Wednesday 20th August 2025 ( Series 92 Preliminary 38 )
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2025 3:42 pm
Hello and welcome to another fun and action packed recap
Some of you may remember Ben Hocking from series 72 and the only returning contestant from 2015. Ben lost his only game to three time champion Neil Stephenson but went on to lose his 4th game to a certain recap writer by the name of Tracey Mills who pulled off the mother of all comebacks and went on to be the Series 72 runner up that still stands to this day !
Can Ben go one better and get the elusive Countdown teapot ? So sit back and enjoy the show.........and get this party started !
C1: Champion Abby Scott (2 wins, 163 points.)
C2: Challenger Ben Hocking.
DC: Susie Dent and Russell Watson .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: S L C S A U A T E
R02: G T R O U I T U D
R03: 25, 9, 7, 2, 1, 4. Target: 712.
TTT: CLEANHOME - "One lived in a clean home, but could never settle on a specific colour"
R04: R S N O E A C O P
R05: D V L T E I E L M
R06: 25, 100, 1, 5, 10, 8. Target: 407.
R07: N P R N A I O E H
R08: G T N I E I Y A T
R09: 9, 2, 10, 10, 4, 6, . Target: 680.
TTT: FORDMINCE - "He acknowledged he'd taken part in a religious ceremony."
R10: W C S O E O K E S
R11: R M L B U E A N G
R12: R J D U A I F E S
R13: G N L H U E A O T
R14: 75, 7, 3, 6, 2, 8, . Target: 893.
R15: C A S K E T B A G (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: S L C S A U A T E
Abby: CLAUSES (7)
Ben: CLAUSES (7)
DC: SALUTES (7)
OT: ACETALS (7) ASSAULT (7) ATLASES (7) CASTLES (7) CASUALS (7) CUESTAS (7) CUTLASS (7) LACTASE (7) SULCATE (7) TALUSES (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
A great start from our champion and challenger...........quite a few 7s to be had........but no extra points if you spot most of those..........nothing worth squabbling over........let's play nicely
Round 2: G T R O U I T U D
Abby: outrid
Ben: DUGOUT (6)
DC: TURGID (6)
OT: ROTGUT (6)
Score: 7–13 (max 13)
It is not Abby's day as Susie disallows her 6 Outrid............however Ben scores with his 6 Dugout that gives him a brief but narrow lead....... a couple more sixes to be had................. let's move on for now !
Round 3: 25, 9, 7, 2, 1, 4. Target: 712.
C1: 712. 7 × 4 × 25 + 9 + 2 + 1 (10)
C2: 712. 7 × 4 × 25 + 9 + 2 + 1 (10)
Score: 17–23 (max 23)
Nice and straightforward this bags our champion and challenger 10 points each
Teatime teaser: CLEANHOME -> CHAMELEON
Round 4: R S N O E A C O P
Abby: PRANCES (7)
Ben: COOPERS (7)
DC: SOPRANO (7)
OT: CANOERS (7) COARSEN (7) CORNEAS (7) CORONAE (7) CORONAS (7) OPERONS (7) PERSONA (7) PRONAOS (7) RACOONS (7) SCOOPER (7) SNOOPER (7) SPOONER (7)
Score: 24–30 (max 30)
Sevens all round........need I say more ?
Round 5: D V L T E I E L M
Abby: MELTED (6)
Ben: MELTED (6)
DC: MILLET (6) MELTED (6)
OT: LEVIED (6) LILTED (6) MILLED (6) TILLED (6) VEILED (6) VIELLE (6)
Score: 30–36 (max 36)
Okay let's jump ahead to the next round ! Lots of sixes.........no extra points if you spot most of them
Round 6: 25, 100, 1, 5, 10, 8. Target: 407.
C1: 408.
