Search found 333 matches
- Wed May 20, 2020 8:37 am
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Word related puzzles
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3028
Re: Word related puzzles
That's a tricky thing that you want us to do. It's a particularly common inclusion in many words, so avoiding it puts an onus on us to think of good synonyms. But it can still fall out OK if you go suitably slowly.
- Mon May 18, 2020 4:52 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: When Countdown episodes run out
- Replies: 80
- Views: 30021
Re: When Countdown episodes run out
I've had a look at my TV guide for the next couple of weeks. It appears that Tuesday 19th May's episode, which I expected to be the repeat of Chris Hawkins v Jill Bright, http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5626 has been replaced by http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_6613, the 25th anniversary of Susie'...
- Wed May 06, 2020 3:08 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: When Countdown episodes run out
- Replies: 80
- Views: 30021
Re: When Countdown episodes run out
countdown channel4.com <countdown@channel4.com> 2:51 PM (1 hour ago) to Thomas Dear Thomas, I hope you are well. Due to the current Coronavirus situation and filming restrictions, Channel 4 will be repeating past episodes of Countdown. We wanted to let you know that the episodes you appeared in, or...
- Wed May 06, 2020 2:21 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: When Countdown episodes run out
- Replies: 80
- Views: 30021
Re: When Countdown episodes run out
CoC XIV due to follow the 30th Birthday Championship (starting 25th June based on email I just received).
- Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:02 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
- Replies: 646
- Views: 337223
Re: REALLY obvious things you've just realised
The volleyball's from Cast Away. Do you want to build a snowman? is from Frozen. These are both somewhat successful films.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:19 am What?
Edit - I mean, why is it funny and why is a picture of a football with that weird blood hand/face on it relevant? I'm not getting it at all.
- Wed Feb 12, 2020 10:50 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Internal monologue
- Replies: 19
- Views: 8034
Re: Internal monologue
Very much on the internal voice side - would love it to shut up when I try and sleep.
On the Countdown side of things, some part of my brain will often chuck solutions out, but they'll still at some point get internally vocalised.
On the Countdown side of things, some part of my brain will often chuck solutions out, but they'll still at some point get internally vocalised.
- Tue Feb 11, 2020 11:34 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Is COUNTDOWN worthy of respect as a game?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 10543
Re: Is COUNTDOWN worthy of respect as a game?
Going with the definition Callum found, of artistry as "creative skill", I think a combination of those words must include some element of choice - tying in with the openness Callum talked about. Pure art-art obviously has this - you could choose to make or paint anything within the realms...
- Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:57 am
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Poll: The strongest series? [S01-S81]
- Replies: 18
- Views: 7907
Re: Poll: The strongest series? [S01-S81]
Not even a contest. 69 had (at the time) 3 of the 5 highest octototals, plus Zarte who would have been in the 900+ club then if he hadn't played Dylan and went on to be one of the top players of all time, and then Callum comes along and trains enough that he beats all 3 of the top seeds to win the s...
- Mon Jan 13, 2020 11:22 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
- Replies: 1617
- Views: 743387
Re: Questions you've always wanted answered
Looks like Beckham really kept his: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/a ... -caps.html
- Mon Jan 13, 2020 11:21 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
- Replies: 1617
- Views: 743387
Re: Questions you've always wanted answered
The intro to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_(sport) describes it well. True (thanks) although it gets confusing again as it starts off by saying it's a metaphorical thing, then later it says that association football teams still award a physical cap. If so, and players are given one every time t...
- Mon Jan 13, 2020 11:10 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
- Replies: 1617
- Views: 743387
Re: Questions you've always wanted answered
The intro to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_(sport) describes it well.
- Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:14 am
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Who are Countdown's unluckiest losers?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 10175
Re: Who are Countdown's unluckiest losers?
Ciaran McCarthy and Peter Steggle also come to mind - both lost to Mark Murray with scores of 104 and 95 respectively.
- Thu Jan 02, 2020 10:18 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: How many countries have you been to?
- Replies: 172
- Views: 99503
Re: How many countries have you been to?
Year-end update: China (airport only), New Zealand and Russia, bringing to 31. Was due to add Romania on a work trip this month, but cancelled for now (may still make it later this year anyway).
