Best conundrum

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:20 pm

I think the most recent CoC had some of the nicest conundrums I've ever seen, including SEAPYTHON, FCRAVIOLA and (much as it pains me to admit) ELITEBOUT. The most recent finals also had some gems like NINECARAT and BADLYBEAT. Just wondering what other awesome ones you've seen (on the show or otherwise). Also I wonder how many people who watch even appreciate the craft that goes into making really nice ones like that.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:29 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:I think the most recent CoC had some of the nicest conundrums I've ever seen, including SEAPYTHON, FCRAVIOLA and (much as it pains me to admit) ELITEBOUT. The most recent finals also had some gems like NINECARAT and BADLYBEAT. Just wondering what other awesome ones you've seen (on the show or otherwise). Also I wonder how many people who watch even appreciate the craft that goes into making really nice ones like that.

I quite liked the one on my special against Lucy Guile.

As we were both from West Yorkshire, the conundrum was appropriately LEEDSTURF.

The people who sort these conundrums out must definitely take some serious thought into the process.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:47 pm

PEPSICOLA was probably my favourite of all time but I did like LETISSIER too.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:50 pm

A couple of other nice ones I've seen (can't remember where): SOURCHIVE, SETSQUARE, TOMCRUISE (think that was a series final).

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:06 pm

I quite liked that one from I think it was last year where the jumbled-up word was GERANIUMS, which led to the contestant buzzing in to say GERANIUMS, although that would have been a bit too simple

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:38 pm

I like anything where the scramble makes sense and is relevant, like the AMSPECIAL one in my semi final. ERACLOSES was a nice scramble but the answer is quite simple.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:56 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:I like anything where the scramble makes sense and is relevant, like the AMSPECIAL one

I don't really understand how that's 'relevant', elucidate?

Chris Philpot · Post by **Chris Philpot** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:02 pm

The grand finals over the years have held some absolutely cracking conundrums. MUMLEDFOX is fairly simple but a lovely image, whilst TEEUPLATE and RANDYBUSH are harder and again both connote great imagery. HITPARADE is an excellent scramble, albeit with a not so nice solution, whereas AGOALDOWN from Series 32 is absolutely scrumptious in every way.

Actually, a real couple of favourites of mine come from the Countdown calendar: the first from 2009, MMIXIDEAS, and later in the year the superb BELFASTUK. The latter had me going for hours!

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:03 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:
I don't really understand how that's 'relevant', elucidate?

Damian posted in another thread that he put that in the finals as it would refer to the contestants.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:48 pm

Chris Philpot wrote:The grand finals over the years have held some absolutely cracking conundrums. MUMLEDFOX is fairly simple but a lovely image, whilst TEEUPLATE and RANDYBUSH are harder and again both connote great imagery. HITPARADE is an excellent scramble, albeit with a not so nice solution, whereas AGOALDOWN from Series 32 is absolutely scrumptious in every way.

Actually, a real couple of favourites of mine come from the Countdown calendar: the first from 2009, MMIXIDEAS, and later in the year the superb BELFASTUK. The latter had me going for hours!

I think the one in your avatar would probably come pretty near the top of any list I might compile.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:02 pm

Actually the real shuffle for that one (BIGPRONKS) is pretty damn clever in itself.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:55 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:A couple of other nice ones I've seen (can't remember where): SOURCHIVE, SETSQUARE, TOMCRUISE (think that was a series final).

SOURCHIVE was my scramble (so cheers) but don't think it's been on the show. Incidentally, neither Tom Hargreaves nor Julian Fell solved it but it made Craig's list. There was also a furore about it caused by Gevin, who is not unlike a cunt aside from being useless.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:22 am

Michael Wallace wrote:
Kirk Bevins wrote:I like anything where the scramble makes sense and is relevant, like the AMSPECIAL one
I don't really understand how that's 'relevant', elucidate?

I think Kirk is making immodest reference to his being special and he certainly is ...

... special school ...... special Olympics ... special yellow bus ... all spring to mind.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:38 am

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Chris Philpot wrote:The grand finals over the years have held some absolutely cracking conundrums. MUMLEDFOX is fairly simple but a lovely image, whilst TEEUPLATE and RANDYBUSH are harder and again both connote great imagery. HITPARADE is an excellent scramble, albeit with a not so nice solution, whereas AGOALDOWN from Series 32 is absolutely scrumptious in every way.

Actually, a real couple of favourites of mine come from the Countdown calendar: the first from 2009, MMIXIDEAS, and later in the year the superb BELFASTUK. The latter had me going for hours!
I think the one in your avatar would probably come pretty near the top of any list I might compile.

I posted the above, shut down the computer, made a sandwich and headed upstairs to watch Psychoville - and realised as I did so that it would have been much funnier had I said, "The one in your avatar appears to be unbeatable". But hey, I can't be witty all the time.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:22 am

Phil Reynolds wrote: I posted the above, shut down the computer, made a sandwich and headed upstairs to watch Psychoville - and realised as I did so that it would have been much funnier had I said, "The one in your avatar appears to be unbeatable". But hey, I can't be witty any of the time.