C2: 407. (5 − 1) × 100 + 25 − (10 + 8) (10)
Score: 30–46 (max 46)
A very nice numbers solve from our challenger Ben who bags himself another 10 points and a 16 point lead with everyrthing left to play for
Round 7: N P R N A I O E H
Abby: pinner
Ben: PANNIER (7)
DC: PHONIER (7) HEPARIN (7)
OT: NEPHRON (7)
Score: 30–53 (max 53)
It is clearly not Abby's day as Susie disallows her six...............Ben gets to score with his 7 Pannier and pulls further ahead......quite a few 7s to be had........two of those were spotted by DC..........no extra points if you spot those...........but let's move on to the next round
Round 8: G T N I E I Y A T
Abby: teating
Ben: EATING (6)
DC: GAIETY (6)
OT: ATTING (6) ENTITY (6) IGNITE (6) TAGINE (6) TEAING (6) TETANY (6)
Score: 30–59 (max 59)
Another risky word from Abby with her 7 teating that isn't paying off as Susie says no............quite a few sixes to be had again no extra points for spotting those.....but not worth arguing over.......even though it is a 29 point difference Abby would need a miracle to get herself back into the contest........ sad to say for our champion Abby her Countdown adventure has come to end and it is game over
Round 9: 9, 2, 10, 10, 4, 6. Target: 680.
C1: 680. (6 × 10 + 2 × 4) × 10 (10)
C2: 680. (6 × 10 + 2 × 4) × 10 (10)
Score: 40–69 (max 69)
The numbers gods have been generous so far in this contest........that is 3/4 for Ben so far.............top marks all round and 10 points each
Teatime teaser: FORDMINCE -> CONFIRMED
Round 10: W C S O E O K E S
Abby: COOKS (5)
Ben: COOKS (5)
DC: COOEES (6)
Score: 45–74 (max 75)
Fives all round from our champion and challenger.........this can only mean one thing that Ben's max game is now off.......but over in DC they get to shine with their 6 Cooees !
Round 11: R M L B U E A N G
Abby: GAMBLER (7)
Ben: NUMERAL (7)
DC: BUNGLER (7) UMBRAGE (7)
OT: ALBUMEN (7) BLUNGER (7) GAMBREL (7) GRANULE (7) GRUMBLE (7) MANGLER (7) NEBULAR (7)
Score: 52–81 (max 82)
Sevens all round from our champion and challenger..............one of those sevens was Gambler the other was Numeral ..........if you holiday in Las Vegas you will find plenty of casinos that you can gamble in.................you will need plenty of money to stay in a hotel just like this one !
One of the best movies of 1995 Casino a Martin Scorese masterpiece which tells the story about mafia run Casinos in the 1970s, the film Casino is based on New York crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi's book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas.
Round 12: R J D U A I F E S
Abby: FAIRED (6)
Ben: FAIRED (6)
DC: ADJURES (7) RESIDUA (7)
OT: FARSIDE (7)
Score: 58–87 (max 89)
Sixes all round...........over in DC they get to sparkle with their sevens Adjures and Residua........ Adjures was my spot
Round 13: G N L H U E A O T
Abby: outglean
Ben: HALOGEN (7)
DC: ETHANOL (7) TANGELO (7)
OT: TOHUNGA (7) TOUGHEN (7)
Score: 58–94 (max 96)
A very risky 8 for Abby that doesn't pay off and is disallowed by Susie
Our challlenger Ben gets to shine with his 7 Halogen..........but over in DC they spot the old Countdown favourite Tangelo
Round 14: 75, 7, 3, 6, 2, 8. Target: 893.
C1: 893. 2 × 6 × 75 − 7 (10)
C2: 893. 75 × 6 × 2 − 7 (10)
Score: 68–104 (max 106)
A piece of piss this numbers game........this now means we have a new champion his name is Ben Hocking !
Round 15: C A S K E T B A G
C2 buzzes on 3.75 seconds to say BACKSTAGE which is correct.
Final Score: 68–114 (max 116)
What a fantastic game from Ben and a 13 maxer too on his second appearance on Countdown. I have a feeling that we could see Ben over the coming days he will be a contender for octo-champdom and possibly for the series 92 finals in December. Secondly take nothing away from Abby she gave as good as she got she will satisfied with her two wins and the teapot........you can join me for the next recap..........in the meantime it is a wrap folks !
