C1: Champion Julie Russell (2 wins, 178 points.)
C2: Challenger David Affleck (from Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire).
DC: Susie Dent and Gyles Brandreth.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
The programme opens with Jeff implying that Rachel reminds him of a wasp today, as she is dressed in a yellow cardigan and black skirt. Not the best compliment she’s ever received, no doubt, but Jeff then excuses himself by making a pun about how she must have been swotting (swatting) up.
R01: R N J A O I O R S
R02: D I A N V E P I S
R03: N S T A E I R K R
R04: I N S N O P A L E
R05: 100, 1, 5, 4, 2, 5. Target: 581.
TTT: VEALSOUL - "All these sacs need is the air that you breathe."
R06: D O I E S R I T G
R07: R S S A O E P W S
R08: L O E E Q C B N A
R09: F T D E I E D M D
R10: 25, 5, 10, 3, 1, 3. Target: 959.
TTT: ATTICEGO - "Think deep enough: you'll get it."
R11: T H U R M A U A T
R12: N Y P C C E A U R
R13: S Z L T I E E A L
R14: 100, 6, 9, 4, 1, 7. Target: 629.
R15: L O V E F R A U D (conundrum)
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Round 1: R N J A O I O R S
C1: RAINS (5)
C2: ROARS (5)
DC: IRONS (5)
OT: ARIOSO (6) NORIAS (6) ORISON (6)
Score: 5–5 (max 6)
Not a spectacular opening round, but at least both players are off the mark. An ORISON is a prayer; a NORIA is a device for raising water from a stream or river.
Round 2: D I A N V E P I S
C1: INVADES (7)
C2: PAINS (5)
DC: INVADES (7) SPINED (6)
JS: DIVINES (7)
OT: SPAVINED (8)
Score: 12–5 (max 14)
A good spot from Jeff, who is fast becoming a one-man Dictionary Corner. Gyles mentions Vespa, as it’s the Italian for wasp (see Jeff’s opening remarks about Rachel). Shame everyone missed the lovely SPAVINED, which is to do with horses with poorly legs.
Round 3: N S T A E I R K R
C1: STRAINER (8)
C2: RETAINS (7)
DC: TRAINERS (8) NARKIEST (8)
JS: RESTRAIN (8)
OT: RETRAINS (8) TERRAINS (8) TRANSIRE (8) SNARKIER (8)
Score: 20–5 (max 22)
Plenty of eights for the taking, but sadly Davy only spots a 7 and remains stuck on single-figures. If Jeff keeps this form up, he’ll need his own line on the Recap Writer! And I still can’t decide whether Gyles is irritating, entertaining or both...
Round 4: I N S N O P A L E
C1: SPANIEL (7)
C2: PONIES (6)
DC: OPALINES (8)
OT: SOLANINE (8)
Score: 27–5 (max 30)
Just when you thought that OPALINES wasn’t allowed any more, Susie allows it again. Very annoying
. SOLANINE is a poison found in green potatoes, apparently. Round 5: 100, 1, 5, 4, 2, 5. Target: 581.
C1: 581. ((100-4)x(5+1))+5 (10)
C2: -
Score: 37–5 (max 40)
Sadly, Davy continues to struggle. At this rate, he’ll only score 15 by the end of the show, although thankfully history suggests his scoring will pick up in the rest of the programme. Let’s hope so.
Teatime teaser: VEALSOUL -> ALVEOLUS
An annoying clue, as it implied the solution was in the plural. Sorry, Damian.
Round 6: D O I E S R I T G
C1: GORIEST (7)
C2: DOGIES (6)
DC: STEROID (7) EDITORS (7) GOITRES (7)
OT: DIORITES (8) STODGIER (8)
Score: 44–5 (max 48)
Surprised that DIORITES is considered acceptable, as I suspect Susie would disallow it. Although after OPALINES, I’m not so sure. Why do you do it to us, Susie??
Round 7: R S S A O E P W S
C1: PROWESS (7)
C2: PASSERS (7)
DC: WASPS (5)
OT: PSOASES (7) SAROSES (7) WRASSES (7)
Score: 51–12 (max 55)
Gyles mentions WASPS (for reasons I won’t repeat, for fear of boring you). Rachel then puts it on the board for a black-and-yellow photo-opportunity.
Round 8: L O E E Q C B N A
C1: ENABLE (6)
C2: enable (declared as 7)
DC: BACON (5) BEACON (6)
OT: BALEEN (6) BLANCO (6) ENLACE (6) LOANEE (6)
Score: 57–12 (max 61)
Round 9: F T D E I E D M D
C1: EDDIED (6)
C2: EDITED (6)
DC: FETID (5) FETED (5) DEFIED (6)
OT: DIETED (6) TEDDED (6) TIEFED (6)
Score: 63–18 (max 67)
OoW: Susie discusses the fascinating origins of the word AVOCADO. It’s all about alligators and testicles, apparently. Sounds like a painful combination.
Round 10: 25, 5, 10, 3, 1, 3. Target: 959.
C1: 950. (((3+1)x10)-(5-3))x25 (5)
C2: 25. (said for comic effect – obviously!)
RR: 959. ((((10+3)x25)-5)x3)-1 (10) (originally had 960; got 959 during the break)
Score: 68–18 (max 77)
Teatime teaser: ATTICEGO -> COGITATE
Round 11: T H U R M A U A T
C1: TRAUMA (6)
C2: TRAUMA (6)
OT: MAHURAT (7)
Score: 74–24 (max 84)
Yet another stinker of a letters game. A MAHURAT is an auspicious time for a ceremony to begin. It has its roots in the Sanskrit word muhurta, meaning a thirtieth of a day (aka 48 minutes).
Round 12: N Y P C C E A U R
C1: PRANCE (6)
C2: CAPER (5)
DC: PECCARY (7)
Score: 80–24 (max 91)
Insert your own swine flu joke here... Davy must be pig-sick as Julie puts the game beyond all doubt. Interestingly, pig-sick isn’t in the ODE.
Round 13: S Z L T I E E A L
C1: TALLIES (7)
C2: TALLIES (7)
DC: TEAZELS (7)
OT: LAZIEST (7) SITELLA (7) TAILLES (7) TEAZLES (7) TELLIES (7)
Score: 87–31 (max 98)
Hurrah! Davy escapes the ignominy of appearing on the Countdown Low Scores Page.
Round 14: 100, 6, 9, 4, 1, 7. Target: 629.
C1: 630. (100+4+1)x6 (7)
C2: 627.
JS: 629. (6x100)+(7x4)+1 (10)
Score: 94–31 (max 108)
Jeff asks “can I do it?” and Rachel agrees. I think he might need his own line on the Recap Writer for the numbers games as well!
Round 15: L O V E F R A U D
No one buzzes. The answer was FLAVOURED.
Score: 94–31 (max 118)
At the end of the show, Jeff remarks that Gyles will make his 300th appearance on Friday. I make it his 299th, but then who’s counting? (actually, we are!) He also makes amends for his earlier comment to Rachel by saying she’s the “bee’s knees”. Awww.... See you in a fortnight for more recap ramblings!
Recap by Peccary Pen-Cam the Paraguayan Pig.
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=60
