c4countdown

Let's get ready to rumble ........... It's the final week of the current series.

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It’s round 3 of the Countdown quarter final games,
Today’s crucial match, is Jimmy versus James,
They could be described as a “Vagabond” pair,
But their talent is not shoddy, more a debonair flair,
To lose will be no shame, but winning’s the claim to fame.

The number 3 seed is young Jimmy Gough,
Can he cope with the pressure or will he now cough?
Perhaps Jimmy is already happy with his lot,
Having declared “I only came here, for a Countdown teapot”,
But will this prize be enough, or will he get rough and tough before doing his stuff?

Up against him will be the Irish lad, cheeky James Doohan,
He certainly seems to know exactly what he’s doing,
He once kissed the Blarney Stone to bring himself luck,
And hopes that during the game, he won’t get stuck,
Will success have viewers drooling, or will failure be his ruin?

I await eagerly (and somewhat nervously) what will be in my verse tomorrow...

Philip Jarvis wrote:But will this prize be enough, or will he get rough and tough before doing his stuff?

Go Go Jimmy Guff!
Nice work again Phil.

Neil Zussman wrote:I await eagerly (and somewhat nervously) what will be in my verse tomorrow...

There's no doubt about it Neil - you were my biggest challenge. I was determined to have a go at "Zussman" and think I might just about have pulled it off.

You'll have to wait until tomorrow though.

G'wan Oireland...(sorry Jimmy!)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr James Doohan!

Jimmy G in the place to be!
If he's got one large, I hope he picks me!

That's what the girls are saying.

NONAGER in the 1st Round

DOSSIER in R2

Allan Harmer wrote:NONAGER in the 1st Round

Not valid I'm afraid, you must be thinking of NONAGE.

Michael Simmonds wrote:DOSSIER in R2

a slip from James in that round. Advantage Jimmy.

Ben Hunter wrote:

Allan Harmer wrote:NONAGER in the 1st Round

Not valid I'm afraid, you must be thinking of NONAGE.

Yes Ben - In the same way that we derive TEENAGER from TEENAGE. I am sure that Susie has allowed it before.

UPHILL surely?

Allan Harmer wrote:

Ben Hunter wrote:

Allan Harmer wrote:NONAGER in the 1st Round

Not valid I'm afraid, you must be thinking of NONAGE.

Yes Ben - In the same way that we derive TEENAGER from TEENAGE. I am sure that Susie has allowed it before.

I'm going by Apterous but the word does seem familiar.

Ben Hunter wrote:

Allan Harmer wrote:Yes Ben - In the same way that we derive TEENAGER from TEENAGE. I am sure that Susie has allowed it before.

I'm going by Apterous but the word does seem familiar.

It's not in the ODE2r either. The only similar word I can think of is ONAGER.

What about FIRESALE?

Matthew Green wrote:What about FIRESALE?

No but you can have BALEFIRES

Ben Hunter wrote:

Matthew Green wrote:What about FIRESALE?

No but you can have BALEFIRES

Yeah. Quality spot.

25 + 1 x (4+4) + (2x3) as an alt method

Alternative 2nd numbers:

(25x4)
+4
+3
-------
107 x 2
______

214

I can't concentrate with Rachel looking so amazing.

Pottage for R12

Freeman... lots of missed chances

best QF.

Very unlucky James and well done Jimmy. Either player could have won it and Jimmy must have felt lucky as both underperformed in my opinion, but in fairness, it must have been hard to see past Rachel.

Looking forward to my Phil Hammond 15 minute medical degree now.

Andy Wilson wrote:Very unlucky James and well done Jimmy. Either player could have won it and Jimmy must have felt lucky as both underperformed in my opinion, but in fairness, it must have been hard to see past Rachel.

Looking forward to my Phil Hammond 15 minute medical degree now.

Great summary.

Matt Morrison wrote:best QF.

Really, yes it was close but the letters were pretty flat and there were a fair few spots you would have expected players of their calibre to have got.

ORGASM, round 11

Jimmy Gough wrote:

Andy Wilson wrote:Very unlucky James and well done Jimmy. Either player could have won it and Jimmy must have felt lucky as both underperformed in my opinion, but in fairness, it must have been hard to see past Rachel.

Looking forward to my Phil Hammond 15 minute medical degree now.

Great summary.

Well done Jimmy, your score in the heats and apterous rating suggested you were a better player; but I thought James had an excellent chance as I thought you would suffer from nerves more. You prooved a few people wrong and looked sharp.

Like I said when you wore it in the heats not a huge fan of that shirt, so I'm hoping you had a chance to go shopping before your semi!

Doug

Matt Morrison wrote:best QF.

It certainly was best for excitement but not for quality

They are only human after all

Matthew Green wrote:UPHILL surely?

