Tuesday 18th March, 2008 (Series 58, Game 51)

[David O'Donnell]

Countdown recap for Tuesday 18th March 2008.

C1: Champion Joe Deniss (1 win, 94 points and a member of this forum)
C2: Challenger Andrew Swale. (21 year old [non-ecclesiastical] Cytogenetic Technologist)
DC: Susie Dent and Dennis Taylor.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: E E A N L R S R I
R02: G O E N W I D T E
R03: A I E R D C T T A
R04: L O Q E H T U T S
R05: 100, 75, 50, 25, 1, 1. Target: 378.
TTT: NAGECHEX - "Almost a gender operation on the telephone"
R06: V P E R O I S A P
R07: E U I R B N F N S
R08: M O G R E T C I J
R09: A E E P N S M L P
R10: 100, 5, 3, 6, 2, 9. Target: 353.
TTT: LIVEFAST - "The harvest of Great Britain perhaps"
R11: A I E G N D R L I
R12: E S D N O A F D Z
R13: E A O T S M K D H
R14: 50, 2, 2, 1, 10, 4. Target: 407.
R15: Q U I E T L A D I (conundrum)


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Joe joined us yesterday and was particularly impressive in the first two thirds of the show. As a competitor in this series I felt conflicted watching him (but not conflicted in the same way as Corby). Joe has given a few hints that it might not all be plain sailing today but lets see shall we?

Round 1: E E A N L R S R I
C1: REALISE (7)
C2: LEARNERS (8)
DC: REALISER (8) (Susie in sadistic mode!)
OT: SNARLIER (8) RELEARNS (8)
Score: 0–8 (max 8)

Round 2: G O E N W I D T E
C1: WEEDING (7)
C2: TWINGED (7)
DC: WIDGEON (7)
OT: WENDIGO (7) DOWTING (7)
Score: 7–15 (max 15)

A WENDIGO is a mythical creature appearing in the mythology of the Algonquin people, who inhabited present-day Quebec; DOWTING is from dout mening to put out as in a fire.


Round 3: A I E R D C T T A
C1: RADIATE (7)
C2: CATTIER (7)
DC: DICTATE (7) ATTIRED (7)
OT: CITRATE (7) AIRDATE (7)
Score: 14–22 (max 22)

Round 4: L O Q E H T U T S
C1: OUTLETS (7)
C2: SHUTTLE (7)
DC: Exactly the same
OT: Ditto
Score: 21–29 (max 29)

Round 5: 100, 75, 50, 25, 1, 1. Target: 378.
C1: 375.Mistake in working.
C2: -
CV: 375. "It's impossible" says Vordy. (7)
OT: 378. (1+50/25)*(100+1)+75 "Not quite" replies Mr Beevers (and Stevie in lighting!) (10)
Score: 21–29 (max 39)

Teatime teaser: NAGECHEX -> EXCHANGE

Round 6: V P E R O I S A P
C1: VAPORISE (8)
C2: APPROVES (8)
DC: Can't beat the boys because
OT: ...the lads spot the only two again.
Score: 29–37 (max 47)

Round 7: E U I R B N F N S
C1: FUNNIER (7)
C2: FUNNIER (7)
DC: FUNNIES (7) BUNNIES (7)
OT: A few sevens including two new ones on me FUBSIER (7) SUBERIN (7)
Score: 36–44 (max 54)

FUBSIER is from fubsy meaning fat and squat; SUBERIN is a waxy substance found in higher plants.

Round 8: M O G R E T C I J
C1: EROTIC (6)
C2: MORTICE (7)
OT: MORTICE (7) is Darrenical!
Score: 36–51 (max 61)

Round 9: A E E P N S M L P
C1: EMPLANES (8) (Great spot, lad!)
C2: SAMPLE (6)
OT: EMPANELS (8) (Jason Cullen) SPALPEEN (8)
Score: 44–51 (max 69)

SPALPEEN is an Irish word for a gypsy (but can be used to refer to anyone who has a sort of impish charm) which I was surprised to find in the dictionary. Also in, as I was curious, is gombeen which is defined as a usurer. While that may have been the traditional definition we would use it to basically call someone an asshole.

Round 10: 100, 5, 3, 6, 2, 9. Target: 353.
C1: -
C2: 353.3*100+(5*9)+6+2 (10)
Score: 44–61 (max 79)

Teatime teaser: LIVEFAST -> FESTIVAL

Round 11: A I E G N D R L I
C1: danglier
C2: READING (7)
DC: DRAGLINE (8)
OT: DERAILING (18) (Jason Cullen and probably most of the forum, a surprising miss but would it be as much fun if DC got everything?)
Score: 44–68 (max 97)

Round 12: E S D N O A F D Z
C1: FENDS (5)
C2: SANDED (6)
DC: SODDEN (6) SADDEN (6) ANODES (6)
OT: A few other sixes but DEDANS (6) is another new one on me
Score: 44–74 (max 103)

DEDANS are a screened gallery for spectators at the service end of a court-tennis court and can also refer to the spectators at a court-tennis match.


Round 13: E A O T S M K D H
C1: shaked
C2: SMOKED (6)
DC: HEADMOST (8)
OT: METHODS (7) is the only seven and HEADMOST (8) is the only 8.
Score: 44–80 (max 111)

Round 14: 50, 2, 2, 1, 10, 4. Target: 407.
C1: 407.(10-2)*50+(4*2)-1 (10)
C2: 407.2*4*50+10-2-1 (10)
Score: 54–90 (max 121)

Round 15: Q U I E T L A D I
C2 buzzes on 24 seconds to say DILIQUATE which is incorrect.
C1 buzzes on 25 seconds to say LIQUIATED which is incorrect.
The answer, provided by a lady in the audience, was LIQUIDATE.
Score: 54–90 (max 131)


Joe did hint that things went awry in this game but he should think himself unfortunate that he came up against such a strong opponent so early on. His opponent scored the maximum in the first seven letter rounds which is a high standard since 7/11 in total is good too! It looked as though Joe was going to mount a comeback with the rather nice spot of EMPLANES but that proved to be his final hurrah. A lot of the fizz, from what was shaping up to be an excellent game, left at the point. It's a real pity because I think he deserved a place in the final 8. Bad luck, Joe.

Andrew makes his debut with ten maxima scored. As has been posted several times before such a score is the preserve of the octochamp so even at this early stage he looks like a good bet for octochamp-dom ... but I have been wrong before ... in fact, everytime!


Further summaries are at:
http://www.thecountdowncorral.com/cd/se ... ?series=58