Ask Graeme?

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Dave Preece
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Dave Preece »

Mark James wrote:
Martin Sinclair wrote: I feel that winning a series doesn't mean much,
This is the kind of stupid thing Liverpool haters (I'm not a Liverpool fan btw) were saying in 2005. "Sure they won the competition but they weren't the best team in it". Well they were. That's what winning the thing means. As someone who participated in this years series all I cared about was getting my name on the trophy. I wasn't worried about max games or points totals.
Good point!
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Dave Preece »

LOL, Mark!

Mark, I was wondered why you were laboring the Martin's name so much mark, in more-or-less every sentence you wrote. Mark.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Dave Preece »

Mark, are you Mark, Mark?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Dave Preece »

We cant agree to rank the KPIs in order to rank contestants, but we can - it seems - half-agree, to agree on what are the best KPIs to determine the best ever Countdown contestant?

These are:

(among others - please add...)

Winning (games and comps)
Scoring (inc' big scores and centuries)
Maxing (both of points and rounds)

ANY MORE??

If now...

We can rank all contestants in all categories and re-rank them on average across the board...

Will this finally give us a good an accurate ranking system???
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Zarte Siempre »

Dave Preece wrote:Will this finally give us a good an accurate ranking system???
No. Nothing ever will.
Possibly the first contestant to accelerate with a mic clipped...
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Dave Preece »

Ok is it possible we get a half credible ranking system out of it?

How do other games and sports all time ranking systems/hall of fames work?

I know it can all be a little subjective, but stats don't lie and a blind man on a gallopping horse can see that the likes of Beevers, Fell and even Holden are some of Countdown's top performers, so why on earth can't we have an ultimate, half-accurate ranking list?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Dave Preece »

It HAS to be a combination of the following:

Winning (games and comps)
Scoring (inc' big scores and centuries)
Maxing (both of points and rounds)

Would you add more to this list of important KPIs?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Zarte Siempre »

Dave Preece wrote:It HAS to be a combination of the following:

Winning (games and comps)
Scoring (inc' big scores and centuries)
Maxing (both of points and rounds)

Would you add more to this list of important KPIs?
I wouldn't even add that many. Everybody has their own way of ranking. You cannot, no matter how scientifically, work out the best player. Partially because NONE of this takes into account the element of luck. If 2 people have 9's available in the first round, but one has RELATIONS and the other has PYINKADOS, the stats are going to say that the latter is probably going to have dropped 11/12 points after 1 round. Does that necessarily make them the worse player? No. And I don't believe that there are enough rounds for this to be guaranteed of balancing out.

Just allow everyone to have their own subjective list and screw trying to throw maths at it in the aim of a table that NO-ONE would agree with (probably including you)
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by JackHurst »

If that thing about Dylan/Martin is true then I am astounded.

If he is reading this, I wonder if he can get the nine from CAAMONIGE?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Martin Sinclair »

EGOMANIAC
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Matt Morrison »

Zarte Siempre wrote:
Dave Preece wrote:It HAS to be a combination of the following:

Winning (games and comps)
Scoring (inc' big scores and centuries)
Maxing (both of points and rounds)

Would you add more to this list of important KPIs?
I wouldn't even add that many. [...] If 2 people have 9's available in the first round, but one has RELATIONS and the other has PYINKADOS, the stats are going to say that the latter is probably going to have dropped 11/12 points after 1 round. Does that necessarily make them the worse player?
Let's just add more! So we need overall round difficulty and max difficulty added to the list, e.g. in this case PYINKADOS has 99% rare and RELATIONS has 2% rareness on apterous, which should factor in to assessing hitting/missing them in the rounds you mentioned.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Matt Morrison »

Martin Sinclair wrote:EGOMANIAC
Are you going to Colin Dylan? And will you be fighting Ryan this time? (I think it was Ryan you were going to fight before but correct me if I'm wrong.)
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Zarte Siempre »

Matt Morrison wrote:
Martin Sinclair wrote:EGOMANIAC
Are you going to Colin Dylan? And will you be fighting Ryan this time? (I think it was Ryan you were going to fight before but correct me if I'm wrong.)
Should I start a book?
Possibly the first contestant to accelerate with a mic clipped...
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Martin Sinclair »

Yep, already paid. Not sure about the hangover, though. It was Ryan, yes, but I'm not sure if either of us are interested now.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Heather Styles »

Graeme, can you tell us how many contestants have accelerated with a mic clipped and how this relates to % of maxes scored?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Matt Morrison wrote:
Martin Sinclair wrote:EGOMANIAC
Are you going to Colin Dylan? And will you be fighting Ryan this time? (I think it was Ryan you were going to fight before but correct me if I'm wrong.)
Was this fight going to be about something or was it more like a friendly eating competition?