Yeah, Rachel actually got this and put it up on the board but that was obviously edited out. Also, Susie checking PEED up in the dictionary was edited out as she said she was checking it wasn't spelt PEEED which people in the audience found funny.

Jeff got FEASIBLE in one round and I felt Dictionary Corner didn't point that out well - it was a quality spot in the BALEFIRES round.

James must be kicking himself really. If he'd got the (very easy IMHO) second numbers, he'd've won by a point. Entertaining game to watch, obviously I can appreciate it a lot more now than last time I saw it. I didn't realise it was so close! I do feel a bit silly for getting 'Centarian' both times I watched the show though.

Matt Morrison wrote:best QF.

so far...

Andy Wilson wrote:...it must have been hard to see past Rachel.

She's not that fat...

Kirk Bevins wrote:Jeff got FEASIBLE in one round and I felt Dictionary Corner didn't point that out well - it was a quality spot in the BALEFIRES round.

I spotted that aswell but I wondered if the fact that Jeff asked if an eight was feasible, it went over their heads

ODORISES (Round 2)
PHALLI (Round 6)
Edit to ask Charlie how (in percentage terms compared to on Thursday) excited you were about this game.

marc meakin wrote:

Kirk Bevins wrote:Jeff got FEASIBLE in one round and I felt Dictionary Corner didn't point that out well - it was a quality spot in the BALEFIRES round.

I spotted that aswell but I wondered if the fact that Jeff asked if an eight was feasible, it went over their heads

I liked the way it was glossed over. Jeff's great for the ad lib.

Oh, and while we're down there, was that a dig at the Irish with 'barflies' by Dr. Phil? I'm not impressed!

Oliver Garner wrote: Edit to ask Charlie how (in percentage terms compared to on Thursday) excited you were about this game.

Before it started I was like 95%, but once it started it was a real 120%er.

Douglas Wilson wrote:You proved a few people wrong and looked sharp.

Talking of looking sharp, I've fixed that up for you.

Can't believe the contorted way I arrived at the 450 to subtract the 1 in R14. Completely missed 75*6!!! Oooops

75/25+6=9
9*50=450
450-1=449

Charlie Reams wrote:

Oliver Garner wrote: Edit to ask Charlie how (in percentage terms compared to on Thursday) excited you were about this game.

Before it started I was like 95%, but once it started it was a real 120%er.

I'm not redoing my graph. Maybe I will in a month's time so it shows something meaningful, but that depends on you providing excitement ratings for a while. No doubt this news will make your excitement rocket.

Keith Bevins wrote:Can't believe the contorted way I arrived at the 450 to subtract the 1 in R14. Completely missed 75*6!!! Oooops

75/25+6=9
9*50=450
450-1=449

That's exactly how I did it!

Good close game, well done Jimmy and unlucky James.

Was a bit of a nervy game but to be expected given what's at stake. Hopefully we'll see Jimmy back on top ton form in the semi.

Matt Morrison wrote:

Charlie Reams wrote:

Oliver Garner wrote: Edit to ask Charlie how (in percentage terms compared to on Thursday) excited you were about this game.

Before it started I was like 95%, but once it started it was a real 120%er.

I'm not redoing my graph. Maybe I will in a month's time so it shows something meaningful, but that depends on you providing excitement ratings for a while. No doubt this news will make your excitement rocket.

Thing is, are you sure you're doing it right? On the first day Charlie didn't give any kind of % figure, but on the second day said he was "90% as excited as yesterday". You showed the first day as 1 and the second as 0.9, which is fine, but how do we know what the 95% and 120% above are relative to?

Oh, and well done Jimmy and bad luck James. Very exciting & unpredictable game to watch!

Jon Corby wrote:Thing is, are you sure you're doing it right? On the first day Charlie didn't give any kind of % figure, but on the second day said he was "90% as excited as yesterday". You showed the first day as 1 and the second as 0.9, which is fine, but how do we know what the 95% and 120% above are relative to?

This is a good point, but one I had considered. As I only had the two pieces of data to go on, I just assumed the 'parent' of the relationship would have to be a control-level of excitement, represented by 1. It was this, or not make the graph at all, which would clearly be depriving the world of excellent stuff. Of course, I'd be absolutely happy for Charlie to let me know what sort of total percentage of his maximum excitement he experienced on Thursday, thus giving the whole set of data some sort of context.

Neil Zussman wrote:James must be kicking himself really. If he'd got the (very easy IMHO) second numbers, he'd've won by a point. Entertaining game to watch, obviously I can appreciate it a lot more now than last time I saw it. I didn't realise it was so close! I do feel a bit silly for getting 'Centarian' both times I watched the show though.

Matt Morrison wrote:best QF.

so far...

Andy Wilson wrote:...it must have been hard to see past Rachel.

She's not that fat...