Some of you may remember Ben Hocking from series 72 and the only returning contestant from 2015. Ben lost his only game to three time champion Neil Stephenson but went on to lose his 4th game to a certain recap writer by the name of Tracey Mills who pulled off the mother of all comebacks and went on to be the Series 72 runner up that still stands to this day !
Can Ben go one better and get the elusive Countdown teapot ? So sit back and enjoy the show.........and get this party started !
C1: Champion Abby Scott (2 wins, 163 points.)
C2: Challenger Ben Hocking.
DC: Susie Dent and Russell Watson .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: S L C S A U A T E
R02: G T R O U I T U D
R03: 25, 9, 7, 2, 1, 4. Target: 712.
TTT: CLEANHOME - "One lived in a clean home, but could never settle on a specific colour"
R04: R S N O E A C O P
R05: D V L T E I E L M
R06: 25, 100, 1, 5, 10, 8. Target: 407.
R07: N P R N A I O E H
R08: G T N I E I Y A T
R09: 9, 2, 10, 10, 4, 6, . Target: 680.
TTT: FORDMINCE - "He acknowledged he'd taken part in a religious ceremony."
R10: W C S O E O K E S
R11: R M L B U E A N G
R12: R J D U A I F E S
R13: G N L H U E A O T
R14: 75, 7, 3, 6, 2, 8, . Target: 893.
R15: C A S K E T B A G (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: S L C S A U A T E
Abby: CLAUSES (7)
Ben: CLAUSES (7)
DC: SALUTES (7)
OT: ACETALS (7) ASSAULT (7) ATLASES (7) CASTLES (7) CASUALS (7) CUESTAS (7) CUTLASS (7) LACTASE (7) SULCATE (7) TALUSES (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
A great start from our champion and challenger...........quite a few 7s to be had........but no extra points if you spot most of those..........nothing worth squabbling over........let's play nicely
Round 2: G T R O U I T U D
Abby: outrid
Ben: DUGOUT (6)
DC: TURGID (6)
OT: ROTGUT (6)
Score: 7–13 (max 13)
It is not Abby's day as Susie disallows her 6 Outrid............however Ben scores with his 6 Dugout that gives him a brief but narrow lead....... a couple more sixes to be had................. let's move on for now !
Round 3: 25, 9, 7, 2, 1, 4. Target: 712.
C1: 712. 7 × 4 × 25 + 9 + 2 + 1 (10)
C2: 712. 7 × 4 × 25 + 9 + 2 + 1 (10)
Score: 17–23 (max 23)
Nice and straightforward this bags our champion and challenger 10 points each
Teatime teaser: CLEANHOME -> CHAMELEON
Round 4: R S N O E A C O P
Abby: PRANCES (7)
Ben: COOPERS (7)
DC: SOPRANO (7)
OT: CANOERS (7) COARSEN (7) CORNEAS (7) CORONAE (7) CORONAS (7) OPERONS (7) PERSONA (7) PRONAOS (7) RACOONS (7) SCOOPER (7) SNOOPER (7) SPOONER (7)
Score: 24–30 (max 30)
Sevens all round........need I say more ?
Round 5: D V L T E I E L M
Abby: MELTED (6)
Ben: MELTED (6)
DC: MILLET (6) MELTED (6)
OT: LEVIED (6) LILTED (6) MILLED (6) TILLED (6) VEILED (6) VIELLE (6)
Score: 30–36 (max 36)
Okay let's jump ahead to the next round ! Lots of sixes.........no extra points if you spot most of them
Round 6: 25, 100, 1, 5, 10, 8. Target: 407.
C1: 408.
