c4countdown

Howard Somerset

I have been to 4 Countdown events, and decided to keep track of who I've played and how many times (win and lose too) and this is what I ended up with:[/img] That's a hell of a lot better than my list Joseph. I've been to two, and I know my totals. They are win-3, lose-9. There was a slight improve...

Howard Somerset

Don't get me wrong, its nice to play to against the top players, but I know that when I play the top players, I have a very slim chance of beating them and therefore I apologise at the end for not being able to give them a decent match. You may have a slim chance - I have no bloody chance at all. I...

Howard Somerset

I've just been watching an old programme, from early on in series 57, and can report that Carol definitely encourages "and a better one". The first letter selected was Z. I was waiting for the contestant to ask for "a better one", but thankfully she didn't; she simply asked for &...

Howard Somerset

I've only ever seen Mercury in the morning shortly before sunrise. Binoculars were certainly not necessary, as it was brighter than most other things in the sky. This evening would have been ideal, had I realised that Mercury was in a good position; I'd been out with my dog during and after dusk, an...

Howard Somerset

I'm very happy with the way it's been so far. All being in one competition gives a great opportunity for anyone to be able to play against top players, at least in the first round.

Howard Somerset

Couple of things in common with Joseph here. Same solution for round 5. And I also mistakenly saw SHITTING. It was only when I saw that I had two letters left over that I realised that there weren't two Is.

I made a bit of a meal of round 10, coming up with (7 + 75 - 25) x 5 + 7.

Howard Somerset

Apart from that, all the draws will be random. It's a bit like the FA Cup. I trust that, if you're going to make the draw like they do it for the FA Cup, then you're ready for two has-beens handling your balls. I'm wondering which two has-beens you're going to select. And remember you can chose a d...

Howard Somerset

Joseph Bolas wrote:Is there enough time for her to get into the seed list?

Certainly there is.
She could make number 8 seed by Friday, and number one seed by Thursday next week. The preliminaries go on for a further couple of weeks or so after that.

Howard Somerset

Since we're working as a team, I'll indicate ones for which I'm confident, and I'm ashamed to admit that there aren't many. 1. B random guess 2. A confident 3. D probable 4. C has to be this, hasn't it? 5. C random guess 6. A hopefully intelligent guess 7. D reasonably sure 8. C confident 9. B if no...

Howard Somerset

That was the flattest game I've ever watched. Strangely, I've only watched two games live in the last decade, and both turned out to very similar in that way. Do us all a favour, Howard, and just stop watching them completely :) . Ok, David. If I find myself free at 3:30 again, I'll bugger off and ...

Howard Somerset

Ben Pugh wrote:That was the flattest game I've ever watched.

Strangely, I've only watched two games live in the last decade, and both turned out to very similar in that way.

Howard Somerset

David O'Donnell wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote:(75+10+6*7)*3 as a fun (in my opinion) alternative
I had [7-(3*4-10)]75+6

I had yet another.

(4 + (7+3)/10) x 75 + 6

Howard Somerset

Once again, I'm sure Carol was writing the solution before Phillipa was giving it.

I'm sure she had +8 before Phillipa said it. And then the X appeared before Phillipa said times.

Howard Somerset

Round 10. I also went for the method used by Jason and Joseph. It seemed more obvious than Carol's way. What surprised me was that she made a big thing of having only even numbers, apart from the 75, and that you needed to make an odd number out of them, and then she went ahead and made two odd numb...

Howard Somerset

What surprised me was that the contestant did take nearly 45 seconds on that one. If you keep looking ahead, it can be done considerably quicker.

Howard Somerset

How do these numeric duels work? All you have to do is evaluate the expression. The colon, btw, is how DCeDL represents the symbol for divide. For the duels, the contestants have to move to another part of the studio where there are no writing materials, so the evaluation must be done mentally. And...

Howard Somerset

I enjoyed watching a few DCeDLs during the last couple of weeks in France. Of course, only having a limited knowledge of French is a handicap, but was pleased to solve one of the word DUELs before the winning contestant. Also managed a niner, but that was an English word, which wasn't allowable in F...

Howard Somerset

Not sure whether this one's still going. I don't want to read the intermediate posts or I may see some other people's answers. So here are my attempts.

1 D
2 A
3 B
4 B
5 D
6 A
7 B
8 D
9 C
10 B
11 A
12 D
13 C
14 A
15 D

Howard Somerset

Just watched the programme, and got SARNIES and ZODIACS. I was actually eating sarnies while watching the programme. Certainly ZODIAC can be pluralized. It's not mentioned as being a mass noun, and certainly the second definition in the ODEr lends itself to pluralization.