(I'm specifically asking Graeme.)
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Zarte Siempre »

:lol:
Heather Styles wrote:Graeme, can you tell us how many contestants have accelerated with a mic clipped and how this relates to % of maxes scored?
Possibly the first contestant to accelerate with a mic clipped...
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Phyl Styles »

Is there a list of highest female scores on CD anywhere to be found? I'm sure it would be a lamentably small list ...
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by JackHurst »

Have any contestants been in the had the same celebrity guest for more then 5 episodes?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by JackHurst »

I think I might be the contestant to have featured in the most episodes with Rachel Riley. For each of the other presenters/lexicographers/arithmeticians the show has had, which contestant(s) have they been in the most episodes together with?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Innis Carson »

JackHurst wrote:Have any contestants been in the had the same celebrity guest for more then 5 episodes?
Kirk Bevins had Phil Hammond for 8 episodes. It must be pretty rare though.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Callum Todd »

JackHurst wrote:Have any contestants been in the had the same celebrity guest for more then 5 episodes?
I think Dylan might have had Dan Walker for 6 episodes. Not 100% sure on that one though.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Jack Worsley »

Callum Todd wrote:
JackHurst wrote:Have any contestants been in the had the same celebrity guest for more then 5 episodes?
I think Dylan might have had Dan Walker for 6 episodes. Not 100% sure on that one though.
It was only four (three in his heats and one in the finals). I think Graeme had Jon Culshaw for six episodes.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by James Robinson »

Ed McCullagh had Gregg Wallace 5 times (3 in heats and 2 in finals) and Martin Lewis 6 times (5 in heats and once in the 30BC). :geek: :ugeek:
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Graeme Cole »

Phyl Styles wrote:Is there a list of highest female scores on CD anywhere to be found? I'm sure it would be a lamentably small list ...
Sadly not, since the wiki doesn't record the gender of contestants. Jen has the highest octotototal (952) and single-game score (130). Linda Dawe has the second highest single-game score and Grace Page the second highest over eight games. After that I'm not sure.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Graeme Cole »

JackHurst wrote:Have any contestants been in the had the same celebrity guest for more then 5 episodes?
The full list is this...

Code: Select all

CONTESTANT            GUEST
---------------------------------------------
Clive Freedman        Gyles Brandreth      10
Allan Simmons         William Rushton       9
Mark Nyman            Ned Sherrin           9
Phil Jordan           Jan Harvey            9
Sheila Mann           Kenneth Williams      8
Harry Venet           Ned Sherrin           8
Robert Richland       Gyles Brandreth       8
Darryl Francis        Gyles Brandreth       8
Olivia Lloyd          Richard Stilgoe       8
Peter Evans           Gyles Brandreth       8
Allan Saldanha        Clement Freud         8
Norman Christian      Philip Franks         8
Don Reid              Jan Harvey            8
Anthony Jenkin        Geoffrey Durham       8
David Acton           Jan Harvey            8
Kirk Bevins           Dr Phil Hammond       8
William Bradford      Gyles Brandreth       7
Nic Brown             Nigel Rees            7
Dick Green            Richard Stilgoe       7
Jenny Haldane         Ned Sherrin           7
Jonathan Anstey       Eve Pollard           7
Lindsay Denyer        Bill Tidy             7
Anne Lyng             Sylvia Syms           7
Alan Payne            Simon Williams        7
Mary Horswill         Philip Franks         7
Craig Douglas         Philip Franks         7
Keith Burton          Geoffrey Durham       7
David Williams        Martin Jarvis         7
Chris Cummins         Richard Digance       7
Pete Cashmore         Geoffrey Durham       7
Richard Pay           Michael Aspel         7
Paul Howe             Richard Digance       7
Michael Goldman       Ted Moult             6
Michael Wylie         Kenneth Williams      6
Ivy Baird             Gyles Brandreth       6
Esther Byers          Ned Sherrin           6
Mike Willis           Gyles Brandreth       6
June Madell           Gyles Brandreth       6
Robert Violett        Gyles Brandreth       6
Adam Gilinsky         Richard Stilgoe       6
Tim O'Kane            John Junkin           6
Julian Hough          Bill Tidy             6
Clive Spate           Steve Jones           6
Y.T. (Paul White)     Gyles Brandreth       6
Andy Keeble           Gyles Brandreth       6
Laurie Silver         Gyles Brandreth       6
David Trace           Eve Pollard           6
Geoffrey Taylor       Bill Tidy             6
Mick Keeble           Bill Tidy             6
Harvey Freeman        Lee Peck              6
Michael Stephenson    Gyles Brandreth       6
John Clarke           Russell Harty         6
Stephen Deakin        Nigel Rees            6
Nigel Gardner         Richard Stilgoe       6
Derek Stuart-Clark    Simon Williams        6
Joan Orchard          Ernie Wise            6
Roy Bendall           Ernie Wise            6
Fiona Willis          Brian Johnston        6
Lew Schwarz           Nigel Rees            6
Robert Teuton         Frazer Hines          6
Wayne Summers         Rula Lenska           6
Richard Onions        Nigel Rees            6
Barry Grossman        Richard Stilgoe       6
Chris Feetenby        David Jacobs          6
Damian Eadie          Denis Norden          6
Andy Cusworth         David Jacobs          6
Graham Cross          Jan Harvey            6
Dennis Fearon         Philip Franks         6
Satbir Gupta          Jan Harvey            6
Maria Boyes           Richard Digance       6
Gerry Pearce          Angela Rippon         6
Pat Peacock           Anne Gregg            6
Nick Buttle           Angela Rippon         6
Andrew Lucas          Tim Rice              6
Kate Ogilvie          Diane Keen            6
Terry Knowles         Jo Brand              6
Terence English       Denis Norden          6
Peter Hutchings       David Steel           6
Simon Cooper          Tom O'Connor          6
Sanjay Mazumder       Marc Freden           6
Margaret Foster       Vijay Amritraj        6
Rodney Marrison       Philip Franks         6
Graham Nash           Tom O'Connor          6
John Harrison         Richard Stilgoe       6
David Hoskisson       David Jacobs          6
Stuart Wood           Tom O'Connor          6
Craig Richardson      Sally Magnusson       6
Jim Bentley           Richard Digance       6
Nicki Sellars         John Parrott          6
Graeme Cole           Jon Culshaw           6
Edward McCullagh      Martin Lewis          6
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Ben Wilson »

