Spoilers For Monday July 4th 2011

[James Robinson]

So, we have arrived at Independence Day, well if you're an American that is, but we do have a few on here, so it's nice to mention them.

In more important matters, I believe that there are just 3 weeks to go before the summer break for this series, so make the most of Countdown while you can.

Still in the champions' chair is Gareth Lee, after 2 wins at the end of last week.

Making his debut in DC this week, is the gold medal winning ice skater, now a judge on Dancing On Ice, and currently on stage in the musical version of Grease, Robin Cousins.

Join Ryan later for his Taylor-made recap.

[Jordan F]

Quick note: Today's challenger is the apterite Declan Hayes.

[Adam Gillard]

DISTILL* was allowed. Susie taking 4th of July celebrations too far methinks.

[Jordan F]

Can't say I got 859, but I'm shocked neither of the contestants got the fairly obvious 860.

[Liam Tiernan]

GEOMANTIC, rd 4

[Jordan F]

General note/question for historians

We're 4.2 weeks into the series, we only have 5 people on the leaderboard, and all of them have at least 3 wins. Has there ever been a series with a start like this of only a few very successful players?

[James Robinson]

General note/question for historians

We're 4.2 weeks into the series, we only have 5 people on the leaderboard, and all of them have at least 3 wins. Has there ever been a series with a start like this of only a few very successful players?

Yeah, Series 48 was an even more impressive start.

The series started with a carry-over champion with 7 wins, who won her 8th game, followed immediately by another octo, then another 7 timer, and the person he lost to became an octo.

So, after 24 episodes of Series 48, the leaderboard had just 4 people, 3 who had won 8 games, and the other won 7.

[James Robinson]

Interesting nerdy fact.

The first letters game today had EXACTLY the same letters as the last letters game on Friday

HEGIRA in round 1, MULETAS in round 2, MAYORS in round 6, MENSTRUA in round 9, JOCOSE was a nice contestant beater in round 11 too.

1st Numbers Alt.: ((50 x 8) + 5) x (9 - 4 - 3) = 810
3rd Numbers Alt.: ((8 + 6) x 2 x 25) - (7 - 5) = 698

[Graeme Cole]

Very surprised about DISTILL^ being a US-only spelling.

Also, has anyone else noticed that we're into the fifth week of the series and there hasn't been a female contestant yet?

[James Robinson]

Also, has anyone else noticed that we're into the fifth week of the series and there hasn't been a female contestant yet?

Good lord, that is actually shocking

And only Shobna Gulati has been a DC guest.....

[Jon Corby]

The first letters game today had EXACTLY the same letters as the last letters game on Friday

One of the other letters games (very likely the 2nd round) looked quite familiar as well.

I thought I was reading the wrong recap!

[James Robinson]

The first letters game today had EXACTLY the same letters as the last letters game on Friday

One of the other letters games (very likely the 2nd round) looked quite familiar as well.

I thought I was reading the wrong recap!

Yeah, very odd.

Gareth's last 2 words on Friday were LAMEST and GRAVEL, and his first 2 words "today" were GRAVEL and LAMEST

[Liam Tiernan]

With the exception of 2 rounds in the wrong order (probably a retake was needed after Fridays game), the consonant selections on Monday were an exact reverse of Fridays. It looks as if somebody just took the pile and turned it upside down.

Edit:Thinking about it, when letters are taken off the board, they're put in another pile, aren't they?. So it looks like that pile was just switched back to the (for want of a better word) selection box.

[James Robinson]

Edit:Thinking about it, when letters are taken off the board, they're put in another pile, aren't they?. So it looks like that pile was just switched back to the (for want of a better word) selection box.

The letters for each round are put in separate piles behind the scenes, then after being separated into vowels/consonants, they're presumably mixed.

Clearly not mixed well from the night before then.........