Howard Somerset

God. Is it Sunday already? Better go to bed.

Welcome anyway, Allyssa. Good to see you here.

Howard Somerset

I've supported Tottenham since I was in primary school. All the other boys supported Arsenal, and even at that age I was an awkward bugger, so decided to go with the other local team, even though they were in the second division at the time.

Howard Somerset

I disagree with both of you. I make it 32 more shows. That's assuming a day doesn't get taken up with some sporting irrelevance. Well done with your run, Benji. Hope you do make it to the finals. It'll add some colour. I've just watched the programme over breakfast, and also noticed the final score ...

Howard Somerset

Jason Larsen wrote:Drew Carey is who my game of Countdown was going to be in honor of.

But, that game has been postponed.

Clearly I must read more. Thanks, Jason

Howard Somerset

Dan Vanniasingham wrote:So, happy birthday Howard, and may your countdown dreams be free of Drew Carey!

Since I've never heard of Drew Carey, they should certainly be well free of him/her. However, following this message, maybe my dreams will now include me wondering who on earth he/she is.

Howard Somerset

Funny how putting something on the end like that attracts no comments, but a tiny little spelling error and the hawks swoop in. I should put one in deliberately somewhere just for jolly. I must admit that, when reading a recap, I rarely go beyond the conundrum. I must start to read right to the end...

Howard Somerset

Got GALOSH in round 12. I wouldn't have risked it, fearing that it's only available in plural form. But it's there.

Would still have been beaten by DC, though.

Howard Somerset

Welcome Heather.

I seem to recall that you were one of the first people I spoke to when attending my first CO-event, at Lincoln in 2007. Hope you settle in well here.

Howard Somerset

Can someone who has memorised every episode tell me if there was an old guy on once who stayed for a few days and had a different pervy thing to say for each numbers round? Like "Two bigguns, and the rest from the bottom please Carol". Did I imagine it? Frank Mulvey? Any idea how long ago...

Howard Somerset

Today's challenger seemed an affable chap. His father, as far as I can tell, is this guy... also called Len Marshall. Agreed. I've just watched the programme. The only Marshall within many years of 16 years ago is the guy that you've linked to. And I've since buggered up your link, haven't I. Sorry.

Howard Somerset

Matt Coates wrote:. must say quality wise it wasnt much good today ...

That can often be said on days when I manage to beat both contestants.
Getting both ATTAINED and LECTURING certainly helped.

Howard Somerset

Congrats to all concerned. And a milestone at the yahoo list a few minutes ago, with post 17000.

Ginger Jono wrote:So ... how long will it be before this place overtakes the previous place in number of posts?

I'll go for first half of October.

Howard Somerset

Good luck to all listed there, and to all others too, including:

Charlie Reams (finals)

I'm just glad it's many decades since I had to do my last exam.

Howard Somerset

I'd like a go, if the timing's suitable.
I'm off to Paris tomorrow for a few days, and will try to get on msn when i get back to have a try.

Howard Somerset

I agree with your comment about Jo's words. It was amusing at first, but after a while it tires a bit. I've only read the opening and closing remarks in your recap so far as I've not yet watched the programme.

Diana's surname is Coull, btw.

Howard Somerset

You're correct Charlie. The probabilities are slight underestimates. I said that the model is not perfect, and was aware of the underestimates. A more accurate model would be much more complex and would've taken more than a couple of hours. Anyway better to predict slightly under than slightly over,...

Howard Somerset

3.4 has always been my lucky number :D Just to encourage you, Matt, your probability rises quite rapidly as each champion fails to pass you. Calculated immediately after your defeat, your probability of making the finals would have been 2.6%. And if Carole loses today it will rise to 3.7%. Of cours...

Howard Somerset

This isn't a spoiler thread in the same way as others in this section, but I've put it here as it has info about recent games. Feel free to move it, or even delete it, if you want. There's been a fair bit of speculation recently about whether various current seeds will make the finals, and in partic...

Howard Somerset

Another welcome to the forum, Richard. I'm yet another person who could well have bet money on you becoming an octochamp. You may not realise it, but since the start of Series 47, which is the first of the 15 round series in which contestants were allowed to continue until they'd won 8 rounds, you h...

Howard Somerset

I've found two previous instances of TREASONS being offered, and in both cases it was Susie who gave it. One was in Series 54, and the other was only last month in one of Barry Smith's games. I have a vague recollection of Susie justifying it by saying that there is a high treason and a petty treaso...

