c4countdown

Right, after a couple of days at the studios, I'm back in the chair here.

Bob De Caux is now the champ and Christopher Harris is the challenger. He can do something very well that Bob can't do very well. (All will be explained in the introduction.)

I personally thought it was a good opening by Bob yesterday, but he'll need to score a few more good wins for him to try and get a place in the quarters.

At this rate, since there are already 3 octos, and 2 pentas, Bob will probably need to win at least 6 shows to guarantee a place in the quarters at the end of the series.

Is it me or does no seem to be interested in today's show

James Robinson wrote:Is it me or does no seem to be interested in today's show

Someone who can draw graphs could probably draw a graph on here of how C4C's interest troughs and Digital Spy's interest peaks whenever a top Apterite comes to the end of their run.

It's not started yet, James. Maybe more postings will arrive when the show starts. There's really no need to start the thread at 9:18am!

Kirk Bevins wrote:It's not started yet, James. Maybe more postings will arrive when the show starts. There's really no need to start the thread at 9:18am!

People have started threads earlier, Kirk.

On most occasions, there are a few posts before it begins.

On some occasions, there have even been more before than during or after the show!

James Robinson wrote:

Kirk Bevins wrote:It's not started yet, James. Maybe more postings will arrive when the show starts. There's really no need to start the thread at 9:18am!

People have started threads earlier, Kirk.

Yes but the question is why? There's nothing interesting to be said about today's show before it starts.

Hope it is another close contest today

No disrespect to the recent octochamps, but is nice to get to part three with the contest still alive

Marc Meakin wrote:Hope it is another close contest today

No disrespect to the recent octochamps, but is nice to get to part three with the contest still alive

I sort of agree. Whilst I love watching the likes of Hulme, Carson and Davies coming up with ridiculous words, and can't wait to see them up against each other in the finals, it is good to have some close games with evenly matched players from time to time.

Is Bob wearing one of Charlie's collection of olive-green shirts?

Eskimoes not a word. Innuit

Hello everyone. Quite amused to discover this forum. My god, that was an appalling first four letters rounds from me

Shame Ovaltine is capitalised...

Bob De Caux wrote:Hello everyone. Quite amused to discover this forum. My god, that was an appalling first four letters rounds from me

Hi, Bob.

Yeah, I can remember seeing the shows. There were some dreadful combinations and I think nearly all the audience were finding them hard going too.

BLOVIATE, round 7.

Excellent spot with HAIRLINES - I was stuck on NEARISH.

3 successive impossible numbers rounds?

I usually fancy myself on the numbers, but the selections today were shocking. Terrible miss yesterday though

Oops

Allan Harmer wrote:Oops

I was just about to praise that solution aswell

Marc Meakin wrote:3 successive impossible numbers rounds?

No. Rachel solved 588 in the break.

I also had a shocking 3 out of 4 rounds to start with - very odd.

Watching it back was painful as all the words jump out at you straight away. Nerves are a nightmare

ESOTERIC in the CORSETED round

Marc Meakin wrote:3 successive impossible numbers rounds?

And the last one is possible, but I would never have got it without using a solver.

Ray Folwell wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:3 successive impossible numbers rounds?

And the last one is possible, but I would never have got it without using a solver.

Nor me! It's a spectacular method indeed:

75 x (10 + 6) = 1200
1200 + 5 = 1205
1205 x 8 = 9640
9640 / 10 = 964

JimBentley wrote:

Ray Folwell wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:3 successive impossible numbers rounds?

And the last one is possible, but I would never have got it without using a solver.

Nor me! It's a spectacular method indeed:

75 x (10 + 6) = 1200
1200 + 5 = 1205
1205 x 8 = 9640
9640 / 10 = 964

Kieran Child got this in 7 seconds.

^ I didn't get any of the numbers today.

Phil Reynolds wrote:Excellent spot with HAIRLINES - I was stuck on NEARISH.

I was stuck with INHALERS - nowhere near HAIRLINES.

Well done Bob, good stuff so far.

Nice to see you on the Forum Bob? Are you coming back to Apterous?

Bob De Caux wrote:Hello everyone. Quite amused to discover this forum. My god, that was an appalling first four letters rounds from me

Hey Bob good to "see" you again, even though I still think you're the most evil man I've ever met.

As I said to you on the day, I had you beaten in the next game. I would have been leading 32-0 after 4 rounds.

Really looking forward to seeing your progress as I didn't watch your final game of the day.

Bob De Caux wrote:Hello everyone. Quite amused to discover this forum. My god, that was an appalling first four letters rounds from me

Hi, Bob, and welcome.

Well done with the first two games. And, jeez!, how far is Jeff going to stretch that lame skuba-diving mickey-take? Let's hope you're not up against a marine biologist or something tomorrow.

Will you be playing on Apterous again some time?

