c4countdown

Malcolm James

I thought WANTERS had previously been disallowed. Is it a new addition in ODE3?

Malcolm James

I thought that in these situations they mocked up a subsitute round at the end of the end to allow both contestants to declare an acceptable 6-letter word.

Malcolm James

R2 RENTBOY

R3 SEGUEING

Malcolm James

R10

7x5=35
35-3=32
32x6=192
192-7=185
185x5=925

Malcolm James

Especially considering that Dan is supposedly on the show later this week, so should remember that Mark Foster was in DC while he was there Erm, isn't this a spoiler, James, unless my counting up to eight is faulty? Andrew Castle was on a couple of weeks ago, so I don't see how this could be seen a...

Malcolm James

Dan McColm wrote:And why can't Andrew Castle sit still in the chair?

Don't know, particularly since this week's guest is Mark Foster.

Malcolm James

I know that 'rules are rules', but I was surprised that GOATIEST had to be specified. One-syllable adjectives and two-syllable adjectives ending in Y form the comparative and superlative using -ier and -iest ( http://www.grammar.cl/Intermediate/Comparatives_Superlatives.htm ). Other adjectives use '...

Malcolm James

Monday is Valentine's day and the start of week 6 of the series, and thus presumably of the second session of filming. Soooooo?

Malcolm James

And what precisely is a MEGALITRE? Surely a litre is a litre is a litre?

Malcolm James

Someone will be sad enough to know this. When was the last time that 9s came up in successive rounds on successive days? Also, unless I missed something, Susie didn't really give the origin of the word 'jeans' itself. I believe it derives from 'gênes', from the French for Genoa.

Malcolm James

Way out of time, but closer still for R14

(9+1)x7 = 70

70-2 = 68

68x6x2 = 816

Haven't checked, but suspect this is closest possible.

Malcolm James

R14

(((7+3)x6)-1)x7x2=826

This is the best you can do.

Malcolm James

R7
WATERLOG

Malcolm James

When did we last have a female contestant under the age of 18? I remember someone winning 2 or 3 games around about 2003, but I may have missed someone.

Malcolm James

Michael Wallace wrote:Lastly didn't the challenger say VESTAGE^ which isn't in? Would he have guessed VESTIGE?

It could have been either, and, since by that time he didn't have even a mathematical chance of winning, I suppose Susie couldn't see any point in challenging him.

Malcolm James

R7 WARBLIER

I suspect Susie was too kind to mention it, since they had an alternative 8.

Malcolm James

There was only one round (R14) in which both contestants scored. Is this a record?

Malcolm James

Is TWOCED (taking without consent) valid in (I think) R10?

Malcolm James

Having watched the repeat, the recap for R14 is wrong. The target was 608 and the contestants both got 610 for 2 away.

Malcolm James

R14

((50 + 100/25) x 8) - 75

Switched off after conundrum, so trust Rachel didn't get this one at the end.

Malcolm James

I had already switched off, so didn't see that. Is it my imagination, or does Rachel either get, or get the chance to show, solutions to numbers games out of time far more often than Carol did? Initially I thought it was because the production team wanted to give her every chance to show she had sol...

Malcolm James

R14
((25 * (7 - 4)) + 4) * 7 + 9 = 562

Malcolm James

James Robinson wrote:That was probably one of the most surprising comebacks of all time

Is this because the comeback was by a more mature lady against a younger man?

Malcolm James

Didn't write down the letters, but have a horrible feeling now that there was only one E in R1.

Malcolm James

R1 RELIQUES

Malcolm James

Not a fan of the "I've finished the numbers game so I'm going to sit back and give my opponent a hint that I've done it and that it's pretty easy". It's not so much that it looks smug (unless it's really, really easy), but it can help the opponent knowing that it's possible. It applies ev...

Malcolm James

R3

OBTUSELY

Malcolm James

If a contestant offered CHOLIAMBS they'd be wrong, unless of course they happened to be playing you, in which case they'd be awarded double points, or however many it took to make sure your preposterously quibbly personality never appeared on our screens again. Nothing personal of course, but you r...

Malcolm James

Jojo Apollo wrote:How long a break is there between each of those 5 filmed episodes?

Usually filmed on consecutive days, but if you happen to be at the end of a filming session, the break could be several weeks.

Malcolm James

Gavin Chipper wrote:Kirk Bevins wrote:
Malcolm James wrote:
R14

(50 + ((7 - 1) x 4)) x (10 + 3) = 962

Again, I'll assume this was out of time?

How dare you insult me like that! It was within the time.

Malcolm James

R14

(50 + ((7 - 1) x 4)) x (10 + 3) = 962

Malcolm James

Actually I think the winner was the reserve contestant, because he was local to the studio. the loser came from London.

