Spoilers For Monday April 14th 2014

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 11:19 pm

So, it's another full week of Countdown, and today we might be in for a cracker of a contest

The returning champion is our very own Mark Murray, who with 2 centuries under his belt already is definitely setting his sights high up the leaderboard, you'd have to say, but he'd better watch out for his Apterite challenger today.

He happens to be Ciaran McCarthy, who happens to be making Countdown history today, by becoming the show's very first deaf contestant, so well done to him before we even start.

Michael Whitehall makes his final appearance in DC today, before BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin carries on for the remainder of the week in her début stint.

Andy will be recapping later on.

P.S. Don't forget to watch our own Heather Styles, who will be on Fifteen To One at 4:30 today.

So, it's a good day to be an Apterite it seems.

Zarte Siempre · Post by **Zarte Siempre** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:47 pm

GRIEVOUS R1

Andy Platt · Post by **Andy Platt** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:48 pm

VIRGULES alternative beater

Andy Platt · Post by **Andy Platt** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:48 pm

VIRGULES alternative beater

Andy Platt · Post by **Andy Platt** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:49 pm

BOURNES round 2 beater

Bradley Cates · Post by **Bradley Cates** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:49 pm

BORANES in R2

Zarte Siempre · Post by **Zarte Siempre** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:52 pm

Cracking solve from Rachel - was there an easier way?

James Laverty · Post by **James Laverty** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:53 pm

Zarte Siempre wrote:Cracking solve from Rachel - was there an easier way?

Dylan got this on chat

(50+((100/25)*2))*(7+4)

Tony Atkins · Post by **Tony Atkins** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:55 pm

Looking forward to lots more 3L action here! Hopefully the standard method will work on some of the rest...

Tony Atkins · Post by **Tony Atkins** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:13 pm

Tony Atkins wrote:Looking forward to lots more 3L action here! Hopefully the standard method will work on some of the rest...

For those who don't like the standard method there were 87x10 solutions for the second numbers.

Mark said he would pick tactically - but that 4L was a bit too easy.

Tony Atkins · Post by **Tony Atkins** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:17 pm

I think Mark chickened it there (fireless/lifeless round).

Bradley Cates · Post by **Bradley Cates** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:27 pm

Tremendous game. Ciaran was really unlucky. In another game, he would have won. There is absolutely no shame in losing if you score a century!

Tony Atkins · Post by **Tony Atkins** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:30 pm

Ignoring champions' series that equals the third highest losing score. Well done to both for the cracking game that
has been long awaited.

Phyl Styles · Post by **Phyl Styles** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:32 pm

What an amazing game, well done to both of you. Such hard luck to be as capable as Ciaran and not to win a game - that should not be a losing score, really tough, but played in such a good spirit by two great guys.

Callum Todd · Post by **Callum Todd** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:52 pm

Great game, Ciaran was fantastic and very unlucky not to win. Mark's really proving his ability here by winning games against very tough competition.

Jojo Apollo · Post by **Jojo Apollo** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 3:51 pm

Excellent double ton game, lads.

Hopefully Ciaran will be given another chance in another series.

Jack Worsley · Post by **Jack Worsley** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:09 pm

Great game! It really could have gone either way so very unlucky to Ciaran for coming up against Mark but you played very well. Well done Mark for holding your nerve and you both contributed to a fantastic spectacle. Hope you go on to be an octochamp now, Mark.

GRIEVOUS in round 1.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:18 pm

Tony Atkins wrote:
Tony Atkins wrote:Looking forward to lots more 3L action here! Hopefully the standard method will work on some of the rest...
For those who don't like the standard method there were 87x10 solutions for the second numbers.

Mark said he would pick tactically - but that 4L was a bit too easy.

So, about the standard method. What exactly is it?

Martin Thompson · Post by **Martin Thompson** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:19 pm

Cracking match! Shame there had to be loser. I think Mark has the potential to win the series.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:59 pm

SUPER IMPRESSIVE MATCH

Brilliant play by both contestants, and it's a shame that these 2 won't both return for the finals, as a repeat of this would be a game worth watching.