Dear Awesome Graeme,

I noticed the other day that I appeared on the show on the same day, ten years apart. Has anybody else made two or more appearances on the same calendar day (in different years, obviously)?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Graeme Cole »

JackHurst wrote:I think I might be the contestant to have featured in the most episodes with Rachel Riley.
Correct. You have 17, Jonathan Rawlinson 16, Kirk Bevins 15 and Chris Davies and Jack Worsley 14.
JackHurst wrote:For each of the other presenters/lexicographers/arithmeticians the show has had, which contestant(s) have they been in the most episodes together with?
Allan Saldanha and Tim Morrissey both had 21 appearances with Carol as arithmetician.

Hosts
Richard Whiteley: Allan Saldanha and Tim Morrissey with 21 again.
Des Lynam: Conor Travers with 14.
Des O'Connor: Junaid Mubeen, Nick Wainwright, Jeffrey Hansford, Craig Beevers, David O'Donnell and Charlie Reams all had 11 appearances.
Jeff Stelling: Kirk Bevins and Chris Davies with 12 appearances each.
Nick Hewer (up to end of series 69): Jonathan Rawlinson appeared 16 times.

Lexicographers
Because there have been so many lexicographers, I'll limit this to only those lexicographers who appeared with the same player ten or more times.
Susie Dent: Conor Travers (20)
Catherine Clarke: Hilary Hopper (12)
Mark Nyman: Kate Ogilvie (11)
Richard Samson: Don Reid and Grace Page (11)
Julia Swannell: Allan Saldanha (10)
Damian Eadie: David Ballheimer and Tim Robinson (10)
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Graeme Cole »

Ben Wilson wrote:Dear Awesome Graeme,

I noticed the other day that I appeared on the show on the same day, ten years apart. Has anybody else made two or more appearances on the same calendar day (in different years, obviously)?
18 people have done this, which was more than I thought it would be before I ran the query.

The list of all games shown on the same day as another game featuring the same player is as follows.

