C1: Challenger Martin Steel.
C2: Challenger Russell Tompkins.
DC: Susie Dent and John Inverdale.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
Well, Dave Taylor has now retired as an undefeated contestant until the finals and it was nice to see a non-apterite gracing the studios for a change. As we reach the end of the week, it’s one of those now-familiar days where two new combatants battle it out. On the left, we have Martin Steel, who is a gynaecologist, obstetrician and hotelier (although his wife does most of that) from Blackpool, while on the right we have the interestingly-haired Russell Tompkins, a bookmaker and football-playing gentleman from Leighton Buzzard. Let’s see who will be returning on Monday for another go.
R01: E U T F I A L D W
R02: R N E V I E T N D
R03: O A I C L T S P O
R04: N S R I A S P E M
R05: 50, 25, 10, 10, 5, 8. Target: 603.
TTT: DIDCOVER - "First it's 'I do', then it's 'we don't', so we did."
R06: C T O E G R S O N
R07: A E A S T S M G E
R08: N V M U I U T D A
R09: E E A S R K G T O
R10: 50, 25, 4, 1, 10, 4. Target: 820.
TTT: SPIKEHUB - "You're not legless, but you get around holding onto the bar."
R11: E A E C J N M H D
R12: X N A L R I O E L
R13: O U O S D L B O E
R14: 50, 9, 6, 2, 7, 3. Target: 847.
R15: V E C T O R D E N (conundrum)
Countdown is sponsored by Menopace.
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In the opening moments of the show, Jeff reflects on the fact that it’s now September and he and Rachel discuss the joys of the long summer holiday enjoyed by children and students.
Round 1: E U T F I A L D W
C1: FAULTED (7)
C2: FAILED (6)
DC: FLUTED (6) WAITED (6) DILATE (6)
OT: DEFAULT (7)
Score: 7–0 (max 7)
Martin’s offering is fault-free, but Russell fails to get on the scoreboard. But there’s always Round 2.
Round 2: R N E V I E T N D
C1: INVENTED (8)
C2: INVERTED (8)
DC: REINVENT (8)
OT: INDENTER (8) INTENDER (8) INTERNED (8)
Score: 15–8 (max 15)
Round 3: O A I C L T S P O
C1: CAPITOL (7)
C2: OPTICAL (7)
DC: OPTICALS (8) CAPITOLS (8) APOSTOLIC (18)
Score: 22–15 (max 33)
Martin doesn’t think to add the ‘S’ to CAPITOL. As Susie points out, Russell could have added an ‘S’ to his word as well, although he can be forgiven for not being aware of the ODE3 addition. DC don’t miss a trick here, also spotting the rather biblical niner.
Round 4: N S R I A S P E M
C1: SPRAINS (7)
C2: SPRAINS (7)
DC: SNIPERS (7) SEMINARS (8) (RR)
OT: PRESSMAN (8) PRIMNESS (8)
Score: 29–22 (max 41)
Rachel beats the panel with an eight. If she keeps this up, she’ll be doing DC as well as the numbers game!
Round 5: 50, 25, 10, 10, 5, 8. Target: 603.
C1: 603. ((50+10)x10)+8-5 (10)
C2: 603. ((50+10)x10)+8-5 (10)
Score: 39–32 (max 51)
With lots of large numbers, this is easy if you go the right way, and both contestants manage it.
John Inverdale concludes his week of thinking of a good challenge he could take on and discusses the guy who is trying to take a drink in every Starbucks in the world before moving on to suggest that he might try to cycle to every pub in the country with Jeff driving on ahead to get the drinks in. Although I sometimes find his anecdotes a bit ordinary I think his personality more than makes up for this and he always seems to be genuinely enjoying himself and taking part. I’m sure he’ll be back soon, unless of course Jeff gets replaced and all sports-related people get booted from Dictionary Corner. Let’s hope not (on both counts).
Teatime teaser: DIDCOVER -> DIVORCED
Round 6: C T O E G R S O N
C1: TONES (5)
C2: CORNETS (7)
DC: CORONETS (8)
Score: 39–39 (max 59)
Susie helpfully points out that Russell could have extended his word still further by inserting the other ‘O’.
Round 7: A E A S T S M G E
C1: GAMETES (7)
C2: GAMETES (7)
DC: MASSAGE (7) MESSAGE (7)
Score: 46–46 (max 66)
Round 8: N V M U I U T D A
C1: DAUNT (5)
C2: DAUNT (5)
DC: AUTUMN (6)
OT: MANTID (6)
Score: 51–51 (max 72)
MANTID is another word for MANTIS. Let’s start praying for some long words in the next round...
Round 9: E E A S R K G T O
C1: GOATEES (7)
C2: RETAKES (7)
DC: STORAGE (7) ORGEATS (7)
OT: RESTAGE (7) ROSEATE (7) TOERAGS (7)
Score: 58–58 (max 79)
... and our prayers are answered with several sevens, although Martin and Russell’s scores remain locked together.
Round 10: 50, 25, 4, 1, 10, 4. Target: 820.
C1: 820. (50+25+4+4-1)X10 (10)
C2: 824.
Score: 68–58 (max 89)
OoW: Susie says she’s going to talk about foodstuffs and discusses the origins of sweetbreads, marshmallows and Welsh rarebit (yum).
Teatime teaser: SPIKEHUB -> PUSHBIKE
Round 11: E A E C J N M H D
C1: HENCE (5)
C2: MACED (5)
DC: HEADMEN (7)
OT: MENACED (7)
Score: 73–63 (max 96)
A bit surprising that no one spotted MENACED, but then I can’t talk, because neither did I.
Round 12: X N A L R I O E L
C1: NAILER (6)
C2: aleron
DC: AILERON (7)
OT: LLANERO (7) RELAXIN (7)
Score: 79–63 (max 103)
Russell misspells AILERON and the gap in the scores is now the widest it’s been so far.
Round 13: O U O S D L B O E
C1: BLOODS (6)
C2: BLOUSED (7)
DC: DOUBLES (7)
Score: 79–70 (max 110)
Round 14: 50, 9, 6, 2, 7, 3. Target: 847.
C1: 847. ((9+6+2)x50)-3 (10)
C2: 847. (((9x2)-7+6)x50)-3 (10)
Score: 89–80 (max 120)
The second crucial conundrum in as many days – but who will unscramble it and become the new champion?
Round 15: V E C T O R D E N
C2 buzzes on 21 seconds to say CONVERTED which is correct.
Final Score: 89–90 (max 130)
After an agonisingly long 21 seconds, it’s Russell who takes the spoils and will get to sit alongside Gloria Hunniford on Monday, while Martin is sent packing back to Blackpool (which is a shame, as he looked like a decent contestant). Join Ryan on Monday for a much more exciting and edgy recap than I can muster, while I’ll see you next weekend for the 50th recap of the series.
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=65