Phyl Styles · Post by **Phyl Styles** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:04 pm

Insignificant pieces of trivia
1 denarius = 10 asses (later became 16 asses)
1 as = standard Roman bronze coin, nothing (unless I am mistaken) to do with donkeys (as Suzy and Nick were saying)
1 bes = two-thirds of an as
1 semuncia = one twenty-fourth of an as
1 quincunx = five-twelfths of an as (what sort of stupid system was this?)
1 sesterce = two and a half asses
Perhaps donkeys are relevant after all
How many bes make a sesterce?

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 6:46 am

Unlucky Ciaran, congrats Mark, high quality game. Did I miss it, or was Ciaran's deafness not even mentioned? How could this be?

Phyl Styles · Post by **Phyl Styles** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 8:21 am

Did I miss it, or was Ciaran's deafness not even mentioned? How could this be?

Why would you need to?

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 8:22 am

Jon Corby wrote:Unlucky Ciaran, congrats Mark, high quality game. Did I miss it, or was Ciaran's deafness not even mentioned? How could this be?

Your baldness wasn't mentioned in the CoC.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 10:03 am

I meant that I'm making the assumption that it was Ciaran's choice for it not to be mentioned, and so I'm asking (if that assumption is correct) why?

I distinctly remember watching a show with a blind dude on, and it was absolutely years ago. It's fairly unique, and a point of interest for the viewer. I didn't just happen to notice he was blind (how could I?), I was told by the presenter. I mean, we can all sit there and say "nobody needs to know anything about the contestants" but fact is, they specifically want stuff that's interesting about contestants to use in intros etc, it qualifies doesn't it? Plus it obviously affects Ciaran's speech, and this is something the viewer will notice, so IMO it's worth explaining that.

I'm not having a pop. I'd've just expected Nick to mention it, unless he's pointedly instructed him not to.

Ian Fitzpatrick · Post by **Ian Fitzpatrick** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 10:31 am

If I remember correctly the visually impaired chap had to be given the conundrum on a card which he turned over when the clock started, and thus an explanation was required. Ciaran performed so brilliantly that I don't think any sort of mention of his own impairment was necessary.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:22 am

Not necessary, but I would have expected it to be mentioned.

Peter Fenton · Post by **Peter Fenton** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:22 am

Very well played to both of you - a really high quality game that could easily have gone either way. Really unlucky for Ciaran to not only come up against Mark but to also get the joint 7th highest score of the series and still not take home a teapot

Dave Preece · Post by **Dave Preece** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 3:52 pm

It's not really that important or relevant to mention that someone is a retired civil servant or has a maths degree or like to play golf in their spare time but we get all that info daily?

It's not as if being deaf is something to hide or be ashamed of - like having AIDS or something!

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 3:56 pm

Deaf people often have AIDS though.

HEARING AIDS!!!!

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:04 pm

FWIW I would be a bit wtf if I was on a show and in my intro they brought up that I was disabled without discussing it with me first. Obviously I can't speak for Ciaran (or anyone else) but growing up with a major disability one often finds it's considered a 'defining feature'. To put it in the same context as someone's hobbies and interests, or their career, both trivializes it and also perpetuates the idea that having some sort of disability is somehow an inescapable facet of one's personality, which is pretty depressing.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:05 pm

Dave Preece wrote:It's not as if being deaf is something to hide or be ashamed of - like having AIDS or something!

You should probably clarify that you're talking about bad AIDS, rather than good AIDS there, otherwise that might come across as a bit offensive to people with the latter.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:32 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:FWIW I would be a bit wtf if I was on a show and in my intro they brought up that I was disabled without discussing it with me first.

Oh absolutely, I wouldn't have expected them to just chuck it in without asking. But I would have expected them to ask, is what I'm saying. And I would've expected Ciaran to say "sure!". So I'm wondering which bit didn't happen, and maybe why. I just see it as something interesting to mention, worth explaining to the viewer, and pretty cool in being a first on the show. But maybe you're right, there could be all kinds of reasons not to, which I'm not aware of. (Which is why I asked, so I could understand them. I mean, if Ciaran didn't want anyone to know, then nobody on here would know either.)

