Search found 1081 matches

by Philip A
Mon Mar 25, 2024 7:12 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

The questions for 23rd of March were good. I think the questions tend to be better and worse in different episodes over the series, in terms on ambiguity. The 45% question about the clockface had a second correct answer if you account 24-hour format, but that doesn’t make it any less unfair.
by Philip A
Fri Mar 22, 2024 5:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 21st March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 58)
Replies: 3
Views: 263

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 21st March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 58)

Not sure how I feel about BEYONDS being allowed. Dictionary specifies "the beyond" as the noun form which doesn't feel like it should take an S I’m inclined to agree. Apterous usually goes by what the dictionary says, when it does say so. On balance I don’t think BEYONDS should be allowed.
by Philip A
Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:06 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 20th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 57)
Replies: 6
Views: 339

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday 20th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 57)

Howie Myers wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:44 am r 11: UNSAILED (maybe....)
Not in: nearest entries are UNSOILED, UNRAILED and UNMAILED.
by Philip A
Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 20th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 57)
Replies: 6
Views: 339

Spoilers for Wednesday 20th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 57)

Toby Byfield debuts. A battle of the Apterites today.

R14: Got 940=((75*25+9)/2)-100/50
by Philip A
Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:48 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 19th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 35)
Replies: 6
Views: 472

Re: Spoilers for Monday 19th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 35)

r4 OUTCRIED? r11 SOUNDABLE? r12 UNQUESTED? asking for a friend,,,,, All invalid. Just when I thought I'd found a reliable source to check my words (an OUP link posted here recently) I now find out it's UNreliable! Soundable is valid on it! I give up. Curious to know which link. Don’t think I saw it...
by Philip A
Fri Mar 15, 2024 2:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 15th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 54)
Replies: 2
Views: 181

Spoilers for Friday 15th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 54)

I seem to have miscounted the number of heat games for this week, which may have skewed the heat numbers. Oops! :!: This is definitely game 54 (first week was just 4 shows).

R7: NANOWIRES
R10: OOTHECA

Why is UNPRECISE not on Ascension?
by Philip A
Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:15 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday 13th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 52)
Replies: 0
Views: 146

Spoilers for Wednesday 13th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 52)

The apparently invalid overbet x looked tempting in Round 10; I had 6 but would have tried it over OVERJET if I were to bid 7. HETERONYM was an excellent solve from Rick Edwards, considering the obscurity and difficulty. I do think conundrums of that difficulty should be reserved for the finals in p...
by Philip A
Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:33 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684637

Re: Ask Graeme?

I bet Pilates is the most frequently declared word on TV Countdown without it ever being allowed: 22 instances in total if you include matched answers.
by Philip A
Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 12th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 51)
Replies: 2
Views: 180

Spoilers for Tuesday 12th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 51)

Nice debut from Apterite and crossword fiend in Lucas Glanville. R4: DIVAGATE R5: HERONITES Max game for me. TALIPES and, more obscurely, ALPISTE, are the useful anagrams of invalid Pilates, which has now been disallowed for the 22nd time (including matched plays). Coincidentally, Rick Edwards was t...
by Philip A
Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:53 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

Gavin Chipper wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:41 pm I've still not watched this. Is it like 1 vs 100 (which I've also not watched)?
This should help: http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/The_1%25_Club It has a live play-along app as well.
by Philip A
Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:48 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

Saw this for the first time yesterday. Can imagine many Countdowners having a go especially if they need 100 players per episode! Anybody else find Lee Mack unbearably facetious? Quite a few Countdowners already have played. I don’t find Lee facetious at all. I find him a natural. Without him this ...
by Philip A
Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:35 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

Better questions this week. I stupidly failed 25%. I got 1% right, though.
by Philip A
Thu Mar 07, 2024 2:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 7th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 48)
Replies: 4
Views: 345

Spoilers for Thursday 7th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 48)

5 octochamps in 48 games! What a series!

