Thursday 2nd May 2019 (Series 80, Prelim 72)

[James Robinson]

Countdown recap for Thursday 2 May 2019.

C1: Champion Katie Walvin (1 win, 77 points.) A data entry operator from Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
C2: Challenger Steven Mills. A semi-retired magician, landscape designer and poker player from Orpington, Greater London.
DC: Susie Dent and Al Murray.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: L R E O N C U D T
R02: Q N F G E I A S L
R03: 25, 50, 3, 5, 6, 5. Target: 659.
TTT: TENDERCAN - "It sounds like someone cast a spell on her on the way in."
R04: L S H M T O E I E
R05: H M T I A U R C E
R06: 25, 5, 5, 8, 7, 6. Target: 126.
R07: J C B O I E W N A
R08: D M R S N E A I R
R09: 50, 25, 2, 7, 5, 8. Target: 803.
TTT: ITGETSHIM - "In the battle of pen and sword, the pen always wins."
R10: V S C Z T E E U O
R11: P S Y I O E G D E
R12: S B T S W A O I A
R13: R V L E O I P S N
R14: 75, 5, 2, 10, 1, 8. Target: 761.
R15: F A N N E D T E D (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: L R E O N C U D T

Katie: COUNTER (7)
Steven: unrooted
DC: COUNTED (7) TRUNDLE (7) TROUNCED (8)
OT: CLOTURED (8) ROUNDLET (8)
Score: 7–0 (max 8)

Round 2: Q N F G E I A S L

Katie: LEASING (7)
Steven: fleaing
DC: FINAGLES (8) FLANGES (7)
Score: 14–0 (max 16)

Round 3: 25, 50, 3, 5, 6, 5. Target: 659.

Katie: 656. ((5 + 5 + 3) x 50) + 6 (7)
Steven: 656. ((5 + 5 + 3) x 50) + 6 (7)
RR: 659. (((50 - 6) x 3 x 25) - 5) / 5 (10)
Score: 21–7 (max 26)

Teatime teaser: TENDERCAN -> ENTRANCED

Round 4: L S H M T O E I E

Katie: HOMELIEST (18)
Steven: MOLEST (6)
OT: LITHESOME (18)
Score: 39–7 (max 44)

Round 5: H M T I A U R C E

Katie: MATURE (6)
Steven: MURIATE (7)
DC: MITHER (6) RHEUMATIC (18)
Score: 39–14 (max 62)

Round 6: 25, 5, 5, 8, 7, 6. Target: 126.

Katie: 126. (5 x 25) + 7 - 6 (10)
Steven: 126. (5 x 25) + 8 - 7 (10)
Score: 49–24 (max 72)

Al talks about his new stand-up show, which starts next week, as well as his run for MP against Nigel Farage in the 2015 general election.

Round 7: J C B O I E W N A

Katie: CANOE (5)
Steven: newbie
DC: JAWBONE (7) COWBANE (7) JACOBIN (7)
OT: CENOBIA (7)
Score: 54–24 (max 79)

Round 8: D M R S N E A I R

Katie: REMAINS (7)
Steven: REMINDS (7)
DC: REMANDS (7) MARRIEDS (8) MARINERS (8)
OT: MANRIDERS (18)
Score: 61–31 (max 97)

Round 9: 50, 25, 2, 7, 5, 8. Target: 803.

Katie: 802. (50 x 2 x 8) + 7 - 5 (7)
Steven: 802. (50 x 2 x 8) + 7 - 5 (7)
RR: 803. ((50 + 5) x 7 x 2) + 25 + 8 (10)
Score: 68–38 (max 107)

Teatime teaser: ITGETSHIM -> MIGHTIEST

Round 10: V S C Z T E E U O

Katie: OUTSEE (6)
Steven: couvees
DC: CUVEES (6) COVETS (6) VETOES (6)
OT: OUSTEE (6)
Score: 74–38 (max 113)

Round 11: P S Y I O E G D E

Katie: POISED (6)
Steven: podgies
DC: PODGES (6) EPISODE (7)
OT: GEODESY (7)
Score: 80–38 (max 120)

Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "reeve".

Round 12: S B T S W A O I A

Katie: BOASTS (6)
Steven: AWAITS (6)
DC: SABOTS (6)
OT: ABASSI (6) ABATIS (6) SATAIS (6) TOWAIS (6) WAISTS (6) WASABI (6)
Score: 86–44 (max 126)

Round 13: R V L E O I P S N

Katie: SPOILER (7)
Steven: SLIPOVER (8)
OT: OVERLIPS (8) OVERSPIN (8) PLERIONS (8)
Score: 86–52 (max 134)

Round 14: 75, 5, 2, 10, 1, 8. Target: 761.

Katie: 761. ((75 + 1) x 10) + 5 - (8 / 2) (10)
Steven: 761. (75 x 10) + 8 + 2 + 1 (10)
Score: 96–62 (max 144)

Round 15: F A N N E D T E D

Katie buzzes on 14.25 seconds to say DEFENDANT which is correct.
Final Score: 106–62 (max 154)

Statistics Corner

Katie:
Total score - 106
Raw score - 119
Total % of max - 69
Raw % of max - 77
Total average score per round - 7.1
Raw average score per round - 7.9
Number of maxes - 6

Steven:
Total score - 62
Raw score - 68
Total % of max - 40
Raw % of max - 44
Total average score per round - 4.1
Raw average score per round - 4.5
Number of maxes - 4

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=80