c4countdown

It's Kirk v Neil today in the 1st semi final. Get your sun cream on folks ........... this is going to be a hot one!!

The usual daily verse will be posted after screening because it contains spoilers.

Could there be an upset in the making?

Or will it be 10 in a row for the Kirkulator

250% on the Reams index.

Can't wait to watch this bad boy.

I'm so excited i've parodied the chorus to Belinda Carlisles hit 'Heaven is a place on earth' cos heaven rhymes with Bevins and earth rhymes with Kirk!

He likes to play darts while he quenches his thirst
His last name's Bevins and his first name's Kirk
If it's a crucial conundrum, he's bound to buzz first
His last name's Bevins and his first name's Kirk

Wish it was 3.25 already

Hoping to catch this one live, having been out for the afternoon on the last two days. Can't wait.

Considering most of the people getting excited in this thread already know what happens, this makes the whole thing rather fucking exciting indeed.

Matt Morrison wrote:Considering most of the people getting excited in this thread already know what happens, this makes the whole thing rather fucking exciting indeed.

I think it would not be overstating the case to say that this one is the game of this series' finals.

Am I the only one that thinks Kirk will piss this? Not to denigrate Neil who is a fantastic player, but Kirk is on another level to practically everyone ...

Jon Corby wrote:Am I the only one that thinks Kirk will piss this? Not to denigrate Neil who is a fantastic player, but Kirk is on another level to practically everyone ...

How about giving us a prediction for the final score line then?

Jon Corby wrote:Kirk is on another level to practically everyone ...

The spirit level?

hope it goes to a crucial conundrum

Rachel Riley wrote:You're both quite hot

Okay, did Rachel just say what I thought she said?

7 - 4 = 3
3 x 100 = 300
300 + 8 = 308
(5-2) x 308 = 924

1st numbers

(100 + (4 x 8)) x 7

Me and the ravishing Rachel must be telepathic...

(4x8) + 100 = 132
x 7

Dunno who I want to win - soooo many fab players!

Devilry...

Am I going mad or (100-8)*5*2+4=924?

(no, I didn't remember it from the recordings).

Was well proud of AUSPICES in round 3

First numbers in time!

( 100 * (7 - 4) + 8 ) * ( 5 - 2 ) = 924

Janet

Janet Watkins wrote:First numbers in time!

( 100 * (7 - 4) + 8 ) * ( 5 - 2 ) = 924

Janet

Hmmm, not so sure on that or am I missing something

Ben Hunter wrote:

Rachel Riley wrote:You're both quite hot

Okay, did Rachel just say what I thought she said?

She did. Well, they are, fair play.

I believe that was me in the audience whooping like an overexcited girl at the end of Jeff's intro to Kirk.

james doohan wrote:

Janet Watkins wrote:First numbers in time!

( 100 * (7 - 4) + 8 ) * ( 5 - 2 ) = 924

Janet

Hmmm, not so sure on that or am I missing something

now i get it, 3x308

Janet Watkins wrote:First numbers in time!

That's some amazing lurking Janet - 1 year and 4 months to make your first post!

Jimmy Gough wrote:

Yeah i was wondering when he'd make it interesting. Awful miss!

I was going to post ANORECTAL, but Phil got it

Matt Morrison wrote:Awful miss!

That's a bit like criticising a top snooker player for missing a black off the spot. Yes, maybe you could pot that one ball yourself, but a top player is doing a lot more on that shot (with the striking, pace, position, etc) and that means occasional errors. The question is whether the different approach of the top players pays off more often than it causes them to miss, which it pretty clearly does in Kirk's case.

Just had a big memory lapse. Was the TTT just then MISSPENT or JAMBOREE?

Charlie Reams wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:Awful miss!

That's a bit like criticising a top snooker player for missing a black off the spot. Yes, maybe you could pot that one ball yourself, but a top player is doing a lot more on that shot (with the striking, pace, position, etc) and that means occasional errors. The question is whether the different approach of the top players pays off more often than it causes them to miss, which it pretty clearly does in Kirk's case.

I'm looking forward to the next snooker championship where I can say "Awful miss!" and you can tell me all about the other side of the coin.

That's an interesting comparison. Would have been pretty cool if jamborees had come out after the teaser. The last one was misspent.

squeaky bum time

Haha... love the eyes Kirk gave Neil there!

What a great conundrum spot. Hard luck Neil and well done Kirk.

close on the conundrum at all Neil? tough one. great effort.

course i know what it means Phil... eclampsia if you don't have a parking permit...

Today is the first semi final, with Kirk up against Neil,
They remained neck and neck, both having nerves of steel,
There were cries from Jeff that “The champ’s here!”
When Kirk hit the button to “ECLAMPSIA”,
Although both played with passion and zeal, Kirk proved that he’s the real deal.

I would have won this one thanks in no small part to the first numbers and ANORECTAL, but Kirk beat me to the conundrum hands down. Excellent spot!

Brilliant! Well done Kirk. Well played Neil

Jon Corby wrote:Am I the only one that thinks Kirk will piss this? Not to denigrate Neil who is a fantastic player, but Kirk is on another level to practically everyone ...

you are now

Nerves are a great leveller

Wow! what a game.

Congratulations Kirk and commiserations to Neil for pulling out his personal best and just losing on the Conundrum.

This competitition just gets better and i am on tenterhooks waiting for the last two matches.

Matt Morrison wrote:close on the conundrum at all Neil? tough one. great effort.

Jeff asked Neil the same question in the studio (one of the many things that gets cut due to TV time constraints) and I think he said something like that he wouldn't have got it in 30 minutes. I don't think I would have either.

