Spoilers for Thursday 15 Jan 2009 (CoC Heat 4)

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:36 pm

Richard Priest v Kai Laddiman

I'm not putting any gags in here because I'm saving them for the recap. If everyone else could refrain from posting any in case they step on my toes, it would be much appreciated.

Craig Beevers · Post by **Craig Beevers** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:40 pm

75x8 = 600
600-10 = 590
590/2 = 295, + 25 + 7

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:40 pm

Is it worth a mention that Richard showed his TREACLE to Jeff instead of Kai?
No, probably not.

Gary Male · Post by **Gary Male** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:42 pm

25*10+75+2

Mark Kudlowski · Post by **Mark Kudlowski** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:42 pm

(25 x 10) + 75 + 2

(1st numbers)

Gary beat me by a few sec !

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:44 pm

Mark Kudlowski wrote:(25 x 10) + 75 + 2

(1st numbers)

Ninjaed. Do people ignore the "someone else posted while you were writing" feature, or is it broken?

Simon Cooper · Post by **Simon Cooper** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:44 pm

Can one who lacerates be a LACERATER?

lisa.underwood · Post by **lisa.underwood** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:46 pm

omg seriously is this new women on countdown thick or what even i worked out that maths problem and that i saying something! it was simple!

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:49 pm

lisa.underwood wrote:omg seriously is this new women on countdown thick or what even i worked out that maths problem and that i saying something! it was simple!

Were you standing in front of a television camera having your every move scrutinised at the time? If yes, accept my congratulations and apply for Rachel's job forthwith. If not, please stand in the STFU corner for ten minutes.

Given your apparent inability to punctuate, capitalise, or spell the word "is", my suspicion is the latter.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:50 pm

lisa.underwood wrote:omg seriously is this new women on countdown thick or what even i worked out that maths problem and that i saying something! it was simple!

Oh my god seriously is this new forummer thick or what? She can't spell two letter words, or use capital letters or proper punctuation!

Edit: Hmm.... I've just remembered something. Watch this space.

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:51 pm

POOPSIE in round 6

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:52 pm

lisa.underwood wrote:omg seriously is this new women on countdown thick or what even i worked out that maths problem and that i saying something! it was simple!

lisa = lisa.underwood ?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:52 pm

Eoin.V.Monaghan wrote:POOPSIE in round 6

no

Matt Morrison wrote:
lisa.underwood wrote:omg seriously is this new women on countdown thick or what even i worked out that maths problem and that i saying something! it was simple!
lisa = lisa.underwood ?

Maybe she was trying to log in as lia.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:54 pm

I am sure someone was talking yesterday on some thread or other about if Rachel would become a 'recessionista' like Carol.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:55 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:Maybe she was trying to log in as lia.

PMSL

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:56 pm

MISCOUNT has been the answer to a recent tea-time-teaser

Mark Kudlowski · Post by **Mark Kudlowski** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:57 pm

2nd numbers:

((3 x 3) + 8) x 9

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:58 pm

Simon Cooper wrote:Can one who lacerates be a LACERATER?

Fraid not Simon, in ODE land it would be lacerator but even that's not allowed.

*Contemplates recap ruining gag about a tired postman*

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:59 pm

lisa.underwood wrote:omg seriously is this new women on countdown thick or what even i worked out that maths problem and that i saying something! it was simple!

You're also actually calling the two contestants thick as well, since they failed to get it. They're both series finalists.

Come on bitch, show your credentials.

(I will also accept tits, if credentials are not forthcoming)

Peter Mabey · Post by **Peter Mabey** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:59 pm

Second numbers alternative:9(3x8-7)=153

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:59 pm

POOPIES for round 6?

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:00 pm

Andrew's pre-ad break anecdotes are getting daily lamer. "I once forgot my lines on stage, and the funny thing was, I didn't even realise it was me!" I mean, please. Almost makes you yearn for Martin Jarvis.

John Brackstone · Post by **John Brackstone** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:00 pm

not a dc-beater but loquat is a nice 6-letter word in round 2 or 3

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:03 pm

SEXTET is a worth-mentioning equaller to Kai's SETTEE, mainly cos it has SEX in it of course.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:09 pm

nightmare for Richard on the conundrum, close enough to almost get away with if he had an accent thicker enough for Jeff to assume he got it right!

Gary Male · Post by **Gary Male** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:11 pm

And we have a frontrunner for best look of anguish during a conundrum in 2009

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:13 pm

Well done Kai and commiserations to Richard.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:14 pm

I was absolutely gutted for Rich after that conundrum. To have come so close... Anyway, it was a(n unbelievable, Jeff) great game, and commiserations Rich. Very well played.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:15 pm

Well in lads, great performances and really enjoyable to watch.

Overtones of the Gallen-Tournoff series final with the conundrum, really felt for Rich but it would also have been harsh for Kai to lose on a word he maybe didn't know.

Malcolm James · Post by **Malcolm James** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:15 pm

The most surprising thing about today's show was seeing Richard buzz in on the conundrum, since the Guardian feature a couple of weeks back put in a, doubtless inadvertent, spoiler for this game.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:16 pm

lisa.underwood wrote:omg seriously is this new women on countdown thick or what even i worked out that maths problem and that i saying something! it was simple!