Code: Select all

NAME                       EPISODE   AIR DATE    SERIES
Ben Wilson                 3394      2003-01-10  Championship of Champions XI
Ben Wilson                 5618      2013-01-10  30th Birthday Championship  
Chris Wills                3168      2002-01-16  Series 47                   
Chris Wills                3398      2003-01-16  Championship of Champions XI
Chris Wills                3172      2002-01-22  Series 47                   
Chris Wills                3402      2003-01-22  Championship of Champions XI
Chris Wills                3173      2002-01-23  Series 47                   
Chris Wills                5627      2013-01-23  30th Birthday Championship  
Clive Freedman             1862      1996-10-18  Series 33                   
Clive Freedman             293       1985-10-18  Series 7                    
David O'Donnell            4532      2008-02-04  Series 58                   
David O'Donnell            5635      2013-02-04  30th Birthday Championship  
Harshan Lamabadusuriya     1908      1996-12-30  Series 34                   
Harshan Lamabadusuriya     2164      1997-12-30  Championship of Champions IX
Harvey Freeman             1874      1996-11-05  Series 33                   
Harvey Freeman             462       1986-11-05  Series 10                   
Ian Bebbington             1872      1996-11-01  Series 33                   
Ian Bebbington             303       1985-11-01  Series 7                    
Jackie McLeod              1079      1991-01-15  Series 21                   
Jackie McLeod              5621      2013-01-15  30th Birthday Championship  
John Wallace               401       1986-04-03  Championship of Champions II
John Wallace               M1        1989-04-03  Masters Series 1            
Jon Marsh                  559       1987-05-01  Series 12                   
Jon Marsh                  M5        1989-05-01  Masters Series 1            
Joyce Cansfield            1878      1996-11-11  Series 33                   
Joyce Cansfield            7         1982-11-11  Series 1                    
Joyce Cansfield            1903      1996-12-16  Series 33                   
Joyce Cansfield            27        1982-12-16  Series 1                    
Julian Hough               330       1985-12-10  Series 7                    
Julian Hough               M89       1990-12-10  Masters Series 2            
June Madell                212       1984-11-21  Series 5                    
June Madell                5818      2013-11-21  Series 69                   
Laurie Silver              236       1985-01-08  Series 6                    
Laurie Silver              M41       1990-01-08  Masters Series 1            
Liz Wilcox                 448       1986-10-16  Series 10                   
Liz Wilcox                 M29       1989-10-16  Masters Series 1            
Neil Zussman               4762      2009-02-20  Series 60                   
Neil Zussman               5647      2013-02-20  30th Birthday Championship  
Sydney Price               146       1984-04-24  Series 4                    
Sydney Price               M4        1989-04-24  Masters Series 1            
Tim Morrissey              1900      1996-12-11  Series 33                   
Tim Morrissey              M37       1989-12-11  Masters Series 1            
Joyce Cansfield did it twice, and Chris Wills did it three times. Jackie McLeod appeared on the same day 22 years apart. June Madell appeared on the same day 29 years apart.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by JackHurst »

Nice work Graeme, thanks. Good question by Ben.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by sean d »

Great stuff Graeme. Now the obvious follow up.... who has appeared with most different hosts /guests etc?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by JackHurst »

Graeme, please could you produce the list of 7 letter words that always appear as a max if available in the selection? It would be interesting to see how many such words there are, and once the list is produced it would be a useful list for anybody who wants to improve their letters to learn.

Could you also do the same for 6 letter words? I imagine the list would be empty.

If you still have time on your hands, could you produce the list of 6 letter words that you cannot add letters to and reorder to get a 7, 8 or 9?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Fred Mumford »

Graeme, which players have appeared on the show more than once and lost every time? The rather unlucky James Hall springs to mind, ironically.

Secondly, which players have lost to the same player more than once? (including examples like Junaid v Charlie, where the final score was 1-2).

Many thanks.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Mark James »

Fred Mumford wrote:Graeme, which players have appeared on the show more than once and lost every time? The rather unlucky James Hall springs to mind, ironically.
Graeme, why would that be ironic?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Fred Mumford »

Mark James wrote:why would that be ironic?
Because the man I'm asking is partly to blame.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Ian Volante »

Fred Mumford wrote:
Mark James wrote:why would that be ironic?
Because the man I'm asking is partly to blame.
Is this from the Morissette school of irony?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Fred Mumford »

Ian Volante wrote:Is this from the Morissette school of irony?
Not at all - someone having a hit record called "Ironic" without knowing the meaning of ironic is pretty ironic. Isn't it?

My use of the word is hardly misuse to "a traffic jam when you're already late" levels, surely?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Callum Todd »

Fred Mumford wrote:
Ian Volante wrote:Is this from the Morissette school of irony?
Not at all - someone having a hit record called "Ironic" without knowing the meaning of ironic is pretty ironic. Isn't it?

My use of the word is hardly misuse to "a traffic jam when you're already late" levels, surely?
ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife. So ironic.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Arguing over the meaning of "ironic" has got to be in the top ten of common Internet debates.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Ian Volante »

Gavin Chipper wrote:Arguing over the meaning of "ironic" has got to be in the top ten of common Internet debates.
Always fun to get such an argument going.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Zarte Siempre »

It's a little bit moronic... don't you think?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Yes. Nice.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Mark James »