I have taken the liberty of amending this for you, it was obviously typed in a hurry.

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:29 am

I have to say I liked LEGALSIRS, as it was tough but fair. Not a word I use often or would even know to be valid, but certainly deducible. I'd much rather be beaten by this than, say, ELITEBOUT which I'd never heard of.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:42 am

Junaid Mubeen wrote:I'd much rather be beaten by this than, say, ELITEBOUT which I'd never heard of.

Possibly you'd heard of it but forgotten it.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:40 pm

Strange, I've been thinking about this recently before this thread.

I came up with some rather nice scrambles:

INTRIGUED (booooring)
CREATEDUS
RESTILGOE

Er, I've forgotten the rest.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:17 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:Strange, I've been thinking about this recently before this thread.

I came up with some rather nice scrambles:

INTRIGUED (booooring)
CREATEDUS
RESTILGOE

Er, I've forgotten the rest.

You told me about COMEAGAIN when we were in Unit One (yes, I was in a bar with a kid, and yes I was grooming him), which is awesome, although I don't know if that was one of your own.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:29 pm

Junaid Mubeen wrote:I have to say I liked LEGALSIRS

I set this in a MSN online game (Corby versus Travers) with the scramble RILESSLAG.

Was thinking we should have a competition to see who can come up with the best original scramble - winner gets a Mars bar or some such.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:08 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:Strange, I've been thinking about this recently before this thread.

I came up with some rather nice scrambles:

INTRIGUED (booooring)
CREATEDUS
RESTILGOE

Er, I've forgotten the rest.
You told me about COMEAGAIN when we were in Unit One (yes, I was in a bar with a kid, and yes I was grooming him), which is awesome, although I don't know if that was one of your own.

Oh yeh, that was one of them, and yes I did make it up

Chris Philpot · Post by **Chris Philpot** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:08 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:Actually the real shuffle for that one (BIGPRONKS) is pretty damn clever in itself.

I'll admit that I had to look up the definition of "pronk" but, having done so, it's absolutely fantastic. Ditto COMEAGAIN, actually. Of those which I have devised myself, I definitely discovered SETSQUARE at some point but am not sure if I ever set it as a conundrum back in the pre-Apterous MSN Countdown days. Another of my devising is SURETHING which is like Kai's in its immediate recognisability as a common phrase, but it lacks the lovely neither common prefixed nor common suffixed solution.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:24 pm

Is it an unwritten rule that when people talk about conundrums they don't mention the solution?

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:28 pm

David O'Donnell wrote:SOURCHIVE was my scramble (so cheers) but don't think it's been on the show. Incidentally, neither Tom Hargreaves nor Julian Fell solved it but it made Craig's list. There was also a furore about it caused by Gevin, who is not unlike a cunt aside from being useless.

I don't have a clue what you're talking about.

Edit - I think I'm with you now. I think it's all made up and you were just being a twat. I know I'm at least half right.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:33 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote:Is it an unwritten rule that when people talk about conundrums they don't mention the solution?

Not any more.

FWIW it was me that devised SETSQUARE, although I remember Crispy posting that he solved it on 0.5 seconds. I'm sure I'm not the first, though.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:46 pm

Of the ones I've created, NOPULSEDR, RUDEFARTS, COMBINERY and FANTHEISM are probably my favourites. Bit lacklustre compared to some of the above though.

Gavin Chipper wrote:
David O'Donnell wrote:SOURCHIVE was my scramble (so cheers) but don't think it's been on the show. Incidentally, neither Tom Hargreaves nor Julian Fell solved it but it made Craig's list. There was also a furore about it caused by Gevin, who is not unlike a cunt aside from being useless.
I don't have a clue what you're talking about.

It was me who failed to spot that and not Julian. And Gavin, your own personalised conundrum!

DREARYGAV

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:13 pm

Paul Howe wrote:DREARYGAV

SCOURPAUL

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:21 pm

CHOKINVAG

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:25 pm

^ scratch that...

UPTHEARSE

Chris Philpot · Post by **Chris Philpot** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:49 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:UPTHEARSE

That is fabulous - I can only offer THIGHWANK in riposte.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:56 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:^ scratch that...

UPTHEARSE

Supoib

Gavin Chipper wrote:
SCOURPAUL

Touche.

That the best you can manage in 30 minutes?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:05 am

I found EMMASCLIT last night

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:49 am

Dinos Sfyris wrote:I found EMMASCLIT last night

The first, and only, time.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:03 am

At least I don't have KIRKMANGE

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:29 am

Kirk Bevins wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:I found EMMASCLIT last night
The first, and only, time.

Sorry Dinos, mate, this made me LOL!

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:09 am

some more I found (not all for words currently used as conundrums though):

BIGFATLEA

OIBOOBIES

ROSEYSLUT

DIRTYSACK

PENISTTUG

SMUTTYNOA (oops, stupid me... this one is a plural)

YETIBALLS

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:24 am

Matt Morrison wrote:some more I found (not all for words currently used as conundrums though)

Surely a conundrum can be any valid nine-letter word - the only current exception I'm aware of is that -S plurals aren't used?

