Thursday, 5th June 2008 (Series 58, Game 108)

[Howard Somerset]

Countdown recap for Thursday 5th June 2008.

C1: Champion Jonathan Coles (7 wins, 647 points.)
C2: Challenger Charlie Picken, a retired cinema manager from Cramlington, in Northumberland
DC: Susie Dent and Ricky Tomlinson.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: V P T A O S H E P
R02: A E I Z N P S D O
R03: R Y T E A S J U T
R04: O A E N R T R W O
R05: 75, 5, 10, 6, 10, 9. Target: 181.
TTT: RAPSUITS - "It's a no-go area for daleks."
R06: E I U T C B C P E
R07: T R M A I D N E A
R08: A I E N G K Q A S
R09: C X F O E G L I A
R10: 100, 10, 9, 1, 5, 3. Target: 707.
TTT: GOTSOILS - "Maureen thinks they are scientists."
R11: R M R E O D R I L
R12: A E E N T B S M U
R13: D E S I O N N E D
R14: 50, 5, 5, 3, 6, 4. Target: 727.
R15: C I G N E T J O B (conundrum)


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Round 1: V P T A O S H E P
C1: POTASH (6)
C2: POTASH (6)
DC: PATHOS (6)
OT: APPOSE (6) OVATES (6) SHOPPE (6) SPATHE (6)
Score: 6–6 (max 6)
OVATES - members of an order of Welsh bards
SPATHE - a sheath, enclosing the flower cluster of a plant
(Acknowledgments to Jim Bentley for details of round 1)

Round 2: A E I Z N P S D O
C1: ADIPOSE (7)
C2: ANODISE (7)
DC: ANODIZES (8)
Score: 13–13 (max 14)

Round 3: R Y T E A S J U T
C1: ASTUTE (6)
C2: STATE (5)
DC: STATUE (6)
OT: ESTUARY (7) (Joseph and Martin Gardner) STATURE (7) (Martin Gardner) YATTERS (7)
Score: 19–13 (max 21)

Round 4: O A E N R T R W O
C1: ORNATE (6)
C2: ROOTER (6)
DC: NARROW (6)
OT: ERRANT, (6) ORATOR, (6) RANTER, (6) RATOON, (6) TORERO, (6) WANTER, (6) WARNER, (6) WARREN (6)
Score: 25–19 (max 27)
RATOON - a new shoot springing from the base of a crop plant
TOTERO - bullfighter, on foot

Round 5: 75, 5, 10, 6, 10, 9. Target: 181.
C1: 181.10 x 10 + 75 + 6 (10)
C2: 180.
Score: 35–19 (max 37)

Teatime teaser: RAPSUITS -> UPSTAIRS

Round 6: E I U T C B C P E
C1: cuptie
C2: cuptie
DC: CUTIE (5) PIECE (5)
OT: PECTIC (6) (Peter Mabey)
Score: 35–19 (max 43)
CUP TIE is two words
PECTIC, adj from PECTIN - soluble gelatinous polysaccharide, present in ripe fruits and used as a setting agent in jam and jelly

Round 7: T R M A I D N E A
C1: MARINATED (18)
C2: ADMIRE (6)
DC: DIAMANTE (8)
Score: 53–19 (max 61)
DIAMANTE (acute accent on the E) - decorated with glass cut to resemble diamonds

Round 8: A I E N G K Q A S
C1: ASKING (6)
C2: ASKING (6)
DC: KANGAS (6)
OT: KAINGAS (7) SINKAGE (7)
Score: 59–25 (max 68)
KANGA - kangaroo, or prison warder
KAINGA - Maori settlement

Round 9: C X F O E G L I A
C1: FOLIAGE (7)
C2: folic
Score: 66–25 (max 75)

Round 10: 100, 10, 9, 1, 5, 3. Target: 707.
C1: 707.(10 - 3) x (100 + 1) (10)
C2: 709.
Score: 76–25 (max 85)

Teatime teaser: GOTSOILS -> OLOGISTS

Round 11: R M R E O D R I L
C1: lorried
C2: MIRRORED (8)
Score: 76–33 (max 93)

Round 12: A E E N T B S M U
C1: BATSMEN (7)
C2: BASEMENT (8)
Score: 76–41 (max 101)

Round 13: D F S I O N N E D
C1: SINNED (6)
C2: DINES (5)
DC: NODDIES (7)
Score: 82–41 (max 108)
NODDY (pl NODDIES) - three meanings. (1) foolish person, (2) tropical tern, (3) film clip in which interviewer nods in agreement

Round 14: 50, 5, 5, 3, 6, 4. Target: 727.
C1: 726.5 x 3 x 50 - 6 x 4 (7)
C2: -
CV: 727. (5 x 50 - 6) x 3 - 5 (10)
Score: 89–41 (max 118)

Round 15: C I G N E T J O B
C1 buzzes on 4 seconds to say OBJECTING which is correct.
Score: 99–41 (max 128)

So Jonathan becomes the series' fourth octochamp, and is due to return for the quarter-finals, which start in a week's time.


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

[Julian Fell]

Howard, just a quick correction (was meaning to post this a while back but forgot...) - the second letter in round 13 was an F, not an E; so NODDIES was actually the only seven available in that round

[Howard Somerset]

Thanks Julian. Glad you mentioned it. You're absolutely correct. I've just checked the notes I made when watching the programme first time, and had it right then. When watching it second time to make the recap I had a very badly written F.

I'll fix the Wiki recap too.

[Howard Somerset]

I just remembered that I can edit my posts here - must've been still in Yahoo Group mode when I made my last post in this thread - and so I've now edited the recap to correct the mistake.

Thanks again Julian for pointing it out.