C2: 407. (5 − 1) × 100 + 25 − (10 + 8) (10)
Score: 30–46 (max 46)
A very nice numbers solve from our challenger Ben who bags himself another 10 points and a 16 point lead with everyrthing left to play for
Round 7: N P R N A I O E H
Abby: pinner
Ben: PANNIER (7)
DC: PHONIER (7) HEPARIN (7)
OT: NEPHRON (7)
Score: 30–53 (max 53)
It is clearly not Abby's day as Susie disallows her six...............Ben gets to score with his 7 Pannier and pulls further ahead......quite a few 7s to be had........two of those were spotted by DC..........no extra points if you spot those...........but let's move on to the next round
Round 8: G T N I E I Y A T
Abby: teating
Ben: EATING (6)
DC: GAIETY (6)
OT: ATTING (6) ENTITY (6) IGNITE (6) TAGINE (6) TEAING (6) TETANY (6)
Score: 30–59 (max 59)
Another risky word from Abby with her 7 teating that isn't paying off as Susie says no............quite a few sixes to be had again no extra points for spotting those.....but not worth arguing over.......even though it is a 29 point difference Abby would need a miracle to get herself back into the contest........ sad to say for our champion Abby her Countdown adventure has come to end and it is game over
Round 9: 9, 2, 10, 10, 4, 6. Target: 680.
C1: 680. (6 × 10 + 2 × 4) × 10 (10)
C2: 680. (6 × 10 + 2 × 4) × 10 (10)
Score: 40–69 (max 69)
The numbers gods have been generous so far in this contest........that is 3/4 for Ben so far.............top marks all round and 10 points each
Teatime teaser: FORDMINCE -> CONFIRMED
Round 10: W C S O E O K E S
Abby: COOKS (5)
Ben: COOKS (5)
DC: COOEES (6)
Score: 45–74 (max 75)
Fives all round from our champion and challenger.........this can only mean one thing that Ben's max game is now off.......but over in DC they get to shine with their 6 Cooees !
Round 11: R M L B U E A N G
Abby: GAMBLER (7)
Ben: NUMERAL (7)
DC: BUNGLER (7) UMBRAGE (7)
OT: ALBUMEN (7) BLUNGER (7) GAMBREL (7) GRANULE (7) GRUMBLE (7) MANGLER (7) NEBULAR (7)
Score: 52–81 (max 82)
Sevens all round from our champion and challenger..............one of those sevens was Gambler the other was Numeral ..........if you holiday in Las Vegas you will find plenty of casinos that you can gamble in.................you will need plenty of money to stay in a hotel just like this one !
One of the best movies of 1995 Casino a Martin Scorese masterpiece which tells the story about mafia run Casinos in the 1970s, the film Casino is based on New York crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi's book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas.
Round 12: R J D U A I F E S
Abby: FAIRED (6)
Ben: FAIRED (6)
DC: ADJURES (7) RESIDUA (7)
OT: FARSIDE (7)
Score: 58–87 (max 89)
Sixes all round...........over in DC they get to sparkle with their sevens Adjures and Residua........ Adjures was my spot
Round 13: G N L H U E A O T
Abby: outglean
Ben: HALOGEN (7)
DC: ETHANOL (7) TANGELO (7)
OT: TOHUNGA (7) TOUGHEN (7)
Score: 58–94 (max 96)
A very risky 8 for Abby that doesn't pay off and is disallowed by Susie
Our challlenger Ben gets to shine with his 7 Halogen..........but over in DC they spot the old Countdown favourite Tangelo
Round 14: 75, 7, 3, 6, 2, 8. Target: 893.
C1: 893. 2 × 6 × 75 − 7 (10)
C2: 893. 75 × 6 × 2 − 7 (10)
Score: 68–104 (max 106)
A piece of piss this numbers game........this now means we have a new champion his name is Ben Hocking !
Round 15: C A S K E T B A G
C2 buzzes on 3.75 seconds to say BACKSTAGE which is correct.
Final Score: 68–114 (max 116)
What a fantastic game from Ben and a 13 maxer too on his second appearance on Countdown. I have a feeling that we could see Ben over the coming days he will be a contender for octo-champdom and possibly for the series 92 finals in December. Secondly take nothing away from Abby she gave as good as she got she will satisfied with her two wins and the teapot........you can join me for the next recap..........in the meantime it is a wrap folks !