I was quite proud of my proposal of LEEDSLAST for the final conundrum of Series 60, though of course Damian's suggestion of LEEDSBOOT was even better.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 10:49 am

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:some more I found (not all for words currently used as conundrums though)
Surely a conundrum can be any valid nine-letter word - the only current exception I'm aware of is that -S plurals aren't used?

The whole list of nine letter words was hand-filtered by Charlie (and Sid, I think), cutting out about half of the total words as they were too tough to use as conundrums.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:05 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:some more I found (not all for words currently used as conundrums though)
Surely a conundrum can be any valid nine-letter word - the only current exception I'm aware of is that -S plurals aren't used?
The whole list of nine letter words was hand-filtered by Charlie (and Sid, I think), cutting out about half of the total words as they were too tough to use as conundrums.

It's not all about Apterous! There is also a programme known as "Countdown".

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:37 pm

Speaking of conundrums, has anyone seen this slightly weird Countdown related story from East Anglia

http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/ne ... 3A31%3A080

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:54 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:Surely a conundrum can be any valid nine-letter word - the only current exception I'm aware of is that -S plurals aren't used?
The whole list of nine letter words was hand-filtered by Charlie (and Sid, I think), cutting out about half of the total words as they were too tough to use as conundrums.

Matthew Green · Post by **Matthew Green** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:34 pm

AIDSCUNTS

CHILDRAPE

WANKSTAIN

ARSEBLEED

FUCKGEESE

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:37 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:some more I found (not all for words currently used as conundrums though)
Surely a conundrum can be any valid nine-letter word - the only current exception I'm aware of is that -S plurals aren't used?

And doubles, like CRAFTIEST/TRIFECTAS.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:42 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:Surely a conundrum can be any valid nine-letter word - the only current exception I'm aware of is that -S plurals aren't used?
The whole list of nine letter words was hand-filtered by Charlie (and Sid, I think), cutting out about half of the total words as they were too tough to use as conundrums.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:02 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:Surely a conundrum can be any valid nine-letter word - the only current exception I'm aware of is that -S plurals aren't used?
And doubles, like CRAFTIEST/TRIFECTAS.

Oh yeah, I was aware of (but had temporarily forgotten) that. Your example is an interesting one though. I'd assumed that a word like CRAFTIEST would be valid as a conundrum because its only anagram is a plural, which is invalid according to the other rule. (Also, of course, TRIFECTAS could be used as the scramble, like the notorious GERANIUMS incident.)

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:06 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:Surely a conundrum can be any valid nine-letter word - the only current exception I'm aware of is that -S plurals aren't used?
And doubles, like CRAFTIEST/TRIFECTAS.
Oh yeah, I was aware of (but had temporarily forgotten) that. Your example is an interesting one though. I'd assumed that a word like CRAFTIEST would be valid as a conundrum because its only anagram is a plural, which is invalid according to the other rule. (Also, of course, TRIFECTAS could be used as the scramble, like the notorious GERANIUMS incident.)

The plurals rule isn't really a rule, Damian just doesn't like setting them.

Liam Tiernan · Post by **Liam Tiernan** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:43 pm

Matthew Green wrote:AIDSCUNTS

CHILDRAPE

WANKSTAIN

ARSEBLEED

FUCKGEESE

Matthew, seriously, get some help.

Chris Philpot · Post by **Chris Philpot** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:42 pm

Matthew Green wrote:AIDSCUNTS

CHILDRAPE

WANKSTAIN

ARSEBLEED

FUCKGEESE

According to Lexplorer, none of these have valid solutions.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:51 pm

DEBIFLACK

Chris Philpot · Post by **Chris Philpot** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:30 pm

I'm quite fond of SEEOURGIG, which I've just made up.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:40 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:The plurals rule isn't really a rule

So we might see DINOSARSE one of these days?

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:37 pm

ALITEGAIN

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:41 pm

There's this guy at Callum's school called Kai Perry, and AKAIPERRY would be great for if he went on (which he wouldn't).

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:47 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:The plurals rule isn't really a rule
So we might see DINOSARSE one of these days?

Or even CHEERSKAI

(Sorry for all of these, just playing with Zyzzyva)

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:56 pm

KAIMETERS
SCROTEKAI
KAISQUEER
KAISTENSE
LISTENKAI
KAISMENUS
KAISURONE
KAISSTORE

And a plural (but I had to include it for the comedy value):

KAISSHITE

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:34 pm

TIMETRIAL

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:17 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:TIMETRIAL

LITERATIM

Chris Philpot · Post by **Chris Philpot** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:03 pm

How about a nice Countdown themed one?

MYTEAPOTS

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:52 pm

Nominations for best?

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:55 pm

INDATCUBE
BREADCUBE
OANDCUBES
SNORTCUBE