − 6) − 1 (10)
C2: 248. (7 + 3) × 25) − (7 − 6) − 1 (10)
Score: 24–17 (max 25)

Teatime teaser: MADESTEP -> STAMPEDE

Round 4: R T A E D W I R A

Brett: TAWDRIER (8)
Jim: WAITER (6)
DC: RADIATE (7) TARRIED (7)
Score: 32–17 (max 33)

Round 5: N L G F E I E T J

Brett: FLEETING (8)
Jim: FLEETING (8)
DC: FLEETING (8)
Score: 40–25 (max 41)

Round 6: 100, 75, 5, 8, 7, 1. Target: 473.

C1: 474. ((8 ÷ (7 − 5)) × 100) + 75 − 1 (7)
C2: 473. Mistake in working.
RR: 473. (100 × 5) − 75 + ((7 − 1) × 8) (10)
Score: 47–25 (max 51)

Round 7: S G B N U E A U R

Brett: BANGERS (7)
Jim: ARGUES (6)
DC: BUNGERS (7) BANGERS (7)
OT: BUREAUS (7) GRABENS (7)
Score: 54–25 (max 58)

Round 8: S C K E I A T N L

Brett: LANKIEST (8)
Jim: LANKIEST (8)
DC: ALIENS (6) LANKIEST (8)
Score: 62–33 (max 66)

Round 9: 75, 6, 8, 4, 9, 3. Target: 398.

C1: 398. ((75 − 8) × 6) − 4 (10)
C2: 398. Mistake in working.
Score: 72–33 (max 76)

Teatime teaser: CARTUSER -> TRACEURS

Round 10: P M R O A H O S U

Brett: AMOROUS (7)
Jim: SHAMPOO (7)
DC: SHAMPOO (7)
OT: AMORPHOUS (18)
Score: 79–40 (max 94)

Round 11: T B L C I O A I T

Brett: BLOAT (5)
Jim: ATTIC (5)
DC: COITAL (6)
OT: ABIOTIC (7)
Score: 84–45 (max 101)

Round 12: E U S R P O W E M

Brett: EMPOWERS (8)
Jim: EMPOWERS (8)
DC: EMPOWERS (8) SUPREME (7) SUPREMO (7)
Score: 92–53 (max 109)

Round 13: N S R G E A O E Y

Brett: ORANGES (7)
Jim: ORANGES (7)
DC: NOSEGAY (7) ENRAGES (7)
OT: ERYNGOES (8)
Score: 99–60 (max 117)

Round 14: 50, 7, 7, 1, 8, 5. Target: 606.

C1: 606. ((7 + 5) × 50) + (7 − 1) (10)
C2: 606. ((7 + 5) × 50) + (7 − 1) (10)
Score: 109–70 (max 127)

Round 15: I V I E S P R O M

C1 buzzes on 1.75 seconds to say IMPROVISE which is correct.
Final Score: 119–70 (max 137)