Worms everywhere though, apparently

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:47 pm

Jon Corby wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote:FWIW I would be a bit wtf if I was on a show and in my intro they brought up that I was disabled without discussing it with me first.
Oh absolutely, I wouldn't have expected them to just chuck it in without asking. But I would have expected them to ask, is what I'm saying. And I would've expected Ciaran to say "sure!". So I'm wondering which bit didn't happen, and maybe why. I just see it as something interesting to mention, worth explaining to the viewer, and pretty cool in being a first on the show. But maybe you're right, there could be all kinds of reasons not to, which I'm not aware of. (Which is why I asked, so I could understand them. I mean, if Ciaran didn't want anyone to know, then nobody on here would know either.)

Worms everywhere though, apparently

Anyway how do you know they didn't mention it and that you're not also deaf?

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 8:12 pm

I watch nearly all TV (bar live broadcasts) with subtitles. True story.

Dave Preece · Post by **Dave Preece** » Wed Apr 16, 2014 12:58 am

why did James think it important to mention but not the show, how did James know???

Ciaran McCarthy · Post by **Ciaran McCarthy** » Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:00 am

Jon Corby wrote:Deaf people often have AIDS though.

That is not true and i don't like it when i saw your comment or i thought you probably mean deaf people often need to support?

I would like to Nick to comment i am deaf but look like it hasn't been written on script but anyway the audience knew already because of word of mouth by my stepdad and my brother who are in audience anyway

HEARING AIDS!!!!

Ciaran McCarthy · Post by **Ciaran McCarthy** » Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:05 am

OOPS AWKWARD!! i didnt see your bottom line haha but yes and some people dont wear hearing aids though

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:29 am

Ciaran McCarthy wrote:OOPS AWKWARD!! i didnt see your bottom line haha but yes and some people dont wear hearing aids though

That's a real shame it wasn't mentioned then, if you'd have liked it to have been. Thanks for clearing that up. And commiserations on losing with such an excellent performance; could happen to absolutely anybody and just shows how important the luck of draw can be.

Ciaran McCarthy · Post by **Ciaran McCarthy** » Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:23 am

Jon Corby wrote:
Ciaran McCarthy wrote:OOPS AWKWARD!! i didnt see your bottom line haha but yes and some people dont wear hearing aids though

That's a real shame it wasn't mentioned then, if you'd have liked it to have been. Thanks for clearing that up. And commiserations on losing with such an excellent performance; could happen to absolutely anybody and just shows how important the luck of draw can be.

Thanks for your word of wisdom and i really enjoyed it myself

hopefully ill see you round at CO=event!

Dave Preece · Post by **Dave Preece** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:33 pm

Luck of the draw??? Is it actually drawn — or ever been — random?

Jordan F · Post by **Jordan F** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:45 pm

Sort of an aside, but Michael mentioned a disability for himself, and from what I recall watching Only Connect, the only thing I noticed about you was one eye perhaps looked like a lazy eye. This is just me being curious, but is there more to it than that? Again, I just happen to not know.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 4:32 pm

Jordan F wrote:Sort of an aside, but Michael mentioned a disability for himself, and from what I recall watching Only Connect, the only thing I noticed about you was one eye perhaps looked like a lazy eye. This is just me being curious, but is there more to it than that? Again, I just happen to not know.

Ha, Only Connect did a really good job of accommodating me, actually. The short answer is that I have this. The longer answer is I'm blind in my left eye from multiple retinal detachments as a kid (presumably the one you thought looked lazy) and have fairly bad vision in my right (it used to be *much* worse but I got a cataract a few years ago and the resulting surgery actually improved things somewhat). OC were awesome though, they put a monitor on the desk so I could see the questions (which are actually shown on a screen slightly behind the other team and so too far away for me to see at all easily), although I tried to pretend to look at the regular monitor a bit so it didn't look too odd to viewers. (You'll notice that in the missing vowels rounds I stared straight down rather than looking ahead, which I remember seeing someone online interpret as me having given up and not bothering!)

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