R1: NURAGHE

R8: AMATIVE
by Philip A
Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:07 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

After record ratings, they’ve just renewed 2 more series and we’re only 2 episodes in this current one.
by Philip A
Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:51 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 5th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 46)
Replies: 5
Views: 291

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 5th March 2024 (Series 89, Heat 46)

Tempting to try ‘Matilda’ in Round 10, but alas capitalised.
by Philip A
Mon Mar 04, 2024 7:08 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: The Dead of 2024
Replies: 54
Views: 3863

Re: The Dead of 2024

Tony Green passed away today at 85. Legendary darts commentator and scorer who made a terrific double act with the late, great Jim Bowen on Bullseye. Sad to learn this after recently watching it on YouTube again.
by Philip A
Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:53 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 4th March 2024 (Series 88, Heat 45)
Replies: 4
Views: 417

Spoilers for Monday 4th March 2024 (Series 88, Heat 45)

R2: URACIL (Kirk word)

This week may or may not see our 5th octochamp in two months.
by Philip A
Fri Mar 01, 2024 8:13 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 29th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 43)
Replies: 2
Views: 453

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 29th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 43)

50*5-10-4 for a faster 236.

R14 alt: (75*3+3)*2-10=446
by Philip A
Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:06 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684637

Re: Ask Graeme?

How many people have won a Countdown teapot and a Mastermind glass bowl? Isabelle Heward is the one I'm aware of. May well be others. Geoff Thomas marginally missed doing the double, arguably failing at the easier task. Another one for sure is Andy Page (bowl in 2003, teapot in 2004). I know it’s a...
by Philip A
Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:03 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: RIP Dave Myers
Replies: 2
Views: 298

Re: RIP Dave Myers

Such a sad loss. Talented cook, lovely man above all. We enjoy their recipes. RIP
by Philip A
Wed Feb 28, 2024 2:09 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 684637

Re: Ask Graeme?

How many people have won a Countdown teapot and a Mastermind glass bowl?
by Philip A
Wed Feb 28, 2024 10:13 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: OED vs ODP: what’s the difference?
Replies: 9
Views: 546

Re: OED vs ODP: what’s the difference?

Can anybody explain to me like i'm a 5 year old why words get taken out of the dictionary? A lot of the words that have been removed from apterous have been because of misinterpretation of the countdown rules - thinks like percent, readout, outearn etc are now considered to be US spellings of the h...
by Philip A
Tue Feb 27, 2024 8:39 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: OED vs ODP: what’s the difference?
Replies: 9
Views: 546

OED vs ODP: what’s the difference?

There seems to be confusion over what dictionary the show uses. Indeed, the Oxford English Dictionary is often confused with other Oxford dictionaries available, as this tutorial video explains at 2:34. https://youtu.be/JAdoOY3muqw?si=JNbXhFrSu9-sj7Cd So I thought I’d make this clear by explaining t...
by Philip A
Tue Feb 27, 2024 3:10 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

Anyone knocked out in previous questions before that point should never be brought back. Otherwise players would deliberately get a question wrong to try and walk away with a bit of money on the 1% question, and it wouldn’t be a good game. Not sure I understand this. What benefit is there to delibe...
by Philip A
Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:57 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

Anyone else find the ending unsatisfactory when we have the scenario where everyone remaining gets eliminated on the same question? Seems a bit of a cop out that all those eliminated on that question just get flung to the 1% question and have the ability to collect the money, or play for the full p...
by Philip A
Sun Feb 25, 2024 7:48 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

The 5% question was: “YOU is a three-letter word that when you remove the first two letters and just the third letter remains the word still sounds the same. What other commonly-used three letter word does this?” The “correct” answer, according to the show, was WHY - Y. Indeed, the phonetic spelling...
by Philip A
Sun Feb 25, 2024 7:29 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

Aye, some horrible questions there. I'd have gone 5 instead of 2 on national anthem question, but you can make a strong argument for both. The eyes/is thing was brutal too - it's not so much ambiguous as a question, but when read out... Also, we had a difference of opinion on "first letter of ...
by Philip A
Sun Feb 25, 2024 6:12 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

Is it just me or were there 3 or 4 questions where you could make a decent argument for more than one answer being correct tonight? 5% question in particular can eff right off Yes, there were at least two, what I called ambiguous, questions last night. Aye, some horrible questions there. I'd have g...
by Philip A
Thu Feb 22, 2024 2:12 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 22nd February (Series 89, Heat 38)
Replies: 3
Views: 343

Spoilers for Thursday 22nd February (Series 89, Heat 38)

Will Michael Calder be the 4th octochamp in 8 weeks?!