- Thu Dec 05, 2019 4:20 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Series 81 finals predictions
- Replies: 8
- Views: 5233
Re: Series 81 finals predictions
Though Robin Johnson in series 79 and his associated stretch of games did break it.David Williams wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:12 am I'm sure we're all relieved that Chris Evans ensures there is no Bevins number discontinuity.
- Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:50 pm
- Forum: apterous.org
- Topic: ProRanks history video
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7919
Re: ProRanks history video
This is great Tom. I was considering trying to do something similar a few weeks back as part of my efforts to learn R, but couldn't raise the effort to scrape the data - what did you use for that piece? My Python code's below. I used requests (a nice intuitive module) to just get each page in turn,...
- Tue Nov 19, 2019 10:08 am
- Forum: apterous.org
- Topic: ProRanks history video
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7919
Re: ProRanks history video
It's so nice that I won't take it personally that I have been excluded! I hope it's because of my stupid punctuated name rather than a personal vendetta. Oh whoops. Yes, that actually is the reason - my code gathering the data from each page expected names to contain letters and spaces only. Also m...
- Mon Nov 18, 2019 7:06 pm
- Forum: apterous.org
- Topic: ProRanks history video
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7919
ProRanks history video
I made one of those moving bar charts showing ProRanks over time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfWpClM ... e=youtu.be
Only shows the top 20 as some weeks don't have a full top 25 because of deactivated accounts. Very low-effort recording technique as well.
Only shows the top 20 as some weeks don't have a full top 25 because of deactivated accounts. Very low-effort recording technique as well.
- Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:59 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: People you shouldn't trust
- Replies: 921
- Views: 491036
Re: People you shouldn't trust
Is it any more arbitrary than toasting bread? Excuse me while I cook this thing that's already been cooked.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2019 3:31 pm People who have toasted marshmallows. How is that a thing? It's such an arbitrary thing to do. Excuse me a minute while I stir fry some gummy bears.
- Fri Oct 18, 2019 12:34 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Is Countdown moving to Leeds ?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2596
Re: Is Countdown moving to Leeds ?
It's made by ITV Studios, not channel 4, so doubt that's going to have any impact (that's also presumably why it's in Media City already, which Channel 4 don't seem to be bothering with based on that article)
- Wed Oct 02, 2019 4:05 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Events
- Topic: FOCAL scoring system
- Replies: 57
- Views: 55968
Re: FOCAL scoring system
Most events though are fairly similar in their spread of strength (with Waterford being the main exception, with a much higher ratio of non-regulars), and also aren't anywhere near 4 or 100 in size. In a small event, there's no way of getting a high position without playing the rest of the top playe...
- Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:57 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Thread Of Random (for Marc)
- Replies: 168
- Views: 58941
Re: Thread Of Random (for Marc)
I don't think the hole in the ozone layer was even thought of back then. Mainly because we didn't have the scientific consensus until around that point. Not one to court controversy but I have believed global warming to be a conspiracy theory with very little hard evidence to support it. Certainly ...
Re: Religion
Also why couldn't Jesus just be the wisest, humblest most loving human ever without having to be the son of God. Except he then comes out with statements like "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" and "Whoever acknowledges me before o...
- Tue Aug 27, 2019 3:19 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Ask Graeme?
- Replies: 1753
- Views: 774376
Re: Ask Graeme?
2. What is the longest string of centuries in preliminary games?- I would have thought that 9 in a row starting from Elliott Mellor's 1st game would be a contender. Zarte's first run + Dylan's octorun + Gemma's first game (14 games total) is most likely I reckon. I've had a look at all the octocham...
- Sun Jun 16, 2019 12:10 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Tory Leadership
- Replies: 20
- Views: 12630
Re: Tory Leadership
Are you just sad that your uncle Matt had to pull out of the race?Ashton Hancock wrote: ↑Sun Jun 16, 2019 10:24 am I am not a Tory supporter. All the contenders are total idiots.
- Fri May 24, 2019 10:31 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Ask Graeme?
- Replies: 1753
- Views: 774376
Re: Ask Graeme?