Malcolm James

R9 DC Beater

DONORCIDE - I'm surprised Phil Hammond didn't spot it. It would solve the organ transplnt problem.

Malcolm James

Nice alternative for R5

(100/5 - 1) x ((6 x 2) + 7) = 361

Malcolm James

R1 DC-equaller WOOLLENS
R12 DC-beater HEIRESS

Malcolm James

There seems to be a pattern here. I can think of four or five young(ish) female contestant in the last couple of years who, like batsmen putting together a fluent 40 before getting out, look strong in winning two or three games before losing. Not to say that there aren't men like that, but this is p...

Malcolm James

Sue Sanders wrote: If there's ever a 'Dorothy' on, block your ears when they call her 'Dotty'!

And I expect Dinos to be very offended every time there's a Pippa on.

Malcolm James

R14
6x3x2 = 30
30+4=34
8+5=13
34X13= 442

Malcolm James

It's Penarth.

Malcolm James

Also in R2 or 3 DC's offering of ORATOR is only 6, not 7, unless I misheard.

Malcolm James

R4
SOONEST

Malcolm James

Anyone remember Martin Gardner, who used to post frequently? IIRC he only appeared on the show as a reserve because he lived in Leeds at the times, and he ended up an octochamp. Against that, there must be any number of people who scored well in auditions, but who didn't perform well in the studio. ...

Malcolm James

R13: FRIEZES for 7

Watched prog on C4+1 and very surprised no-one has already got this.

Malcolm James

Jason Larsen wrote:Where is Rick Wakeman when we need him? Do I have to ask Kate Horton to invite him back again?

I seem to recall Rick Wakeman writing that he wouldn't go on the show again if they sacked Carol. Carol's gone, so presumably he won't be coming back.

Malcolm James

R5
10, 7, 6, 5, 4, 1 925

6 x 4 = 24
24 + 1 = 25

25 x 7 = 175
175 + 10 = 185

185 x 5 = 925

Got it just as Ian Hyland was about to start talking.

Malcolm James

Probably posted by someone and got wiped but in R13 if Jeff got BASELINE, you could have had BASELINER for 9.

Malcolm James

The reference to Hartlepool playing southampton next season may be a little unfortunate, given the events of the last couple of days.

Malcolm James

R14
(75 + (10*4))*5 - (3*2)

Malcolm James

Derek Hazell wrote:Does Susan Boyle have Asperger's, and what would she be like at Countdown?

She does have unspecified learning difficulties due to oxygen deprivation at birth.

Malcolm James

Kirk Bevins wrote:What - by playing competitive Scrabble? Hmm...

Clearly some people wouldn't know a life if it got up and hit them on the nose.

Malcolm James

Ben Wilson wrote:Seems to happen to a lot of the greats, they retire early, become disinterested etc.

I think they call it "getting a life".

Malcolm James

Another way of looking at this issue is to look at the performance of women in Countdown over the years, since it has become clear that it has become significantly more male-dominated in the last 8-10 years. In that time there have been only 3 female losing finalists, several of the finals and the C...

Malcolm James

Her opponenet in 2008, Michael MacDonald-Cooper, scored a total of 780, a decent, but not exceptional score for an octochamp. Similarly, her score of 73 was highly respectable, but not outstanding. Unless there is a general rule now, she wouldn't seem the most obvious candidate, apart from the fact ...

Malcolm James

This is presumably the first time that a game has involved two contestants for whom it was a second chance at appearing. It seems that it's almost become a rule, that if you're under 18 and lose to an octochamp in your first game you get a second chance. There seem to be more contestants appearing f...

Malcolm James

It would be sad if it moved, although, clearly, if they move because the Leeds studio is closed for economic reasons, this is different to moving for the convenience of the presenter.

Malcolm James

Were you thinking what I was thinking after the first 6 letters of round 12?

Which were (not necessarily in right order) FTLLAE

Malcolm James

On the subject of normal usage, there was an Indian-born contestant a few months ago who said '4 into 3' when she meant '4 times 3'. Having taught many Indian students, I can vouch that this is normal usage in India, because they all say it this way.

Malcolm James

The most surprising thing about today's show was seeing Richard buzz in on the conundrum, since the Guardian feature a couple of weeks back put in a, doubtless inadvertent, spoiler for this game.

Malcolm James

R5
10,9,8,6,5,4 Target 921

((6+5) x 10 +4) x 8 + 9 = 921

Malcolm James

On the numbers, working backwards, i.e. by factorising the target number, can work well and reveal solutions which you wouldn't find by working forward, but it does have the disadvantage, as has been pointed out, that if you can't hit the final factor spot-on, you don't have anything to declare. If ...

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