Spoilers for Friday September 19th 2014 (S71 P49)

[Jordan F]

Paul Worsley got a 3rd win yesterday, can he wrap up the week with win number 4?

Join Anthony for the recap later.

[Jack Worsley]

Another apterite battle today as Kieran O'Driscoll is the challenger. Such a nice guy too.

[Tony Atkins]

Had long talks to Keiran on apterous before the recording to reassure him - I don't think I mentioned
Paul being on....

And stupid me went for "OVERARMS" in R1.

[Tony Atkins]

Anyone get the 8 in R4?

[Tony Atkins]

CINEASTE as one of the alts to DISTANCE

[Bradley Cates]

COALING in R8

[Zarte Siempre]

CALZONI/INOCULA in R8

[Jack Worsley]

CINEASTE as one of the alts to DISTANCE

Also CANEDEST if you're playing apterous, although I doubt it would be allowed on the show. Missed the round 4 beater but CALZONI was available in round 8.

Edit: Damn, beaten to it.

[samir pilica]

CINGULA in R8

[Tony Atkins]

DC should have got FUNDERS in R12 not just FUNDS.

[Tony Atkins]

Well done to both players for a high quality show.

[Mark Murray]

Another high quality game today. I would have tied with Paul going into the conundrum.. very strong series... Andesite as alt in round 7

[Callum P]

UNLACING for 8 in R8

[Jack Worsley]

UNLACING for 8 in R8

Only one N.

[Fred Mumford]

Only one N.

Not necessarily an issue this series.

[Callum P]

UNLACING for 8 in R8

Only one N.

ffs swear I'm getting letter blindness so much recently

[Gavin Chipper]

Also CANEDEST if you're playing apterous, although I doubt it would be allowed on the show.

They should allow it since they've done nothing with the rules to stop it despite the opportunity to do so. They can't disallow a word because they don't like the look of it (even though it's happened on several occasions).

[Clive Brooker]

Also CANEDEST if you're playing apterous, although I doubt it would be allowed on the show.

They should allow it since they've done nothing with the rules to stop it despite the opportunity to do so. They can't disallow a word because they don't like the look of it (even though it's happened on several occasions).

Offerings like CANEDEST are potentially allowable because they are arguably regular forms and therefore covered by the section on inflections included in all* printed dictionaries used on Countdown and on which the rules are based. As far as I can tell, the concept of regularity has disappeared completely in the ODO, and continuing to use rules built around it is certain to lead to conflicts, as it did last week.

It would be interesting to see what Susie makes of a word like SHALLOWER, surely part of standard vocabulary for practically all English speakers but falling through the cracks in the ODE and therefore not allowable on Countdown. Unsurprisingly, the ODO redirects to SHALLOW, indicating that it is in some sense recognised. The comparative and superlative forms are not specified in the entry for SHALLOW, but do the compilers of the ODO intend that this should matter any more?

Nevertheless, I think it was a racing certainty that the programme would elect not to use the ODO's search facility for adjudications. The rules belong to them and they can do as they wish. Switching to an automatic process would effectively kill Susie's current role, and it's hard to see how it could be redefined.

[Adam Gillard]

Cringeworthiest pun of the week award goes to Damian for that first teatime teaser!

[Gavin Chipper]

It would be interesting to see what Susie makes of a word like SHALLOWER, surely part of standard vocabulary for practically all English speakers but falling through the cracks in the ODE and therefore not allowable on Countdown. Unsurprisingly, the ODO redirects to SHALLOW, indicating that it is in some sense recognised. The comparative and superlative forms are not specified in the entry for SHALLOW, but do the compilers of the ODO intend that this should matter any more?

ODO is also fine with UNKINDER and HUMANER. Two years ago to the game, this discussion came up. And here.