You also used the plural when referring to a singular woman.

Where's post 2?

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:17 pm

It was a really good game, wasn't it, I have to say this tournament hasn't caught fire like the last C of C, but perhaps that's a little much to ask, and too soon. Another thing I noticed, was that for the last two numbers game you could see the large number in Rachel's hand before she put it up. But what we seem to forget, is that this is still her first day on the job! They film five episodes per day.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:25 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:It was a really good game, wasn't it, I have to say this tournament hasn't caught fire like the last C of C, but perhaps that's a little much to ask, and too soon. Another thing I noticed, was that for the last two numbers game you could see the large number in Rachel's hand before she put it up. But what we seem to forget, is that this is still her first day on the job! They film five episodes per day.

Most of the games in the first round of the last CofC were quite one sided, we've already had two squeakers and some excellent performances in this one, so give it a chance. I'm certainly enjoying it. Also the poor letters are depressing the scoring quite badly, very few chances for the contestants to show off 8s and 9s through no fault of their own.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:31 pm

Eoin.V.Monaghan wrote:POOPIES for round 6?

no

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:33 pm

PAPOOSE though

edit: shit! Way to use my 1000th post

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:34 pm

Paul Howe wrote:it would also have been harsh for Kai to lose on a word he maybe didn't know.

That opens up a whole can of worms, doesn't it?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:35 pm

Also alt 1st numbers (75-25-10)x8+7 although not within time. My only other misses were LACERATE and SOMATIC. Think that was by far the best performance from Kai considering the poor letters.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:00 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:it would also have been harsh for Kai to lose on a word he maybe didn't know.
That opens up a whole can of worms, doesn't it?

What, CAFETIERE? I reckon he knows it and he just missed it. Yeah as I said it was a really good game, and well done Kai! We liked the bit when you checked Rich's numbers solution and said 'yea', that was hilarious (in a good way, I mean).

Jennifer Turner · Post by **Jennifer Turner** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:02 pm

Not impressed with Susie giving so much prominence to the discredited folk etymology of "back to square one". Come on Susie, you're better than that!

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:04 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:it would also have been harsh for Kai to lose on a word he maybe didn't know.
That opens up a whole can of worms, doesn't it?

Well, I think Paul makes a fair point that it would've been harsh, which is not to say unfair. I think that CAFETIERE, SUBNORMAL and the tough opening draw prove that Kai was given no favouritism whatsoever.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:05 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:it would also have been harsh for Kai to lose on a word he maybe didn't know.
That opens up a whole can of worms, doesn't it?

Not saying they should make special provision because he's 12, he's there to compete on the same footing as everyone else (and has shown he's more than capable

), just that it would've been harsh to lose thanks to a gap in vocabulary that may be entirely imagined on my part.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:15 pm

Paul Howe wrote:Well in lads, great performances and really enjoyable to watch.

Overtones of the Gallen-Tournoff series final with the conundrum, really felt for Rich but it would also have been harsh for Kai to lose on a word he maybe didn't know.

I actually heard Susie say the answer, but as I had never heard of it, I made a moral decision and didn't say it.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:17 pm

I was so disheartened for Rich to buzz in so quick and get it wrong and then know the real answer. In fact I got CAFETERIA straight away so I was wrong. Well done Kai. Great game.

Oh, and upon reading this thread, I must be thick then because I was also one away on the numbers and I'd never heard of CAFETIERE. Never mind.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:17 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:Well in lads, great performances and really enjoyable to watch.

Overtones of the Gallen-Tournoff series final with the conundrum, really felt for Rich but it would also have been harsh for Kai to lose on a word he maybe didn't know.
I actually heard Susie say the answer, but as I had never heard of it, I made a moral decision and didn't say it.

He bainesed it! Oh my god he bainesed it!

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:17 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:Well in lads, great performances and really enjoyable to watch.

Overtones of the Gallen-Tournoff series final with the conundrum, really felt for Rich but it would also have been harsh for Kai to lose on a word he maybe didn't know.
I actually heard Susie say the answer, but as I had never heard of it, I made a moral decision and didn't say it.

Really? I don't think I knew that.

What if you'd been behind....?

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:19 pm

Paul Howe wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:it would also have been harsh for Kai to lose on a word he maybe didn't know.
That opens up a whole can of worms, doesn't it?
Not saying they should make special provision because he's 12, he's there to compete on the same footing as everyone else (and has shown he's more than capable ), just that it would've been harsh to lose thanks to a gap in vocabulary that may be entirely imagined on my part.

yeah I wasn't really making a point about Kai at all (though I agree he's too good to get special provision regardless of his age!)...
Just meant in general - surely it makes no sense to feel sorry for people based on their vocabulary, when the whole point of Countdown to a very large extent is a test of that vocabulary.
Although on second thoughts I can see your point perhaps that it is a little harsh for the conundrum round in particular, though I'd say unlucky rather than harsh.
As an aside, I'm surprised by people claiming to not know CAFETIERE. Drink more coffee, people!