Yes, I'll probably be back on Apterous for the odd game - just needed a bit of a break from it! And Ken, I know - I thrashed my TV self from home today and can't believe I couldn't get at least a 7 in the first round. Still, as we both know, it's much tougher when you're there. I'll see you on Apterous sometime for the rematch

Daniel O'Dowd wrote:ESOTERIC in the CORSETED round

I'm surprised no-one mentioned ESCORTED in that round, since it's the obvious anagram of CORSETED.

I remember being in the audience that day. After witnessing Chris completing his octochampdom, it was nice to see some "normal" people in some very tight matches. I hope that Ken and Bob don't take the "normal" too seriously.

Of course, everyone who was there that day will remember it for one unbroadcastable bit of magic involving Rachel. I won't divulge what unless you're that desperate.

Bob De Caux wrote:Watching it back was painful as all the words jump out at you straight away. Nerves are a nightmare

Hi Bob - well done today, I know what you mean about nerves being a nightmare! You were lucky! You didn't have Chris to compete against! Do you remember?? How can I forget. Good Luck next round etc. (And well done again Chris!!)

James Robinson wrote:Of course, everyone who was there that day will remember it for one unbroadcastable bit of magic involving Rachel. I won't divulge what unless you're that desperate.

Oh, do tell! (Unless it gives something away about a future show, of course.)

James Robinson wrote: I'm surprised no-one mentioned ESCORTED in that round, since it's the obvious anagram of CORSETED.

Who says ESCORTED is more obvious?

James Robinson wrote: I remember being in the audience that day.

Do you usually find it hard to remember being in the audience?

James Robinson wrote:I like to dangle the carrot in front of people and not give them a nibble unless they beg me and make me feel big.

Just tell us.

James Robinson wrote: Of course, everyone who was there that day will remember it for one unbroadcastable bit of magic involving Rachel. I won't divulge what unless you're that desperate.

I am that desperate.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

James Robinson wrote: I'm surprised no-one mentioned ESCORTED in that round, since it's the obvious anagram of CORSETED.

Who says ESCORTED is more obvious?

I seem to think that ESCORTED is more obvious than CORSETED. Maybe I'm the only one. After all, some people might think that CORSETED had 2 T's.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

James Robinson wrote: I remember being in the audience that day.

Do you usually find it hard to remember being in the audience?

Nope. It's pretty simple really.

Right, since the desperation-o-meter has hit 2 and a half, I'll reveal all.

2 things first:

1. Don't worry, it has nothing to do with a future episode.

2. If you're excepting something mind-blowingly impressive, I think you'll be comfortably disappointed.

During the first numbers game, as we saw, it was proving a bit tricky. Rachel thought she had solved it, but she kept on making mistakes as she was scribbling the answer on the board.

In the end, her answer was wrong. I can't remember what it was exactly, but it ended in a 2, because I noticed that her multiplication involved multiplying something ending in a 4 (I think 74) with an 8, which us maths people will know, would have to end in a 2.

After the applause died down and Jeff and the others noticed that something was wrong, Rachel declared that she had done "a total BOLLOCKS" with the numbers, so obviously the whole bit was redone.

Nothing too spectacular, but you don't expect that lovely smiley face to swear just like that, do you?

To me it was just a small moment to treasure.

If you're disappointed by this, you can pelt a tomato or something harder at me next time you see me, if you ever see me.

I'm sure it was a 'you had to be there' moment.

James Robinson wrote:If you're disappointed by this, you can pelt a tomato or something harder at me next time you see me, if you ever see me.

An accident happened to Robinson, Jim
When somebody threw a tomato at him.
Tomatoes are juicy, and don't break the skin;
But this one was different - it came in a tin.

Boom-boom.

Phil Reynolds wrote:

James Robinson wrote:If you're disappointed by this, you can pelt a tomato or something harder at me next time you see me, if you ever see me.

An accident happened to Robinson, Jim
When somebody threw a tomato at him.
Tomatoes are juicy, and don't break the skin;
But this one was different - it came in a tin.

Boom-boom.

Will you be posting the sheet music for this?

Charlie Reams wrote:Will you be posting the sheet music for this?

Only if you present yourself naked in front of me and beg me to.

Anyway, apart from substituting "Robinson, Jim" for "my brother Jim" it's not an original I'm afraid.

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Anyway, apart from substituting "Robinson, Jim" for "my brother Jim" it's not an original I'm afraid.

Yeah I've heard it before - loved it then too.

James Robinson wrote: If you're disappointed by this, you can pelt a tomato or something harder at me next time you see me, if you ever see me.

I'll hold you to this.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Anyway, apart from substituting "Robinson, Jim" for "my brother Jim" it's not an original I'm afraid.

Yeah I've heard it before - loved it then too.

Aye, twas a favourite of my old junior school teacher Mr Golding.

James Robinson wrote:I like to dangle the carrot in front of people and not give them a nibble unless they beg me and make me feel big.

I like to hold it up in the foreground with a tall building or something in the background. That's what makes me feel big.