Will we get TEN octochamps?!
by Philip A
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:30 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 19th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 35)
Replies: 6
Views: 472

Re: Spoilers for Monday 19th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 35)

Howie Myers wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 6:18 am r4 OUTCRIED?
r11 SOUNDABLE?
r12 UNQUESTED?
asking for a friend,,,,,
All invalid.
by Philip A
Sun Feb 18, 2024 10:32 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 8th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 28)
Replies: 11
Views: 738

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 8th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 28)

I wonder what they'd have done if she'd said something like "UNPOWD ... Oh no, GUNPOWDER". You are the ref . . . I think I'd have to say that she lost, and she shouldn't be able to profit by actually giving the answer away completely, so any sort of rerun would be wrong. Maybe just refilm...
by Philip A
Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:53 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 16th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 34)
Replies: 2
Views: 311

Spoilers for Friday 16th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 34)

Would anyone else have been tempted by the invalid ‘opacities’ in Round 1? https://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_8210

R9 alt: (100+5*6-7)*(9-1)=984

R14 alt: (50*3+10/2)*5=755
by Philip A
Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:07 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 12th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 30)
Replies: 3
Views: 387

Re: Spoilers for Monday 12th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 30)

Have a feeling this could be a 9-strong octochamp series, which has happened once before. A very open competition so far having seen some consistent scores among non-Apterites, and we’re not even at the halfway point of Series 89.
by Philip A
Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:52 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 9th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 29)
Replies: 3
Views: 332

Spoilers for Friday 9th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 29)

RASCALS for an anagram of SCALARS in Round 2.

Since the recording of this episode, WORLDIE has been added to the premium.oxforddictionaries.com website. Thankfully, it didn’t cost the winner in the end.
by Philip A
Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:03 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 8th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 28)
Replies: 11
Views: 738

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 8th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 28)

“Unpowder” was unfortunate. Very unlucky, Katharine. I’m sorry to see you go so soon.
by Philip A
Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:59 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 8th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 28)
Replies: 11
Views: 738

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 8th February 2024 (Series 89, Heat 28)

Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:46 pm Although not as long as FACTOTUM, TACTFUL was the standard method contestant-beater in round 4.
I got FACTOTUM, but the lack of E always makes the game harder IMO.
by Philip A
Wed Feb 07, 2024 6:09 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: The 1% Club
Replies: 52
Views: 4990

Re: The 1% Club

Heads up!

Series 3 starts 17th February at 8:50 pm. And it’s twice longer; 16 shows!
by Philip A
Sat Feb 03, 2024 12:08 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers Thursday February 1st
Replies: 2
Views: 414

Re: Spoilers Thursday February 1st

Howie Myers wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 11:49 am r11: PRETRIED?
Alas, no. PRETRIAL is a word, though.
by Philip A
Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:47 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 30th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 21)
Replies: 3
Views: 542

Spoilers for Tuesday 30th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 21)

Round 11: from the first 7 letters, FATUITY.
by Philip A
Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:57 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 23rd January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 16)
Replies: 6
Views: 740

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 23rd January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 16)

Martin Long wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:18 pm HOMININ in round 10.
Excellent.

R5: GEOTAGS
by Philip A
Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:31 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for 17th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 12)
Replies: 2
Views: 605

Re: Spoilers for 17th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 12)

Toby McDonald wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:42 pm POLITRUK in R10
Wow!
by Philip A
Wed Jan 17, 2024 3:58 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for 17th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 12)
Replies: 2
Views: 605

Spoilers for 17th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 12)

Good non-Apterites lately.

