Friday 26 August 2011 (Series 65, Prelim 40)

[Mike Brown]

Countdown recap for Friday 26 August 2011 (Series 65, Prelim 40).

C1: Champion Dave Taylor (3 wins, 254 points.)
C2: Challenger Tony Wilkins.
DC: Susie Dent and William Roache.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

Hurrah, Countdown has been back for a week and it’s time for me to dust down my Friday recap pen and bring you the latest news on how many times ATOMISE and PALINODES appeared in this latest edition of the programme. Dave ‘I’m a normal guy instead of one those aptogeeks, but I’ve still managed to get 112 points in one game and win a couple more’ Taylor takes on his latest challenge from Tony Wilkins, who hails from the rather pleasant Staffordshire town of Lichfield. In time-honoured fashion, let’s find out what occurred...

R01: N E P R U J O N A
R02: I U E O M R B H S
R03: D I S S E R L O I
R04: E A O R N M L T Q
R05: 75, 10, 5, 8, 10, 3. Target: 719.
TTT: SNUBGRIT - "Full of pride, but in need of a comfort break."
R06: A I O E K V C D S
R07: P O G X I T E R U
R08: E E O E W T G R G
R09: P A T P O F T U A
R10: 2, 1, 10, 5, 3, 4. Target: 805.
TTT: QUITSALE - "Drinks for the champs, perhaps."
R11: V O S L E N A L I
R12: D G S E U A O B N
R13: S E R L A Y E C A
R14: 25, 3, 5, 1, 9, 9. Target: 686.
R15: P I C K A G A N G (conundrum)

Visionace sponsored this week’s programmes. Like you care.

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Jeff opened the show by commenting on how old some of the actors who started out as child stars now are. For example, ‘Home Alone’ star Macaulay Culkin is now 31 and Drew Barrymore (who was in ‘E.T.’) is now 36. I feel old!

Round 1: N E P R U J O N A

C1: PUNNER (6)
C2: PRUNE (5)
DC: NEURON (6)
OT: UNROPE (6)
Score: 6–0 (max 6)

Dave makes a comment about Tim Vine being a PUNNER and the legendary PRUNE puts in an appearance. Actually, a PUNNER is something which pounds earth or rubble.

Round 2: I U E O M R B H S

C1: BRUISE (6)
C2: BUSHIER (7)
DC: MOREISH (7) HEROISM (7)
OT: BOHRIUM (7) HOMBRES (7) IMBRUES (7) MOUSIER (7) MUSHIER (7) RHOMBUS (7)
Score: 6–7 (max 13)

Tony takes the lead. Interestingly, BOHRIUM was originally going to be called ‘neilsbohrium’ by its discoverers, but a committee got upset because it included a first name, which isn’t usually the case when naming elements and it would apparently have set a nasty precedent.

Round 3: D I S S E R L O I

C1: IDOLISERS (18)
C2: SOLDIERS (8)
Score: 24–7 (max 31)

A great spot from Dave gives him a goodly lead at this early stage.

Round 4: E A O R N M L T Q

C1: NORMAL (6)
C2: tanner
DC: ALMONER (7) OMENTAL (7)
OT: TELAMON (7)
Score: 30–7 (max 38)

Tony blobs by thinking there are two N’s in the selection. For those who haven’t been paying attention in the past, a TELAMON is a male figure used as a pillar.

Round 5: 75, 10, 5, 8, 10, 3. Target: 719.

C1: 718. ((75-5)x10)+10+8 (7)
C2: 720. (75-3)x10 (7)
RR: 719. ((75-(10/5))x10)-8-3 (10)
Score: 37–14 (max 48)

The contestants are one out in opposite directions; Rachel shows them how it’s done. Viva Southend!

William Roache talks about night shoots on Coronation Street, particularly one in Blackpool, where he got hooked on a racing game in the arcades while waiting to perform his scenes.