Found a couple recorded as 30s ( http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_4419 and this wonderfully ironic entry http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_761 ) Also a couple of 29.75s ( http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5293 and http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5326 ) and a 29.9 after an incorrect 29s buzz ( http://...
- Thu May 23, 2019 1:15 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Series 80 - Female Winners
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1991
Re: Series 80 - Female Winners
Would need a Graeme to answer fully, but it's definitely looking good compared to recent years. You have to go back to series 71 to find the last series with more than 1 female finalist, leaving very little time for the others to fit in a high percentage. Series 80 has already managed that, Sandra's...
- Wed May 22, 2019 1:15 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Negative picking
- Replies: 20
- Views: 14249
Re: Negative picking
Seems entirely reasonable, particularly when that's your specialism. When I'm playing a stronger letter player I'll deliberately try to open up the selection for the same reason, to prevent a selection where I have to guess what word like PAPOOCH is valid to match my opponent. If the aim were to exp...
- Mon May 20, 2019 1:03 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Events
- Topic: Countdown In Brinsworth 2019
- Replies: 113
- Views: 107604
Re: Countdown In Brinsworth 2019
Hi Guys This will now be an online event held over a few weeks starting later this month. It will be held here on c4countdown 1st off player 1 will text how many vowels and consonants they would like and I will reply to both contestants with them vowels and consonants the same with round 2 etc. I w...
- Fri Apr 26, 2019 2:12 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: Questions you've always wanted answered
- Replies: 1617
- Views: 743387
Re: Questions you've always wanted answered
If you shortened "bicycle" to "bic" you'd be sectioned, so why do people shorten "microphone" to mic? "Mike" makes so much more sense. https://www.audiolinks.com/blog/mike-vs-mic/ As I suspected, mike is the preferred grammatically, particularly when used as ...
- Mon Mar 11, 2019 4:36 am
- Forum: Countdown - Events
- Topic: COREA - Reading - 20th April 2019
- Replies: 6
- Views: 9915
Re: COREA - Reading - 20th April 2019
In please
- Sat Mar 02, 2019 11:47 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Mark and Zarte's 26.2 Hour Game Of Countdown
- Replies: 21
- Views: 14040
Re: Mark and Zarte's 26.2 Hour Game Of Countdown
Great work everyone involved - the standard you guys reached, even after a day's playing, was amazing. Also thanks to Patrick, an attendee of the event, who solved the lifelong which-are-the-discard-piles problem that has plagued Co events for more than a decade by suggesting that the discards are l...
- Tue Jan 29, 2019 8:13 am
- Forum: Other game shows
- Topic: Only Connect
- Replies: 169
- Views: 112104
Re: Only Connect
Based on what has happened so far, I think it works like this:- 16 teams, so 8 games in the "heats" round. Following this we have 8 winners (1-0) and 8 losers (0-1). Next stage is the "losers" round - win this and you're at 1-1 and survive, lose and you're 0-2 and BFH as Jim Bow...
- Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:05 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Events
- Topic: COLIN XV- Countdown in Lincoln, 19-20 January 2019
- Replies: 59
- Views: 85496
Re: COLIN XV- Countdown in Lincoln, 19-20 January 2019
Mike Springett beat me to it in the Facebook discussion, but obviously there will be a parkrun happening as well on this weekend. Just like to let everyone know there will be a parkrun happening over the weekend for Colin 2020 too. And Colin 2022. 2021 however will controversially take place midwee...
- Thu Nov 22, 2018 3:17 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: How many combos?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4594
Re: How many combos?
There's probably even a way to do the seven IF tests and combine the results in a single cell (essentially whatever you'd put in the 7 separate cells, combined into one formula).
- Thu Nov 22, 2018 2:47 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: How many combos?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4594
Re: How many combos?
Yeah, you definitely don't want to do that by working out each combination individually. Doing 7 individual IF tests then combining the results as a string would be ideal, however you do that in Excel.
- Thu Nov 22, 2018 2:20 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: How many combos?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4594
Re: How many combos?
2^7=128 (each day can either be in the set or not). Or 127 if you discount the empty list.
- Fri Nov 02, 2018 5:30 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: How many countries have you been to?
- Replies: 172
- Views: 99503
Re: How many countries have you been to?