UPTHREW is off the list. Just UPTHROWN and UPTHROW(S) now.

PANDOURS to beat PARDONS.
by Philip A
Wed Jan 17, 2024 12:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 16th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 11)
Replies: 9
Views: 784

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 16th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 11)

I feel people may benefit from a free version of Lexplorer to check words without paywalls. There was one in the past, but I think it stopped working, somehow. Agree. But Lexplorer works fine for me without subscription. You just need to sign in. Can't use advanced features like anagrams, but basic...
by Philip A
Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:26 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday 16th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 11)
Replies: 9
Views: 784

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday 16th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 11)

I feel people may benefit from a free version of Lexplorer to check words without paywalls. There was one in the past, but I think it stopped working, somehow.
by Philip A
Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:15 am
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Jeopardy!
Replies: 17
Views: 2496

Re: Jeopardy!

It’s a very simple format (which I know and love) and yet some viewers still don’t fully understand how it works. I think Stephen Fry should outline the rules properly at the very beginning of each show as most people don’t necessarily know of the US format; answers must be in the form of a “Who/Wh...
by Philip A
Mon Jan 15, 2024 4:49 pm
Forum: Games and Puzzles
Topic: Phone Word Games Outside of Countdown?
Replies: 2
Views: 3840

Re: Phone Word Games Outside of Countdown?

Not sure if this is free to play, but my personal favourite is the daily PlusWord from The Telegraph Puzzles – Wordle and Crossword combined, introduced in 2022. The aim is to solve a 5*5 concise crossword and the PlusWord underneath; some of the cells in the crossword have yellow and green squares ...
by Philip A
Mon Jan 15, 2024 2:33 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Gladiators - Great Reboot!
Replies: 1
Views: 609

Gladiators - Great Reboot!

Love the new Gladiators on BBC One/iPlayer so far; so well produced. How a reboot should be done!
by Philip A
Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:07 pm
Forum: Other game shows
Topic: Jeopardy!
Replies: 17
Views: 2496

Re: Jeopardy!

It’s a very simple format (which I know and love) and yet some viewers still don’t fully understand how it works. I think Stephen Fry should outline the rules properly at the very beginning of each show as most people don’t necessarily know of the US format; answers must be in the form of a “Who/Wha...
by Philip A
Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for 11th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 8)
Replies: 3
Views: 704

Re: Spoilers for 11th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 8)

Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:55 pm The wheels kind of fell off that game. It was a good start!
Yeah they did. Happens sometimes.

The conundrum was very hard as well. Took me a second guess to get it right!
by Philip A
Wed Jan 10, 2024 2:21 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for 10th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 7)
Replies: 1
Views: 551

Spoilers for 10th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 7)

R1: OMNITUDE for a rare 8

R3 alt: 378 goes into 9 and also 3. ((10+3+1)*3)*(8+1)

R5: WINTROUS

R8: OPULENT. Missable

R13: GOBSHITE!
by Philip A
Wed Jan 10, 2024 1:29 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday 4th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 3)
Replies: 1
Views: 370

Re: Spoilers for Thursday 4th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 3)

I think every 10 numbers games or so, you can expect Rachel Riley to go for the unusual numbers method instead of the normal method. Happens time and time again every series since 10 years ago.
by Philip A
Tue Jan 09, 2024 2:46 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for 9th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 6)
Replies: 6
Views: 686

Re: Spoilers for 9th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 6)

R11 alt: ASSEGAI

R14: The boring way: (100+50)*7-75-25-6=944
by Philip A
Tue Jan 09, 2024 2:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for 9th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 6)
Replies: 6
Views: 686

Spoilers for 9th January 2024 (Series 89, Heat 6)

R1: MOUTHIES

R6 alt: 625-15=(75-50)*25-100/5+5=610
by Philip A
Mon Jan 08, 2024 2:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Monday 8th January (S89, Prelim 5)
Replies: 2
Views: 481

Re: Spoilers for Monday 8th January (S89, Prelim 5)

Classic HEPTAGON/PATHOGEN anagram pair in Round 2.