Dan Vanniasingham · Post by **Dan Vanniasingham** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:15 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:Oh, and upon reading this thread, I must be thick then because I was also one away on the numbers and I'd never heard of CAFETIERE. Never mind.

I saw the numbers quickly, and spent the rest of the time looking for an alternative method without any success (I know a convoluted one has been posted in this thread previously). Perfectly understandable for contestants and Rachel to miss that.

FWIW I've never come across CAFETIERE either, so I can enter the thicko club through the backdoor.

Great game lads, tough to call beforehand in my eyes and so it proved. Well done Kai, and I hope Rich has recovered by now.

Clare Sudbery · Post by **Clare Sudbery** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:07 pm

Kai Laddiman is one impressively confident young man. Self-possessed. That's the expression I'm looking for. Then again, he has good reason.

I saw SEXTET too. And was pleased to spot DECLINED. Was shouting it at TV, which is obviously how Kai got it. Must have heard me. And yes, my voice cannot only travel from receiver to transmitter, it can do it backwards in time. Impressive, huh? I should have kept quiet about CAFETIERE though. ;o)

[incidentally, anyone know if there is a strikethrough option available in the BB code this forum uses? Just tried a few possibilities, all to no avail...]

David Gunn · Post by **David Gunn** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:15 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote: I actually heard Susie say the answer, but as I had never heard of it, I made a moral decision and didn't say it.

Well done, Kai.
Unfortunately with morals like that you'll never make a professional footballer.
Any good at snooker?

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:26 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:As an aside, I'm surprised by people claiming to not know CAFETIERE. Drink more coffee, people!

But not instant. You only get your cafetiere out to make fresh. (Don't you...?)

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:28 pm

Lesley Jeavons wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:As an aside, I'm surprised by people claiming to not know CAFETIERE. Drink more coffee, people!
But not instant. You only get your cafetiere out to make fresh. (Don't you...?)

Yes indeedy. Well worth it though mind you. You can't claim to be a coffee drinker without at least having tried Proper Coffee, although admittedly I drink instant a helluva lot more through laziness.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:32 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:I drink instant a helluva lot more through laziness.

You should try drinking it through your mouth, it's much easier.

LOLLERSKATES!

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:39 pm

Not bad, nothing on yesterday though. I'm with Matt with respect to the conundrum and 'harshness', but that's probably more semantics than anything else. I also didn't realise CAFETIERE was a word people didn't know (if you know what I mean) - but that's not me saying "omg you cretins" and more me having one of those moments when you realise something you know isn't something everything knows (I don't think I'm explaining this very well).

Anyway, cheers Kai, this means I'm still in the running in the prediction game, which is clearly the important part of all this.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:45 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:I drink instant a helluva lot more through laziness.
You should try drinking it through your mouth, it's much easier.
LOLLERSKATES!

HA! In that case, how do you drink it through your mouth though Charlie? My mouth only has an entrance, no exit.

Joe Denniss · Post by **Joe Denniss** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:48 pm

Well done on the victory, Kai.

Also, QUOITAL, I think. Not sure of the round.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:55 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:Not bad, nothing on yesterday though. I'm with Matt with respect to the conundrum and 'harshness', but that's probably more semantics than anything else. I also didn't realise CAFETIERE was a word people didn't know (if you know what I mean) - but that's not me saying "omg you cretins" and more me having one of those moments when you realise something you know isn't something everything knows (I don't think I'm explaining this very well).

Anyway, cheers Kai, this means I'm still in the running in the prediction game, which is clearly the important part of all this.

I know what you meant, and I agree! (Except you meant "everyone" not "everything" towards the end of your first paragraph.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:15 pm

Matt Morrison wrote: Just meant in general - surely it makes no sense to feel sorry for people based on their vocabulary, when the whole point of Countdown to a very large extent is a test of that vocabulary.
Although on second thoughts I can see your point perhaps that it is a little harsh for the conundrum round in particular, though I'd say unlucky rather than harsh.
As an aside, I'm surprised by people claiming to not know CAFETIERE. Drink more coffee, people!

Yes, fair enough, unlucky would've been a better choice of word. I was indeed referring just to the conundrum as even in the CofC you expect a fairly common word with the main difficulty coming from the unusual orthography.

Interesting point about Countdown being a test of vocabulary, I think the correlation between countdown ability and vocabulary would be positive but weaker than many might expect.

Martin Bishop · Post by **Martin Bishop** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:28 pm

I got the last numbers through one of my characteristically circuitous routes.

(8*9)+50-1=121
121*7=847

50*(8+9)... didn't occur to me.

Great game today. Well done to both participants.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:35 pm

Martin Bishop wrote:I got the last numbers through one of my characteristically circuitous routes.

(8*9)+50-1=121
121*7=847

50*(8+9)... didn't occur to me.

Great game today. Well done to both participants.

Good lad - same way as me!

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:46 pm

The Wiktionary lists it as cafetière (with an accent). Théière is the French for teapot, so I think it comes from café (coffee) + théière, a pot that does coffee or tea. By the way, I didn't get it...