Was kicking myself a bit, was really annoyed at missing crossed, 2nd numbers and then Jimmy's guess at the conundrum threw me completely as it took ages in studio to rule it out so I thought he pronounced it wrong or was pretty close. I had just started to isolate the 'ate' ending and was trying to re-arrange the other letters when he buzzed. But in all fairness the better player (far superior actually) won so well done to Jimmy, plus he's such a nice guy

Andy Wilson wrote:Oh, and while we're down there, was that a dig at the Irish with 'barflies' by Dr. Phil? I'm not impressed!

I was explaining to Dr Phil before the show that i'd stayed too long in the hotel bar the night before watching the Liverpool-Arsenal game with Chris Kirby (its all your fault Chris )

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Matthew Green wrote:UPHILL surely?

Yeah, Rachel actually got this and put it up on the board but that was obviously edited out. Also, Susie checking PEED up in the dictionary was edited out as she said she was checking it wasn't spelt PEEED which people in the audience found funny.

LOL.

We need a best of the outtakes DVD, like you get for other comedy game shows such as HIGNFY and They Think It's All Over!

Congratulations to both C U Jimmy Gough and James "Scotty" Doohan (although he's really Irish) - a very entertaining game with two fascinating players.
James, I enjoyed the humour which you brought with you while still managing to concentrate on playing a good game. You and DOD have both done a lot to give the Irish a good image which they are normally deprived of on TV. Makes me think maybe I should visit there sometime.

Derek Hazell wrote:Congratulations to both C U Jimmy Gough and James "Scotty" Doohan (although he's really Irish) - a very entertaining game with two fascinating players.
James, I enjoyed the humour which you brought with you while still managing to concentrate on playing a good game. You and DOD have both done a lot to give the Irish a good image which they are normally deprived of on TV. Makes me think maybe I should visit there sometime.

It's a good job you've never seen Doddy in the bar then

Pant-wetting stuff fellas. Well done to both. I jizzed in my pants when BARFLIES popped up followed by a final E. Also Is CRATEMEN there in round 13 or have I made that up?

Off to see some recordings today so won't see QF4 til after.

james doohan wrote: Was kicking myself a bit, was really annoyed at missing crossed, 2nd numbers and then Jimmy's guess at the conundrum threw me completely as it took ages in studio to rule it out so I thought he pronounced it wrong or was pretty close. I had just started to isolate the 'ate' ending and was trying to re-arrange the other letters when he buzzed. But in all fairness the better player (far superior actually) won so well done to Jimmy, plus he's such a nice guy

Thanks a lot James, and thanks everybody else. A very exciting, nervy and frustrating game for me! I was just drawing a complete blank on a couple of the letters round, especially on the SEALER round. It was extremely tight and, yeah, it probably would've been different on another day.
I thought it would always be close and being there in the studio makes your brain kind of crazy. As you can see, James was generally awesome and gracious in defeat.

COUNTDOWN SEMI-FINALS! Mental. Just a year a go I was watching Countdown with total awe at how good the contestants were. Shows what a bit of apterous practice can do.

Steve Durney wrote:

Keith Bevins wrote:Can't believe the contorted way I arrived at the 450 to subtract the 1 in R14. Completely missed 75*6!!! Oooops

75/25+6=9
9*50=450
450-1=449

That's exactly how I did it!

And that's not the only long route to 450.
I used even more numbers: 100 x 6 - 75 - 50 - 25

Great game to watch. Well done, both of you.

When I saw it was Dr Phil in 't corner it made my day and has done ever since. He is one of the most laid back and gently funny poeple in the guest chair.

Andy Wilson wrote:I can't concentrate with Rachel looking so amazing.

I seem to have picked the wrong week to be out of the country, as I can't get Watch Online here. Any chance of a YouTube clip, or some Facebook photos?

Martin Gardner wrote:

Andy Wilson wrote:I can't concentrate with Rachel looking so amazing.

I seem to have picked the wrong week to be out of the country, as I can't get Watch Online here. Any chance of a YouTube clip, or some Facebook photos?

You do know about Charlie's other site, rachelriley.org, don't you?

Jon Corby wrote:

Martin Gardner wrote:

Andy Wilson wrote:I can't concentrate with Rachel looking so amazing.

I seem to have picked the wrong week to be out of the country, as I can't get Watch Online here. Any chance of a YouTube clip, or some Facebook photos?

You do know about Charlie's other site, rachelriley.org, don't you?

If she reads this and doesn't realise You're Kidding, Jon, I will actually kill you.

Charlie Reams wrote:If she reads this and doesn't realise You're Kidding, Jon, I will actually kill you.

From kuddling to cilling in one easy step.

Charlie Reams wrote:

Jon Corby wrote:You do know about Charlie's other site, rachelriley.org, don't you?

If she reads this and doesn't realise You're Kidding, Jon, I will actually kill you.

Oh come on, you're fooling no-one. They look virtually identical. Much like your Vorderman group you used to run alongside the old Yahoo one.