Ian Volante wrote:
Gavin Chipper wrote:Arguing over the meaning of "ironic" has got to be in the top ten of common Internet debates.
Always fun to get such an argument going.
Things are either ironic or they're not. It's a simple thing to get right really. Unless you want to argue about what "ironic" actually means, in which case I could see where a problem might arise. For all the different ways I understand that the word ironic could be interpreted, including where I can understand a bit of leeway could be shown towards a particular meaning, the sentence I referenced hasn't come close to fulfilling any such creditable criteria as far as I can see, which is why I brought it up. It's kind of a half joke. I'm actually willing to accept that it is ironic. If it is, Graeme, as busy as he is answering far more important questions in this thread in fairness, could be expected to answer whether it is or not. As much as I didn't think the question was in any way ironic, I was willing to accept that maybe it was and that I just couldn't see how it was and hoped that maybe Graeme could explain why it was.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Mark James »

Fred Mumford wrote:
Mark James wrote:why would that be ironic?
Because the man I'm asking is partly to blame.
Again, why would that be ironic? It may be my understanding of the word ironic is actually wrong which is fair enough. If it is, please explain to me the definition. As I say, in one sense I was trying to make a joke but at the same time I honestly would like to know the exact definition of the word ironic so that I can use it properly should the need arise.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Ian Volante »

Mark James wrote:
Ian Volante wrote:
Gavin Chipper wrote:Arguing over the meaning of "ironic" has got to be in the top ten of common Internet debates.
Always fun to get such an argument going.
It's a simple thing to get right really.
Now that's ironic.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Fred Mumford »

Wish I had just used "coincidentally" instead :cry:
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Mark James »

I knew I had done something stupid on the internet last night. I should really avoid the computer when I come in from the pub.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Adam Gillard »

Fred clearly meant 'ironic' in the sense where it is synonymous with 'ferrous'.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Fred Mumford »

How ironic is it to be mocked by apterites for not knowing the correct meaning of a word?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by JackHurst »

Everybody shut up about irony and get back on topic.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Jon Stitcher »

How many contestants have found a 9 letter word which their opponent did not find and gone on to lose the game?

I assume in the 9 round era this must have been incredibly rare.

What's the biggest victory in these circumstances? I know I lost by 37 despite finding a 9 my opponent did not.
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Jon Stitcher »

0 max games....

Obviously the games where players scored 0 were zero max games I just wondered how many contestants scored 0 maxes in a game, did any player win whilst scoring 0 maxes, what's the fewest number of maxes a winner has scored, any games where neither player hit a max?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by James S Roper »

Jon Stitcher wrote:0 max games....

Obviously the games where players scored 0 were zero max games I just wondered how many contestants scored 0 maxes in a game, did any player win whilst scoring 0 maxes, what's the fewest number of maxes a winner has scored, any games where neither player hit a max?
I'm sure there's an advance on this, but the best answer I can recall is this game:
http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5734 winner scored 3 maxes, other scored 0.


My question to Graeme may be near-impossible to answer, but from recorded history, who's scored the highest in an individual game at Co:Lin?
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Jon Stitcher »

That one's only 2 maxes for the winner, James. But when I watched this one I had the distinct impression that Gen was trying to score 0.
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Ben Wilson
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Ben Wilson »

James S Roper wrote:
Jon Stitcher wrote:0 max games....

Obviously the games where players scored 0 were zero max games I just wondered how many contestants scored 0 maxes in a game, did any player win whilst scoring 0 maxes, what's the fewest number of maxes a winner has scored, any games where neither player hit a max?
I'm sure there's an advance on this, but the best answer I can recall is this game:
http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5734 winner scored 3 maxes, other scored 0.


My question to Graeme may be near-impossible to answer, but from recorded history, who's scored the highest in an individual game at Co:Lin?
Graeme's not the only one with a comprehensive database. :-)

Jon Corby scored 88 in a game in 2011, the second year in a row he topped the high game score charts (he had 83 in 2010).
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Thomas Carey
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Thomas Carey »

Ben Wilson wrote:
James S Roper wrote:
Jon Stitcher wrote:0 max games....

Obviously the games where players scored 0 were zero max games I just wondered how many contestants scored 0 maxes in a game, did any player win whilst scoring 0 maxes, what's the fewest number of maxes a winner has scored, any games where neither player hit a max?
I'm sure there's an advance on this, but the best answer I can recall is this game:
http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5734 winner scored 3 maxes, other scored 0.


My question to Graeme may be near-impossible to answer, but from recorded history, who's scored the highest in an individual game at Co:Lin?
Graeme's not the only one with a comprehensive database. :-)

Jon Corby scored 88 in a game in 2011, the second year in a row he topped the high game score charts (he had 83 in 2010).
James Roper got 88 against me at COLIN yesterday.
cheers maus
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by James S Roper »

Ben Wilson wrote:
James S Roper wrote:
Jon Stitcher wrote:0 max games....