Howard Somerset

Round 4: F B G A E O T M A C1: AMOEBA (6) C2: AGATE (5) DC: begat BEGOT (5) OT: BEMATA (6) Score: 19–13 (max 27) Lynda lazily offers begat which wouldn't be allowed. Bemata is an alternative plural form of bema, which is the altar part or sanctuary in ancient and Orthodox churches. Curious. Why wou...

Howard Somerset

Was Susie correct in offering TREASONS? TREASON is only listed as a mass noun.

Howard Somerset

Corby wrote:
Howard Somerset wrote:David was just six out on the first numbers round, and had a 6 left over. I was surprised that Carol didn't point this out.
Stop nicking observations from my recap

My apologies.

I hadn't read the recap. Only this spoilers thread.

Howard Somerset

Certainly, I can put you in touch with my secret NODE-owning source if you like. Previous experience suggests that preparing the recaps with CountMax and then patching them up after a proper NODE check is a pretty efficient way of working, as very little has changed between the two dictionaries. I'...

Howard Somerset

Self-employed. As often or as seldom as I want. So I've gone for Part Time.

Howard Somerset

David was just six out on the first numbers round, and had a 6 left over. I was surprised that Carol didn't point this out.

Howard Somerset

Nice recap Matt :D. Well done :). Round 6: L N G I O A L P U C1: PULLING (7) C2: POLLING (7) DC: POLLING (7) PULLING (7) OT: LINGUAL (7) (Dinos) LOUPING (7) Score: 29–38 (max 57) Apologies for sounding like a pedant, but I think you can also have PALLING too. PALLING was in fact the word I saw firs...

Howard Somerset

Only seen this thread today.
I'm NODEless, but willing to help in any way, if it's of any use.

Howard Somerset

Probably the first time in over 17 years that I've actually watched a programme live. Must try it more often as I did better than usual. Got the niner and PISTOLES, but missed POTHEEN - never even heard of that, and EXORDIAL. Frustrating thing is that for the first time in over 17 years I couldn't f...

Howard Somerset

Joe Denniss wrote:Tony Durrant and son, eh? And my brother thought that the man he brought as his guest was his partner...

Of course the Tony Durrant we saw on Countdown, may have been the Son.

Howard Somerset

Joseph has mentioned Countmax, which is a very useful tool for finding the maximum length words in any letters round. There's also a tool for finding the best numbers solutions; you'll find that here . Some recappers use these tools when producing their recaps, but others do not, and consequently oc...

Howard Somerset

Jason Larsen wrote:And whose initials are J.F.?

Julian Fell. see here.

Howard Somerset

I'm sure this has been discussed before, and I think highest individual score was the deciding factor*. Points difference would probably be fairer though. *Disclaimer: this could be total bollocks Taking highest individual score - guess what? They're dead level - both on 106. So, moving onto second...

Howard Somerset

drawoh at hotmail dot co dot uk

Howard Somerset

David is an Octo with 880 points - so guaranteed a place in the QF's - which we record in a few weeks time - that's all i meant. Not sure what i've given away? You've disclosed that there are no more than 7 other people with scores of over 880 in this series! Hardly worth watching now. Definitely n...

Howard Somerset

dunno, but unlike tony im not a miserable cunt, so maybe that should get me thorugh, lol Really? :) I'm rooting for you both to stay in now, and Tony to find this board so you can explain this comment to him face to face :D How about inviting Tony to the board :) see http://www.tonydurrant.co.uk/ R...

Howard Somerset

Matt Coates wrote:dunno, but unlike tony im not a miserable cunt, so maybe that should get me thorugh, lol

Howard Somerset

Bad luck, Matt. I've not seen the game yet, only the result.

By my reckoning you're dead level with Tony Durrant on 3 wins and 389 points. Any idea how you'll be split if we get just one more player to pass you?

Howard Somerset

Question 1: What's the earliest round at which a game has ever been decided? Question 2: What's the earliest round at which a game has ever been decided given the selections that actually came out? Question 1 - probable answer is "before the penultimate letters round". If it's any earlier...

Howard Somerset

Just to clarify (regarding finals): 1 - don't know (series 1) 1 - winner determined before final letters round 25 - winner determined before final numbers round (includes the 1 above) 35 - winner determined before conundrum (includes the 25 above) 21 - crucial conundrum 21 + 35 + 1(the don't know) =...

Howard Somerset

jimbentley wrote:I'm assuming they were determined by the result of the last numbers round.

I think.

Exactly

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