Matt Morrison wrote:close on the conundrum at all Neil? tough one. great effort.

What Sid said. Neil was gracious in defeat (though gutted at coming so close), and Kirk's expression at the end said it all. Well played both - it was every bit as exciting to watch second time around.

Yes - well played to both Kirk and Neil.

Charlie Reams wrote:Is there some rule that poems must be in blue? To think, I used to understand this place.

Charlie - The option for using font colours has disappeared. Is that something to do with you?

I was planning on doing todays verse in red.

Philip Jarvis wrote:The option for using font colours has disappeared.

Has it?

Very exciting game.
Wife got 'delivery' somewhere along the way.

Stunning game, really enjoyed watching this in the audience. Well played Neil for giving Kirk such a close game. Can't really kick yourself when he goes and spots ECLAMPSIA in a split second. I was chuffed to have 'beaten' Kirk but frankly, I doubt he gives a shit. Just one game away, now!

Simon Myers wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:close on the conundrum at all Neil? tough one. great effort.

Jeff asked Neil the same question in the studio (one of the many things that gets cut due to TV time constraints) and I think he said something like that he wouldn't have got it in 30 minutes. I don't think I would have either.

Yeah, that's almost what I was suggesting, without being disrespectful. I'm not sure what I'd have preferred really - a total nonsense conundrum like ECLAMPSIA that suits the contestant's abilities, or something a bit more reasonable that might have produced more of a crucial buzz-off. I wouldn't have got it in 30 days.

John Bosley wrote:Very exciting game.
Wife got 'delivery' somewhere along the way.

You probably should have gone to the hospital with her rather than stayed and watched Countdown. Good commitment though.

Matt Morrison wrote:

John Bosley wrote:Very exciting game.
Wife got 'delivery' somewhere along the way.

You probably should have gone to the hospital with her rather than stayed and watched Countdown. Good commitment though.

There were not two Es.

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Philip Jarvis wrote:The option for using font colours has disappeared.

Has it?

Mine has - It just says "Font colour" with nothing underneath.

Either Charlie's turned mine off or I've gone colour blind.

Philip Jarvis wrote:

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Philip Jarvis wrote:The option for using font colours has disappeared.

Has it?

Mine has - It just says "Font colour" with nothing underneath.
Either Charlie's turned mine off or I've gone colour blind.

Or you've just gone mental.
As usual, you just press Font colour and the colours appear for you to choose from.

Matt Morrison wrote:I wouldn't have got it in 30 days.

I would've - just look it up on lexplorer.

Matt Morrison wrote:Or you've just gone mental.
As usual, you just press Font colour and the colours appear for you to choose from.

Nope - that doesn't work. Maybe something has happened with my Java. It's a bit like Apterous, I've never been able to see the letters on that, irrespective of which version I use. That's why I don't play. I was talking to Jonathon Coles at the Finals and he said the same thing happens to him.

Well played Kirk and Neil , I thoroughly enjoyed watching that match from start to finish, yes it's nice to see games with loads of maxes but you can't beat these nerve tingler games between the top guns.

Here's hoping the second semi and final will be just as exciting.

Thanks for all your kind words. That was such a tough game and Neil wouldn't let go, just like Julie in my QF. Getting an 8 point lead with SUBSPACE was pleasing (one of a few "pure" spots I had, i.e. not using stems and not being words that come up all the time but a word I'd heard of in real life) but then to have it knocked away with POLITEST was frustrating. When the letters rounds were running out to gain a lead I felt the nerves more. I remember needing a 9 in the last letters round and then getting three Ns and a Q. Nice. Neil pointed out to me just before Rachel did that it was to be crucial whatever happened in Round 14 and in the heat of the moment I hadn't noticed this. I couldn't avoid a crucial conundrum and my worst fears were going to be upon me. I'm not quite sure how I managed to see ECLAMPSIA instantly but boy was I happy. I was speechless after and felt tears in my eyes (you can see this on TV just about) but held them back somehow. Emotion city. Awesome game Neil.

Jojo Apollo wrote:Well played Kirk and Neil , I thoroughly enjoyed watching that match from start to finish, yes it's nice to see games with loads of maxes but you can't beat these nerve tingler games between the top guns.

Here's hoping the second semi and final will be just as exciting.

IAWTP
I've been watching Countdown on and off since 1982, and this was one of the best games I've seen. You can't beat a bit of tension, although if the adrenalin is that bad from an armchair, heaven knows what it's like for the contestants.

Edited as Kirk posted:

Kirk Bevins wrote:I was speechless after and felt tears in my eyes (you can see this on TV just about) but held them back somehow. Emotion city. Awesome game Neil.

Yes, I noticed that Kirk. But I think it just endears you to the viewers if you get genuinely emotionally involved in something.

Today's game was AMAZING! What an absolute thrill to watch. My heart was actually racing during the last three rounds as I really felt for you both.

You are both such lovely and talented players - I didn't want either of you to lose.

Well done Kirk , and Neil to you too - very worthy second place, and making a player of Kirk's calibre sweat and squirm is surely a triumph in itself.

Jojo Apollo wrote:Well played Kirk and Neil , I thoroughly enjoyed watching that match from start to finish, yes it's nice to see games with loads of maxes but you can't beat these nerve tingler games between the top guns.

Here's hoping the second semi and final will be just as exciting.

Yes, this one should be good too. Mr. Consistency vs. Mr Occasionally Inspired. My money's on Hamish to pull another rabbit (or raccoon) out of his hat.