Obviously the games where players scored 0 were zero max games I just wondered how many contestants scored 0 maxes in a game, did any player win whilst scoring 0 maxes, what's the fewest number of maxes a winner has scored, any games where neither player hit a max?
I'm sure there's an advance on this, but the best answer I can recall is this game:
http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_5734 winner scored 3 maxes, other scored 0.


My question to Graeme may be near-impossible to answer, but from recorded history, who's scored the highest in an individual game at Co:Lin?
Graeme's not the only one with a comprehensive database. :-)

Jon Corby scored 88 in a game in 2011, the second year in a row he topped the high game score charts (he had 83 in 2010).

Haha, sorry, I probably should have asked you on that one, I just thought because Graeme did all the IT that for some reason he'd be the one with all of the results. Not the most logical of thinking there.

And does that mean that I tied the highest score in an individual game at my first ever Co:Event? Woo :D
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Graeme Cole »

JackHurst wrote:Graeme, please could you produce the list of 7 letter words that always appear as a max if available in the selection? It would be interesting to see how many such words there are, and once the list is produced it would be a useful list for anybody who wants to improve their letters to learn.
I'm using a rather old word list, so there might be mistakes in this.

Here is a list of sevens which are always the maximum if they appear in a nine-letter selection. More precisely, it's the list of sevens for which no eight-letter word exists that has six or more letters in common with it, and whose letters do not all appear in a nine. Note that some of them can't appear on Countdown anyway, such as PIZZAZZ, as there's only one Z in the pack.

AFFABLY
BAOBABS
BENZENE
BETWIXT
BOFFINY
BUDDHUS
DOUDOUS
DUMDUMS
FIZGIGS
FIZZOGS
FUZZILY
GROKKED
GUEUZES
JAZZBOS
JAZZMEN
KAHAWAI
KOKAKOS
KOKOWAI
MAMMARY
MOUJIKS
MUMMIFY
MUUMUUS
MYTHIFY
MZUNGUS
PAWPAWS
PHARYNX
PIZZAZZ
QAWWALI
SEPPUKU
UFOLOGY
WEEJUNS
WHUMPED
WOOZILY
WYSIWYG
YUPPIFY
ZYMURGY
JackHurst wrote:Could you also do the same for 6 letter words? I imagine the list would be empty.
Yes, it is. There doesn't seem to be a six letter word which does not have at least four letters in common with some seven letter word.
JackHurst wrote:If you still have time on your hands, could you produce the list of 6 letter words that you cannot add letters to and reorder to get a 7, 8 or 9?
Isn't this the same thing as a six that's always the max?
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Graeme Cole
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Graeme Cole »

Fred Mumford wrote:Graeme, which players have appeared on the show more than once and lost every time? The rather unlucky James Hall springs to mind, ironically.

Secondly, which players have lost to the same player more than once? (including examples like Junaid v Charlie, where the final score was 1-2).

Many thanks.
33 contestants have appeared twice and not won. Nobody has appeared more times than that without a win. In all cases, the second appearance was in another heat game unless otherwise stated. Here they are in order of first appearance...

Code: Select all

                      FIRST GAME    SECOND GAME
David Myerscough      1983-04-12    1983-06-10 *
Margaret Reid         1983-05-06    1985-11-15
Malcolm Erridge       1985-02-07    1990-10-01 **
Brenda Widger         1986-10-30    2013-07-26
Garry Preston         1989-07-31    2008-11-14
Steve McNab           1990-01-04    1990-05-07 **
Neil Collins          1990-02-08    1990-08-27 **
Chris Bergman         1990-08-14    2009-07-06
Eric Emslie           1992-01-06    2013-10-09
James Squires         1992-07-23    1999-05-27
Barbara Wylde         1992-07-28    1993-03-02
Martin Howell         1993-09-02    1994-08-05
Paul Henderson        1994-01-13    1994-09-12
Raymond Tate          1997-03-11    2013-09-05
Alex Davis            1998-03-20    1998-09-03
Margaret Read         1998-06-16    2007-07-16
Mike Moran            1998-08-04    2009-07-02
Ross Mackenzie        1998-10-29    2009-09-03
Ola Odutola           1999-09-20    2005-04-06
John Blaker           1999-10-28    2013-10-01
Daphne Barker         2000-05-03    2003-05-26 ***
Ian Williams          2001-10-16    2012-11-27
Alan Wright           2001-12-28    2003-09-02 ***
Elfie Winterton       2002-01-01    2003-08-04 ***
Peter Brinkley        2002-03-11    2003-09-10 ***
Paul Burlinson        2002-03-19    2004-03-15 ***
Lucy Guile            2002-10-31    2004-08-30 ***
John Britton          2003-09-23    2004-04-28
Karyn Cooke           2008-01-10    2009-04-21
Phill Thorne          2010-02-05    2010-10-04
Andrew Mossford       2010-08-11    2011-02-09
James Hall            2011-03-21    2011-06-10 ****
Magnus Mackereth      2011-06-28    2012-09-14 ***

* second appearance was in the last 16 of the same series
** second appearance was in a Masters game
*** second appearance was in a special
**** not ironic
Regarding multiple losses to the same player, Tim Morrissey played Allan Saldanha three times and lost on each occasion. In addition to this, 18 contestants have lost to the same opponent twice.

