This week has seen the demise of the lovely Priscilla Munday, beaten by our current champion Andy Gardner, who then went on to win again yesterday. Will he make it a hat-trick today? Standing in his way today is Gerry Beirne. Enjoy.Countdown recap for Friday 31 January 2014.
C1: Champion Andy Gardner (2 wins, 165 points.) A trainee accountant from Reading, Berkshire.
C2: Challenger Gerry Beirne. A Site Manager from Walkden in Manchester. A big fan of Gaelic Football and Hurling.
DC: Susie Dent and Nicki Chapman.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: P T R E U D A N L
R02: T N S R E I A N Y
R03: 6, 2, 5, 1, 50, 25, . Target: 915.
TTT: ONETRACE - "One can trace this back to a certain orange vegetable."
R04: T D R S E O I L P
R05: S M A O Q R M I N
R06: 10, 2, 5, 3, 8, 75. Target: 448.
R07: S Z T E U C T O P
R08: S D B H E O E O S
R09: 8, 10, 8, 5, 100, 50. Target: 841.
TTT: LIPSPICE - "If you needed to get about, these women were just the ticket."
R10: V F C G A I E D M
R11: S G M O A E T X D
R12: L N G T A E O R I
R13: F P U W S A E L R
R14: 4, 9, 5, 9, 6, 50. Target: 889.
R15: D R E M O T I O N (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: P T R E U D A N L
C1: PRUDENT (7)
C2: PLANTED (7)
DC: NEUTRAL (7) PLANTER (7) UPDATE (6)
OT: PENDULAR (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
A PRUDENT start for the champion. The challenger PLANTED another 7, but the scores are level.
Round 2: T N S R E I A N Y
C1: TANNERS (7)
C2: restain
DC: TYRANNISE (18)
OT: TYRANNIES (18)
Score: 14–7 (max 26)
Andy gets TANNERS for 7. Gerry said 'restain' for 7, which isn't in the dictionary. A pity as he could have changed it round and got stainer. Both players also missed two 9's.
Round 3: 6, 2, 5, 1, 50, 25. Target: 915.
C1: 917. (50+25+1)x(6x2) +5 (7)
C2: 920.
RR: 915. (50x6) +5 x (2+1) (10)
Score: 21–7 (max 36)
Andy pulls away by getting closer in the first numbers. Rachel is left to show us how it's done.
Teatime teaser: ONETRACE -> CAROTENE
Round 4: T D R S E O I L P
C1: SPOILER (7)
C2: SPOILED (7)
DC: STEROID (7) DROPLETS (8)
OT: DIOPTRES (8) RIPOSTED (8)
Score: 28–14 (max 44)
Andy got a SPOILER but Gerry SPOILED his chances of extending his lead.
Round 5: S M A O Q R M I N
C1: MINORS (6)
C2: MANORS (6)
DC: MANOIRS (7)
Score: 34–20 (max 51)
MINORS and MANORS give both players 6 points. Rachel added an I to get MANOIRS for 7.
Round 6: 10, 2, 5, 3, 8, 75. Target: 448.
C1: 448. 8-(5-3) x 75 - 2 (10)
C2: 448. (8-2) x 75 - (5-3) (10)
Score: 44–30 (max 61)
Perfection as both players score 10 on the numbers.
Nicki Chapman talks about her time in Australia.
Round 7: S Z T E U C T O P
C1: CUTEST (6)
C2: OUTSTEP (7)
Score: 44–37 (max 68)
A brilliant 7 by Gerry as he OUTSTEP's Andy, who got the CUTEST of words.
Round 8: S D B H E O E O S
C1: BOSSED (6)
C2: BOSSED (6)
DC: HOBOES (6)
OT: SHOOED (6)
Score: 50–43 (max 74)
Both players BOSSED the round and got 6 points.
Round 9: 8, 10, 8, 5, 100, 50. Target: 841.
C1: 840. (100+5) x 8 (7)
C2: 840. (100x8) +50-10 (7)
RR: 840. (7)
Score: 57–50 (max 81)
Both players get 1 away and I am reliably informed perfection is indeed impossible.
Teatime teaser: LIPSPICE -> CLIPPIES
Round 10: V F C G A I E D M
C1: IMAGED (6)
C2: IMAGED (6)
OT: MEDIVAC (7)
Score: 63–56 (max 88)
Both players get 6 with IMAGED.
Round 11: S G M O A E T X D
C1: MOATED (6)
C2: MASTED (6)
DC: OMEGAS (6) STODGE (6)
OT: DOTAGES (7)
Score: 69–62 (max 95)
Sixes again - MOATED and MASTED.
Susie talks about the origin of words to do with acting.
Round 12: L N G T A E O R I
C1: RELATING (8)
C2: TEARING (7)
DC: GELATION (8) INTEGRAL (8) TRIANGLE (8)
OT: ALERTING (8) ALTERING (8) GERANIOL (8) LEGATION (8) ORIENTAL (8) REGIONAL (8) RELATION (8) TANGLIER (8) TRIGONAL (8)
Score: 77–62 (max 103)
While Gerry was TEARING away, Andy got a word RELATING to 8 points.
Round 13: F P U W S A E L R
C1: WEARS (5)
C2: PULSAR (6)
DC: REFUSAL (7) PERUSAL (7)
OT: EARFULS (7) FELSPAR (7) FERULAS (7) PURFLES (7)
Score: 77–68 (max 110)
Gerry is back in the game as he gets 6 with PULSAR, whilst Andy only WEARS a 5.
Round 14: 4, 9, 5, 9, 6, 50. Target: 889.
C1: 889. (9+9) x 50 -6-5 (10)
C2: 889. (9+9) x 50 -6-5 (10)
Score: 87–78 (max 120)
A crucial conundrum beckons as both players get 10 points for 889.
Round 15: D R E M O T I O N
C1 buzzes on 13 seconds to say MONITORED which is correct.
Final Score: 97–78 (max 130)
Andy gets the crucial conundrum MONITORED on 13 seconds to secure his 3rd win and carry his bat into next week. Gerry put up a brave fight but Andy just clipped him in the end. Could Andy go on through next week and become an octochamp? Stay tuned next week to find out. That's all from me for today. Join Andy McGurn on Monday for the next installment, and I will be back next Friday to lumber you all again.
Thank you once again for reading and goodbye. 
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