Teatime teaser: SNUBGRIT -> BURSTING

Round 6: A I O E K V C D S

C1: VOICED (6)
C2: SOCKED (6)
DC: ADVICES (7)
Score: 43–20 (max 55)

Susie explains that ADVICE can be pluralised in certain circumstances - worth remembering.

Round 7: P O G X I T E R U

C1: GOITRE (6)
C2: GOUTIER (7)
DC: GOUTIER (7) GROUPIE (7)
OT: PIROGUE (7) POUTIER (7)
Score: 43–27 (max 62)

Tony goes for a dodgy comparative, but it - and POUTIER for that matter - are both fine.

Round 8: E E O E W T G R G

C1: GREET (5)
C2: GREET (5)
DC: GREET (5)
OT: GORGET (6)
Score: 48–32 (max 68)

Rachel suggests EEOEW should be a word, while a GORGET is a covering for the throat.

Round 9: P A T P O F T U A

C1: POUT (4)
C2: PAPA (4)
DC: PUPA
OT: ATTAP (5) OUTTA (5) PATTA (5) PUTTO (5) TAPPA (5)
Score: 52–36 (max 73)

Slim pickings again. ATTAP (also ATAP) is thatch made from palm fronds; a PATTA is an Indian title deed; a PUTTO (plural PUTTI) is a representation of a naked child in Renaissance art; and a TAPPA is a (mercifully?) short Indian folk song.

OoW: Susie tests Jeff and Rachel’s spelling of CONNOISSEUR and MILLENNIUM respectively. Jeff makes a valiant attempt, while Rachel suggest it’s spelt ‘1000’!

Round 10: 2, 1, 10, 5, 3, 4. Target: 805.

C1: 802. ((3+1)x5x4x10)+2 (7)
C2: 802. ((3+1)x5x4x10)+2 (7)
Score: 59–43 (max 80)

Rachel thinks this one is impossible and she’s correct. It’s also impossible to get any nearer.

Teatime teaser: QUITSALE -> TEQUILAS

I’m probably being dense, but I didn’t fully understand the clue to this one. Feel free to make me feel small.

Round 11: V O S L E N A L I

C1: vallies
C2: vallies
DC: VIOLAS (6) VALISE (6) LESION (6) NOVELLAS (8) (RR)
Score: 59–43 (max 88)

Ouch! Poor spelling alert, especially as Tony also had ‘vallise’ (or did he think VALISE was seven – who knows?). Either way, things are a bit grim, but Rachel stuns Dictionary Corner by getting the darren. Go Rach!

Round 12: D G S E U A O B N

C1: BANGED (6)
C2: BANGED (6)
DC: DOGBANES (8) BONDAGE (7)
Score: 65–49 (max 96)

I liked Jeff’s comment here after DC had made their offerings: “Bondage is O.K., but Bondages not O.K. Think that was the message, Susie, wasn’t it?”

Round 13: S E R L A Y E C A

C1: LAYERS (6)
C2: CLEARS (6)
DC: RESCALE (7)
OT: ALERCES (7) CEREALS (7)
Score: 71–55 (max 103)

An ALERCE is a kind of cypress tree, valued for its timber. Interestingly, all three sevens are anagrams of each other.

Round 14: 25, 3, 5, 1, 9, 9. Target: 686.

C1: 686. (((9x3)+1)x25)-9-5 (10)
C2: -
Score: 81–55 (max 113)

A spot-on numbers solve puts the result beyond doubt and gives Dave his fourth victory.

Round 15: P I C K A G A N G

C2 buzzes on 2.75 seconds to say PACKAGING which is correct.
Final Score: 81–65 (max 123)

PACKAGING is the conundrum solution for the first time since Series 43 (when the scramble was GANGPICKA!) and Tony solves it four seconds quicker than John Harrison managed in the year 2000. Dave does his usual ‘double handshake’ with his opponent and will return for his fifth appearance on Bank Holiday Monday, when John Inverdale returns to Dictionary Corner. Don’t miss it. See you next weekend!

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=65