Code: Select all

LOSER                 WINNER                AIR DATES
Sydney Price          Christine Hunt        1984-06-20    1989-04-24
John Clarke           Harvey Freeman        1987-06-26    1996-12-18
Peter Tatlow          Mike Whiteoak         1987-07-30    1987-08-21
Alan Steel            Nic Brown             1987-10-22    1987-12-23
Tim Morrissey         Allan Saldanha        1989-12-11    1990-07-02    1996-12-19
Roy Bendall           Maurice Binks         1990-09-24    1990-12-03
Jackie McLeod         Barry Grossman        1991-03-29    2013-01-15
Robert Teuton         Chris Waddington      1991-09-27    1993-01-08
Andrew Bull           Verity Joubert        1995-07-26    1995-09-22
Pete Cashmore         Natascha Kearsey      1997-04-14    1998-01-16
Robert Jones          Amy Godel             1997-06-09    1997-06-24
Janet Nelson          Kate Surtees          1997-10-10    1997-12-11
Ricky Zinger          Ray McPhie            1997-11-21    1997-12-12
Christine White       Ray McPhie            1997-12-19    2004-08-13
Richard Saldanha      Kate Ogilvie          1998-12-25    2004-07-26
Glynn Leaney          Terence English       1999-06-25    2003-07-25
Junaid Mubeen         Charlie Reams         2009-01-23    2010-08-16
Nicki Sellars         Lee Graham            2010-04-30    2011-03-14
Jill Hayward          Eileen Taylor         2013-04-24    2013-06-24
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Re: Ask Graeme?

Post by Graeme Cole »

Jon Stitcher wrote:How many contestants have found a 9 letter word which their opponent did not find and gone on to lose the game?

I assume in the 9 round era this must have been incredibly rare.

What's the biggest victory in these circumstances? I know I lost by 37 despite finding a 9 my opponent did not.
71 contestants have lost despite finding a nine letter word in a round where their opponent didn't. The greatest margin of victory in these circumstances was 52, in this game.