25 Turkey, just passing thru, sadly 26 Israel with work, interesting few days in Tel Aviv mainly, but a trip to the Dead Sea meant.... 27 Palestine and adds Palestine to the exclusive list of "countries I've been to without realising I've been to", a list which currently consists of Pales...
- Mon Oct 22, 2018 2:15 pm
- Forum: Other game shows
- Topic: Countdowners On Other Quizzes
- Replies: 253
- Views: 234412
Re: Countdowners On Other Quizzes
Nathan Pace in on The Chase tonight, he's been waiting over a year for the broadcast date! Good luck Nathan Also tonight, the Countdowners on Only Connect run continues, with Bob de Caux. Also Dave Ryan and Suzy Turner on 5th November, and Hugh Binnie, Lauren Hamer and Matt Bayfield on 19th November.
- Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:33 am
- Forum: Other game shows
- Topic: Lateral
- Replies: 3
- Views: 6810
Re: Lateral
Really enjoyed these at the time, would love to see it commissioned. My one concern is that the nature of the questions makes it easier than OC to write hints that aren't any use. In OC, each hint is an extra element of the set/sequence, so is always extra information. Here, the hint is a clarificat...
- Fri Oct 12, 2018 3:04 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Friday 12th October 2018 (Series 79, Prelim 76)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 6637
Re: Spoilers for Friday 12th October 2018 (Series 79, Prelim 76)
This series must be approaching the record for greatest number of people who have been provisionally ranked #1 seed, though I suspect Series 21 is still tops (see the factoid on the page). This series is currently tying series 21 with 9 provisional #1s (due to having 2 currently unseeded players fi...
- Wed Oct 10, 2018 10:34 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Ask Graeme?
- Replies: 1753
- Views: 774376
Re: Ask Graeme?
Given that this is the Ask Graeme? thread, I think it's on you to answer your own question. Preferably with suitable statistics.Graeme Cole wrote: ↑Wed Oct 10, 2018 7:50 pmWe've had the current format for over 5 years now. When am I going to stop calling it the "new" 15-rounder?
- Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:52 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: How many countries have you been to?
- Replies: 172
- Views: 99503
Re: How many countries have you been to?
Denmark and Sweden done, and should be adding Israel and Palestine in a month.
- Fri Aug 31, 2018 8:46 am
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: The CoC Predictions Game
- Replies: 81
- Views: 53334
Re: The CoC Predictions Game
People have actually done that? What kind of lunatic would send you a range when the scoring system requires an exact number? What did they think would happen? So if someone says "I think A will beat B by 5-10 points", and Zarte takes the middle value which is 7.5, and the actual margin t...
- Tue Aug 28, 2018 12:25 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Spoilers for Monday 27th August 2018 (Series 79, Prelim 43)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 5284
Re: Spoilers for Monday 27th August 2018 (Series 79, Prelim 43)
It's been valid since at least 2001: http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_3031
- Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:58 am
- Forum: Countdown - Events
- Topic: CO-MSO 2018
- Replies: 11
- Views: 15126
Re: CO-MSO 2018
Has Prune finished in the top half of a Co-event before?
- Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:46 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
- Replies: 759
- Views: 487744
Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
It's because Graeme's a magical creature from Narnia, and needed to return home.Ben Wilson wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:58 am Had a brilliant one that I can hardly remember anything about other than Jen was trying to stuff Graeme into a wardrobe and I got the impression the reason was benevolent.
- Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:40 am
- Forum: Countdown - Events
- Topic: FOCAL scoring system
- Replies: 57
- Views: 55968
Re: FOCAL scoring system
I've already given a system that I think would work. Basically, in a one-person event, they'd get 50; for two it would be 66.7, 33.3; for three it would be 75, 50, 25 etc. There's a formula out there somewhere but I can't be bothered to find/work it out again right now. I think it's the fairest lin...
- Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:26 am
- Forum: Games and Puzzles
- Topic: Change one word in a film title to make a different film
- Replies: 7
- Views: 7422
- Wed Jul 18, 2018 4:19 pm
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: C of C Draw......
- Replies: 105
- Views: 74506
Re: C of C Draw......
