So, enjoy.
Countdown recap for Wednesday 1 October 2014.
C1: Champion Michael McDowell (4 wins, 345 points.) A computer programmer from Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, but originally from County Down, Northern Ireland.
C2: Challenger Paul Talmey. An NHS administrator from Crawley, West Sussex. He once abseiled down Crawley Hospital for a fundraiser.
DC: Susie Dent and Margaret Mountford.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: G P N E I R J A F
R02: L R P O E R Z O S
R03: 50, 5, 8, 10, 9, 4. Target: 479.
TTT: TRUENAME - "There is nobody more this than Rachel Riley"
R04: N W D T A E R O N
R05: L D G A E N G U H
R06: 25, 3, 1, 6, 7, 10. Target: 645.
R07: I E M V R A T S T
R08: E I C Y S U W C A
R09: 100, 8, 8, 6, 7, 9. Target: 348.
TTT: SUPERGIN - "Reading things very carefully in South America, perhaps?"
R10: R P N P I E V O T
R11: R N T I A U F O H
R12: S D T D A O S E Q
R13: R T I A L G I S A
R14: 50, 1, 4, 2, 8, 3. Target: 168.
R15: G R U N T T I M E (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: G P N E I R J A F
Michael: REAPING (7)
Paul: REAPING (7)
DC: PINGER (6)
OT: FEARING (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
Both players are clearly REAPING the early rewards of today's game.
Round 2: L R P O E R Z O S
Michael: POORER (6)
Paul: spooler
DC: LOOPER (6) LOOPERS (7)
OT: SPOORER (7)
Score: 13–7 (max 14)
Paul tries for a spooler, but finds himself POORER pointswise, as it ain't in......
Round 3: 50, 5, 8, 10, 9, 4. Target: 479.
Michael: 477.
Paul: 479. ((50 - (8 - 5)) x 10) + 9 (10)
Score: 13–17 (max 24)
Well, he comes good immediately, as his numbers game solve gives him the lead.
Teatime teaser: TRUENAME -> NUMERATE
Round 4: N W D T A E R O N
Michael: RODENT (6)
Paul: DONATE (6)
DC: DOWNRATE (8) WANTONED (8)
OT: DANEWORT (8) TEARDOWN (8)
Score: 19–23 (max 32)
DONATE a RODENT
I'd rather have a DANEWORT, thanks. 
A DANEWORT is a dwarf Eurasian elder with a strong, unpleasant smell and berries yielding a blue dye. (Sambucus ebulus, family Caprifoliaceae)
Round 5: L D G A E N G U H
Michael: ANGLED (6)
Paul: ANGLED (6)
DC: LAUGHED (7) HAGGLED (7)
OT: GANGLED (7) LANGUED (7)
Score: 25–29 (max 39)
Now we've ANGLED some words out, while DC seem to have LAUGHED and HAGGLED their own.
LANGUED is a heraldic adjective referring to having the tongue of a specified tincture.
Round 6: 25, 3, 1, 6, 7, 10. Target: 645.
Michael: 650.
Paul: 645. ((((6 + 3) x 7) - 1) x 10) + 25 (10)
Score: 25–39 (max 49)
Again it's full marks for Paul in the numbers, with Michael 5 away............. Speaking of which, is win #5 going away from Michael, I wonder
Margaret goes back into her Greek myth archive to tell the story of the Trojan Horse.
Round 7: I E M V R A T S T
Michael: REMITS (6)
Paul: MATTERS (7)
DC: MISTREAT (8)
Score: 25–46 (max 57)
MATTERS are getting further out of Michael's hands with Paul's 7 here, but a nice darrenic 8 from DC to mention too.
Round 8: E I C Y S U W C A
Michael: CAUSE (5)
Paul: ACCUSE (6)
DC: YUCCAS (6)
OT: CAUSEY (6) CAYUSE (6) CUECAS (6)
Score: 25–52 (max 63)
And another nice 6 sees Paul go 27 clear
A CAUSEY is an archaic or dialect term for a causeway.
A CAYUSE is an American Indian pony.
A CUECA is a lively South American dance.
Round 9: 100, 8, 8, 6, 7, 9. Target: 348.
Michael: 348. ((9 - 6) x 100) + (7 x 8) - 8 (10)
Paul: -
Score: 35–52 (max 73)
Well, well, well, the numbers tables have miraculously turned in Michael's favour, and he now finds himself just 17 points behind. Is there a miracle comeback in the offing from the champion
Teatime teaser: SUPERGIN -> PERUSING
Round 10: R P N P I E V O T
Michael: provine
Paul: POINTER (7)
DC: PROTEIN (7) REPOINT (7) OVERTIP (7)
Score: 35–59 (max 80)
Well, when he offers provine, which almost sounded like PROTEIN with a V, you think the game might be up........
Round 11: R N T I A U F O H
Michael: FAINT (5)
Paul: AUTHOR (6)
DC: RAINOUT (7)
Score: 35–65 (max 87)
Has the AUTHOR written out Michael now
Well, while we debate that, Margaret and Nick puff their cheeks at the inclusion of RAINOUT. 
Susie's Origins of Words talks about the origins of "mayhem".
Round 12: S D T D A O S E Q
Michael: TOADS (5)
Paul: TOSSED (6)
DC: SADDOS (6) SADDEST (7)
Score: 35–71 (max 94)
The game is almost over now, as Paul has TOSSED Michael's TOADS, which is the SADDEST thing DC have seen......
Round 13: R T I A L G I S A
Michael: LARIATS (7)
Paul: TRIALS (6)
OT: LIATRIS (7) STRIGIL (7)
Score: 42–71 (max 101)
Michael might've found some LARIATS again, but it's too little, too late, as Paul has got the game won.
A LIATRIS is a plant of a genus which includes the blazing stars of the daisy family. (Genus Liatris, family Compositae)
A STRIGIL is an instrument with a curved blade used, especially by ancient Greeks and Romans, to scrape sweat and dirt from the skin in a hot-air bath or after exercise; a scraper.
Round 14: 50, 1, 4, 2, 8, 3. Target: 168.
Michael: 168. (50 + 4 + 2) x 3 (10)
Paul: 168. (50 x 3) + ((8 + 1) x 2) (10)
Score: 52–81 (max 111)
A simple finish for the numbers today.
Round 15: G R U N T T I M E
Paul buzzes on 6 seconds to say MUTTERING which is correct.
Final Score: 52–91 (max 121)
No MUTTERING from Paul today, as he cleans up with a fine conundrum solve to cap off a brilliant performance.
So, Michael finishes with 4 wins and 397 points, interestingly, exactly the same as James Wall, but Michael goes below James, as he only got 2 conundrums to James' 3, meaning he will be the #6 seed for now.........
Will Paul carry on where he left off tomorrow
Join me then to find out.Till then, bye for now.
Statistics Corner
Michael:
Total score - 52
Raw score - 87
Total % of max - 43
Raw % of max - 72
Total average score per round - 3.5
Raw average score per round - 5.8
Number of maxes - 4
Paul:
Total score - 91
Raw score - 97
Total % of max - 75
Raw % of max - 81
Total average score per round - 6.1
Raw average score per round - 6.5
Number of maxes - 7
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=71