Code: Select all

EP ID   AIR DATE    WORD        LOSER                 WINNER                SCORE
145     1984-04-23  UNFEELING   Jill Brown            Sydney Price          49   59 
261     1985-02-12  UNDERGONE   Richard MacFarlane    Sheila Alder          27   29 
338     1985-12-20  CERTAINTY   Julian Hough          Ian Bebbington        77   82 
402     1986-04-04  WATERLOGS   John Wallace          Peter Evans           48   55 
456     1986-10-28  BREASTING   Patrick Redmond       David Whiting         45   59 
538     1987-04-02  GUARDIANS   Maurice Sobell        John Clarke           56   74 
704     1987-12-22  SOFTENING   Eleanor Crosby        Alan Steel            37   63 
749     1988-06-07  ASSERTING   Steve Hindle          Kathleen Vickers      37   46 
916     1989-09-14  REFLATION   Diane Pratesi         Richard Evans         48   60 
1197    1991-09-27  MALINGERS   Robert Teuton         Chris Waddington      90   98 
1368    1993-03-01  UNVISITED   Michael Feaver        Don Reid              52   59 
1927    1997-01-24  GERANIUMS   Glyn Chidley          Peter Sampson         42   53 
2048    1997-07-14  REPEATING   Rosemary Wood         Ian Brunton           42   47 
2186    1998-01-29  DEFAULTER   Terry Turner          Gerry Pearce          50   59 
2310    1998-07-22  CURTILAGE   Pat Peacock           John Deignan          57   63 
2504    1999-04-20  BATTERIES   Tessa Phelan          Dorian Jeffrey        55   57 
2948    2001-02-14  DESCALING   Daryl Brooks          Nicola Smith          58   63 
3076    2001-09-10  ADVERTING   Mac McDonald          Geraldine Hylands     46   55 
3171    2002-01-21  CHAGRINED   Terry Rattle          Chris Wills           107  120
3173    2002-01-23  PATRONISE   Agnes Budis           Chris Wills           52   92 
3222    2002-04-02  TARDINESS   Joe Radcliffe         Rupert Stokoe         80   97 
3255    2002-05-22  REVALUING   Alan Sowter           Mike Pullin           53   89 
3294    2002-07-22  PLACEMENT   David Cooper          David Nickeas         62   90 
3316    2002-09-10  CREMATION   Michael Clarke        Priscilla Munday      86   89 
3325    2002-09-23  SECONDARY   Robert Lee            Dez Hussey            91   101
3332    2002-10-02  GRADIENTS   Trish Staples         Mike Brown            63   107
3554    2003-09-26  CREAMIEST   Janet Chambers        Bonnie White          59   78 
3623    2004-01-15  IDOLATERS   Jean Bridge           Dennis Shepherd       78   83 
3655    2004-03-01  LAUNDRIES   Mo Janson             Stewart Holden        84   108
3683    2004-04-15  IDOLATERS   Sean Jessop           Nicole Hutchings      72   79 
3686    2004-04-20  VARNISHED   David Minor           Nicole Hutchings      68   94 
3746    2004-07-21  DISLOCATE   Jon Stitcher          Jack Welsby           73   110
3751    2004-08-05  MARAUDING   Stewart Smeed         Jack Welsby           72   112
3818    2004-11-17  MANICURED   Ronnie Boyd           Mark Tournoff         60   111
3853    2005-01-20  DEPLETION   Robert Stone          Brian Roles           52   78 
3910    2005-04-19  INTERNALS   David Hutton          Ross Allatt           80   83 
3952    2005-06-22  DECANTERS   Leslie Ritchings      Helen Mathieson       82   88 
3967    2005-11-09  POLICEMEN   Maureen Sye           Stuart Coxshall       75   90 
4030    2006-02-08  DESPERADO   Alison Campbell       Paul Howe             56   93 
4067    2006-03-28  COURTLIER   Ken Coney             Tuck Broadbent        74   91 
4090    2006-04-26  NAVIGATED   Julie Cameron         Jan Gates             85   86 
4145    2006-07-12  LAMINATES   Phil Watkins          Stuart Dowey          90   95 
4195    2006-09-20  MEDIATING   Paul Manning          Richard Brittain      66   116
4227    2006-11-03  RIGHTEOUS   Richard Woodward      Steven Briers         62   76 
4272    2007-01-15  DECORATES   George Rhodes         Ian Volante           93   102
4286    2007-02-02  SEDATIONS   Mick Barnewell        Paddy Izod            78   85 
4291    2007-02-09  COPULATED   Nick Gray             Vivienne Mead         44   82 
4358    2007-05-21  DILATIONS   Chris Walledge        Stewart Gordon        74   95 
4359    2007-05-22  CRUMMIEST   Andrew Sweet          Stewart Gordon        76   106
4380    2007-06-20  TRANSIENT   Aaron Webber          Anita Freeland        86   97 
4439    2007-09-17  INFLATERS   Sam Butcher           David Von Geyer       80   88 
4604    2008-05-20  UNDERFOOT   Nick Horton           Carl Dundas           65   76 
4631    2008-06-26  SPECULATE   Brian Gregory         Lee Simmonds          69   91 
4720    2008-11-26  DATELINES   Daryl Hawes           Steve Elcock          73   81 
4791    2009-04-08  DUPLICATE   Fiona Chambers        Andrew Pearson        68   89 
4866    2009-07-22  ARRESTING   Carol Warren          Paul Varlaam          82   87 
4889    2009-09-21  TOLERATED   Russell Langdown      Jeffrey Burgin        75   91 
4968    2010-01-29  NEMATODES   James Rawson          Howard Lovelady       76   81 
4998    2010-03-12  CAPTIONED   Stuart Inglis         Kevin Davis           73   80 
5060    2010-06-15  BLATHERED   Peter Zyss            Craig Chittenden      76   98 
5094    2010-08-23  DETAINING   Jean Miles            Tom Rowell            74   87 
5161    2010-11-24  COMPENDIA   Mark Bannister        Niall Young           83   97 
5305    2011-07-12  DISPERSER   Jon Elmer             Mark Deeks            89   94 
5401    2012-01-11  LOTTERIES   Barry Williams        Jack Worsley          67   103
5453    2012-04-02  OUTSIDERS   Alison Shipman        John Bird             73   94 
5459    2012-04-10  UNCREATED   Spencer Taylor        Rob Gibney            49   101
5514    2012-06-26  OUTMANNED   Suzi Purcell          Nick Hall             80   86 
5611    2012-12-18  VINDICATE   Liam Shaw             Rose Boyle            83   90 
5715    2013-06-14  STATIONED   Peter Fenton          Giles Hutchings       86   109
5781    2013-10-01  FLOUNDERS   John Blaker           Callum Todd           55   79 
5822    2013-11-27  MAGNETISE   Robin Gray            Jonathan Liew         66   68 
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