Nice to see a couple of non-Apterites in the mix, with Phil and Dougie recognised for their excellent performances in last series.
When are audience tickets likely to be available?
When are audience tickets likely to be available?
- Thu Jun 28, 2018 11:57 pm
- Forum: Other game shows
- Topic: Mastermind
- Replies: 17
- Views: 18253
Re: Mastermind
Doing the New Testament lettersElliott Mellor wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 8:39 pm Very nice, what'll your specialist subject be (if you can say)?
- Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:20 pm
- Forum: Other game shows
- Topic: Mastermind
- Replies: 17
- Views: 18253
Mastermind
I'm going to be filming for the next series of Mastermind on the evening of 24th July. If anyone (nearby or otherwise) fancies coming along to Media City for non-Countdown filming and to keep me company in the green room let me know. I can have 3 guests in the green room, as well as up to 7 addition...
- Thu Jun 28, 2018 7:41 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: What films have you watched lately?
- Replies: 438
- Views: 304292
Re: What films have you watched lately?
Oh, Satan and Santa. Don't know which order.Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:43 amBoth in the top fiveThomas Cappleman wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:49 pmBased on the wording, God/Jesus?Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 6:42 pm I want to say as a clue it's a fictitious character but that may be challenged
No 1 is an anagram of no 2
- Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:49 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: What films have you watched lately?
- Replies: 438
- Views: 304292
Re: What films have you watched lately?
Based on the wording, God/Jesus?Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 6:42 pm I want to say as a clue it's a fictitious character but that may be challenged
- Wed Jun 27, 2018 1:22 pm
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: What films have you watched lately?
- Replies: 438
- Views: 304292
Re: What films have you watched lately?
Just for fun I posted a film question on another forum and apart from obvious Googlers hardly anyone got it. Which character has been played the most on screen ( that's film AND TV before you ask ) ? Are we defining most by number of distinct portrayals? If so, it's probably someone like the Queen.
- Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:33 pm
- Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
- Topic: Series 78 Finals Predictions (Contains Spoilers!)
- Replies: 73
- Views: 48322
Re: Series 78 Finals Predictions (Contains Spoilers!)
QF1: Tom Chafer-Cook vs Graeme Staples (Prediction: 50 Points) (Actual: 45 Points) (Score: 50-45=5 Points) If I understand this correctly, if you predicted Tom to win by a million and 45 points, you'd get a million points. That is technically correct, although I must admit no one is going to win wi...
- Mon Jun 04, 2018 10:03 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
- Replies: 774
- Views: 685417
Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?
But then Detectorists. Talk about pulling it back. Watched the whole lot over the last couple of weeks and definitely one of the best comedy dramas I've ever seen I think. Just wonderful. Superb character acting, cutesy low-level high-tension drama, really likeable casting, just felt so fucking bri...
- Wed May 30, 2018 9:22 am
- Forum: Off-topic
- Topic: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
- Replies: 759
- Views: 487744
Re: C4C/apto/Countdown Dreams
She does: http://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/thequeen/t ... sses-85735Elliott Mellor wrote: ↑Wed May 30, 2018 7:22 am No sure what happened after this, but I'm sort of disappointed it ended and really hope the queen actually does watch Countdown.
- Fri May 25, 2018 8:46 am
- Forum: Other game shows
- Topic: Hard Ball
- Replies: 1
- Views: 5322
Re: Hard Ball
I've been watching the morning repeats (or as much as is left when I wake up). Spotted Karen Pearson on the first episode I caught. And agreed, the quantity of questions is a definite plus.
- Fri May 18, 2018 9:56 am
- Forum: Countdown - General
- Topic: Where are They Now ?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 32375
Re: Where are They Now ?
Richard Brittain (according to a conversation on Apterous some time) lives on my walk to work. Not actually spotted him, but he said he saw me one time.
- Mon May 07, 2018 8:43 am
- Forum: Other game shows
- Topic: The Return of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
- Replies: 35
- Views: 40934
Re: The Return of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
Clarkson is at least making it very clear how confident he is about his answers, and is clearly terrified of getting into the position you described. Not a lifeline to keep in future if the host isn't known for their general knowledge. I thought Clarkson was warming into the role nicely yesterday. H...