OK, maybe it's too early for Apprentice-themed openings, but with the exciting news about the announcement of Countdown's new host, I think it's worth it.
But for now, let's enjoy Jeff's final few shows before he heads back to the Sky.
Enjoy.
Countdown recap for Wednesday 16 November 2011.
C1: Champion Paul Keane (4 wins, 349 points.) An accountant from North Finchley, London. He's a fan of horse racing and golf, where he plays off a 20 handicap.
C2: Challenger Richard Noble. From Skegness, Lincolnshire. He loves swimming, ice skating and rollercoasters.
DC: Susie Dent and John Parrott.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: S N L O U O P S A
R02: I E T P V O I R T
R03: F T E U M S E R T
R04: M I A D X R E E N
R05: 75, 100, 5, 1, 6, 3. Target: 983.
TTT: BOILMENU - "It's when you might find Alfred in his element"
R06: D A N V T I U D E
R07: J R O A P Z O L A
R08: E W N L N A U R O
R09: M P N A E I B G S
R10: 50, 25, 100, 4, 5, 10. Target: 335.
TTT: EARBIKES - "Where you might find King Alfred in his element"
R11: T C D E U S T E N
R12: W A L G S I A D I
R13: R L Y O E Q K S O
R14: 50, 100, 75, 4, 3, 6. Target: 514.
R15: O H E S H O U L D (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: S N L O U O P S A
C1: LASSO (5)
C2: SNOOPS (6)
DC: UNSPOOLS (8)
Score: 0–6 (max 8)
An impressive darrenic 8 from DC to start the day, and it's first blood to the challenger with his 6.
Round 2: I E T P V O I R T
C1: OVERTIP (7)
C2: pivoter
DC: POTTIER (7)
Score: 7–6 (max 15)
No OVERTIPping by Paul here, as he takes over the lead with his 7, combined with Richard's illegal 7.
Round 3: F T E U M S E R T
C1: MUTTERS (7)
C2: MUTTERS (7)
DC: REFUTES (7)
OT: FETTERS (7) MUSETTE (7) TRUSTEE (7)
Score: 14–13 (max 22)
Flat round.
A FETTER is a chain or shackle placed on the feet.
A MUSETTE is a small leather or canvas bag with a shoulder strap, used for carrying personal belongings, food, etc.
Round 4: M I A D X R E E N
C1: REMAINED (8)
C2: DREAM (5)
DC: EXAMINED (8)
OT: EXAMINER (8)
Score: 22–13 (max 30)
Paul steams further ahead with his 8.
Round 5: 75, 100, 5, 1, 6, 3. Target: 983.
C1: 981. ((3 + 6) x 100) + 75 + 5 + 1 (7)
C2: 995.
RR: 983. (6 x 100) + ((75 + 1) x 5) + 3 (10)
Score: 29–13 (max 40)
A very tricky numbers here, which even stumped Rachel immediately, but our golden girl solves it just before the break.
John talks about his passion for horse racing and the time when his friend's doctor son came to the aid of a jockey who fell off his horse at Newbury, and it turned out to be AP McCoy, and he even asked him who won the previous year's Grand National, where McCoy was the answer.
Teatime teaser: BOILMENU -> NOBELIUM
Round 6: D A N V T I U D E
C1: DEVIANT (7)
C2: tanned
DC: VAUNTED (7) DAUNTED (7) INVADED (7) AUDITED (7)
OT: UNAIDED (7) UNDATED (7)
Score: 36–13 (max 47)
More flatness, but don't tell Richard that............
Round 7: J R O A P Z O L A
C1: PLAZA (5)
C2: LOOP (4)
DC: APOLAR (6)
OT: JAROOL (6)
Score: 41–13 (max 53)
Just a couple of lonely 6's here, but Paul's 5 still puts him further ahead still.
Round 8: E W N L N A U R O
C1: LUNAR (5)
C2: LOANER (6)
DC: UNREAL (6) NEURONAL (8)
Score: 41–19 (max 61)
A super impressive darren by DC, but Richard comes back into the frame with his 6.
Round 9: M P N A E I B G S
C1: BEAMING (7)
C2: mapings
OT: ENIGMAS (7) GAMINES (7) MAGPIES (7) SEAMING (7) SPAEING (7)
Score: 48–19 (max 68)
Loadsa loadsa 7's, but Richard's dodgy one is just that.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of surnames with occupations in their name.
Round 10: 50, 25, 100, 4, 5, 10. Target: 335.
C1: 335. (4 x 100) - 50 - (25 - 10) (10)
C2: 335. (4 x 100) - 50 - (10 + 5) (10)
Score: 58–29 (max 78)
Loadsa loadsa methods here too.
Teatime teaser: EARBIKES -> BAKERIES
Round 11: T C D E U S T E N
C1: DECENT (6)
C2: CUTEST (6)
DC: DESCENT (7) UNTESTED (8)
Score: 64–35 (max 86)
DC go darrenic 8 yet again as the contestant struggle to 6.
Round 12: W A L G S I A D I
C1: SALAD (5)
C2: WAILS (5)
OT: DALASI (6) DWAALS (6) WILGAS (6)
Score: 69–40 (max 92)
The odd trio from a very odd selection fool everyone here.
A DALASI is a paper money, cupronickel coin, and monetary unit of Gambia, equal to 100 bututs.
In South Africa, a DWAAL is a state of befuddlement.
A WILGA is a small drought-resistant tree, Geijera parviflora, of Australia, having hard aromatic wood, white flowers and foliage that resembles that of the willow.
Round 13: R L Y O E Q K S O
C1: LOOKERS (7)
C2: yolkers
Score: 76–40 (max 99)
That darren from Paul gives him the win, whereas Richard's offering leaves him with egg on his face........
Round 14: 50, 100, 75, 4, 3, 6. Target: 514.
C1: 511. Mistake in working.
C2: -
RR: 514. ((75 + 3) x 6) + 50 - 4 (10)
Score: 76–40 (max 109)
Oh dear, the accountant fluffs up his numbers again, well, he actually got 513, not 511 as he thought.
Round 15: O H E S H O U L D
C1 buzzes on 1.25 seconds to say HOUSEHOLD which is correct.
Final Score: 86–40 (max 119)
But his superfast conundrum solving ability has returned to him, not that he needed it, but that should give him a good boost for tomorrow.
In case you don't know why, a win tomorrow will put Paul in the top 8, ending Matt Croy's chances of making the finals unless someone pulls out like in the last 2 series.
Join me tomorrow to see if he can do it.
Till then, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Paul:
Total score - 86
Raw score - 96
Total % of max - 72
Raw % of max - 81
Total average score per round - 5.7
Raw average score per round - 6.4
Number of maxes - 8
Richard:
Total score - 40
Raw score - 49
Total % of max - 34
Raw % of max - 41
Total average score per round - 2.7
Raw average score per round - 3.3
Number of maxes - 2
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=65
