Spoilers For Friday December 9th 2011

[James Robinson]

Following that brilliant start to the finals yesterday, let's see if we can carry on today with that Friday Feeling, as we are now just a week away from the grand final.

Today's it's #2 v #7, as the #2 seed Graeme "The Reading Ramrod" Cole takes on the #7 seed Nikki "The Widford Whirlwind" Roberts.

Here are the stats:

Firstly, No.2 Seed Graeme Cole - 8 Wins, 813 Points
Highest Score: 125 vs. Mike Linnell (6th Game)
Lowest Score: 91 vs. Justin Maelzer (7th Game)
9's Achieved: 3/4
Total Points/Max/%: 813/980 (83%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 568/666 (85%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 215/234 (92%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 30/80 (38%)

Secondly, No.7 Seed Nikki Roberts - 7 Wins, 655 Points
Highest Score: 104 vs. Harry Santiuste (6th Game)
Lowest Score: 57 vs. Anne Haley (8th Game)
9's Achieved: 1/5
Total Points/Max/%: 655/1005 (65%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 482/685 (70%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 173/240 (72%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 0/80 (0%)

Join Mike "The King Of King's Lynn" Brown later for the recap.

[Graeme Cole]

the #2 seed Graeme "The Reading Ramrod" Cole

Hey, how did you find out my porn star name?

[Jon Corby]

the #2 seed Graeme "The Reading Ramrod" Cole

Hey, how did you find out my porn star name?

THE READING RAMROD = RIDE A GRANDMOTHER

Nice you've found a niche as well, Graeme. Even if it is a bit dry.

[Ian Volante]

the #2 seed Graeme "The Reading Ramrod" Cole

Hey, how did you find out my porn star name?

THE READING RAMROD = RIDE A GRANDMOTHER

Nice you've found a niche as well, Graeme. Even if it is a bit dry.

ARID GARDEN MOTHER

[Jojo Apollo]

Well done, Graeme, excellent standard as ever. The two big guns safely through

[Tony Atkins]

Yay! I have to cheer Graeme as I am the second best contestant from Reading this year, behind him. Mind you I beat him on two rounds today, but missed the 9 and only lost on a crucial conundrum. Alt second numbers are (8x3x9)- (5-1) and ((9x6)-1) x ((8x3)/6). VAUNTER to equal in the UNCRATE round.

[Jack Worsley]

A pretty impressive perofrmance by Graeme indeed. I knew that there was a nine in the DRAGLINES round but still couldn't find it. Interesting that both Mark's and Graeme's nines have both contained the eight letter word READINGS. I wonder if Mark's going to post an image of your reaction to finding the nine.

Very good game, thought Nikki played quite well too as there's no disgrace in losing against Graeme.

Thought Graeme went round the houses a bit on the second numbers game though, I did (8x6+5)x(3+1)=212.

[Eoin Monaghan]

If everything runs accordingly, this could be one of the most enjoyable finals ever. Mark's great to watch and is real funny and Graeme just seems as if he loves every single minute of it, always smiling. Well done!

Also, unlucky to NIkki, a very capable player.

[Rhys Benjamin]

Uh oh, the M&S X Factor ad is on....

2nd nums alt: (8 x 9 + 1) x ((6 + 3) - 5)

In the time.

[Mark Deeks]

A pretty impressive perofrmance by Graeme indeed. I knew that there was a nine in the DRAGLINES round but still couldn't find it. Interesting that both Mark's and Graeme's nines have both contained the eight letter word READINGS. I wonder if Mark's going to post an image of your reaction to finding the nine.

Very good game, thought Nikki played quite well too as there's no disgrace in losing against Graeme.

Thought Graeme went round the houses a bit on the second numbers game though, I did (8x6+5)x(3+1)=212.

You couldn't see it on the TV because it was just out of shot, but in the studio, you could see Graeme during the 25 to 30 second stretch crossing out each letter of DRAGLINES individually. Pretty funny.

[Jack Worsley]

Uh oh, the M&S X Factor ad is on....

2nd nums alt: (8 x 9 + 1) x ((6 + 3) - 5)

In the time.

Is that supposed to be 73x4? If so, it's 292, not 212.

[James Robinson]

Another top quality quarter today.

Looks like I'm the first one to notice the upside down M substituting the W in the conundrum anagram.

PAISAN as an alternative in round 12.

Glad that the top 2 are through. My last recaps of the year will be super tasty with Mark & Graeme there.

[Andy Platt]

we love you graeme

[Chris Hare]

Looks like I'm the first one to notice the upside down M substituting the W in the conundrum anagram.

Well, you're the first to comment on it. I noticed it so much that I actually read it as M, tried to solve EIGHTMINS instead, and so thought Graeme was bonkers.

[Graeme Cole]

Thanks for all the comments, everyone.

I noticed the upside-down M at the time. Closely followed by the thought "stop nitpicking the letters and work out what the anagram is". At the time Nikki said she was about half a second behind me on the buzzer, but looking at it now it was even less than that.

Advance warning: I'm pretty sure all the nervous voice failure only gets worse from here.

[Martin Gardner]

Not strictly on topic, but Graeme you're a dead ringer for French-born Scrabble player Toni Saraiva, search on images.google.com if you like. Anyway, I'm just watching Friday's show now so I will comment once I've seen it to the end.

[Martin Gardner]

I seem to think for the second numbers I did (3*8-1)*9+5 as I like my nine-time table. Anyway, very good performance, a few wobbles but they didn't cost you. Seems you're a legitimate contender to win the series (this is only the second game I've seen all series, the first being yesterday!).

[Andy Platt]

Never noticed the upside down M, and never noticed that Nikki had it too, marginally behind!

[Adam Gillard]

I knew that there was a nine in the DRAGLINES round but still couldn't find it. Interesting that both Mark's and Graeme's nines have both contained the eight letter word READINGS. I wonder if Mark's going to post an image of your reaction to finding the nine.

You couldn't see it on the TV because it was just out of shot, but in the studio, you could see Graeme during the 25 to 30 second stretch crossing out each letter of DRAGLINES individually. Pretty funny.

About 18:33 on 4oD you can see Graeme mouthing D-R-A-G-L-I-N-E-S during that round. Very well done Graeme, great to see you smiling throughout and being Mr Countdown as ever. Well played too Nikki, you appeared to be very calm and gave Graeme a run for his money - he only really pulled clear with that 9.

[Thomas Carey]

I knew that there was a nine in the DRAGLINES round but still couldn't find it. Interesting that both Mark's and Graeme's nines have both contained the eight letter word READINGS. I wonder if Mark's going to post an image of your reaction to finding the nine.

You couldn't see it on the TV because it was just out of shot, but in the studio, you could see Graeme during the 25 to 30 second stretch crossing out each letter of DRAGLINES individually. Pretty funny.

About 18:33 on 4oD you can see Graeme mouthing D-R-A-G-L-I-N-E-S during that round. Very well done Graeme, great to see you smiling throughout and being Mr Countdown as ever. Well played too Nikki, you appeared to be very calm and gave Graeme a run for his money - he only really pulled clear with that 9.

4oD ain't working for me. Not sure what wrong - gonna watch the repeat on Monday morning.

[Graeme Cole]

I knew that there was a nine in the DRAGLINES round but still couldn't find it. Interesting that both Mark's and Graeme's nines have both contained the eight letter word READINGS. I wonder if Mark's going to post an image of your reaction to finding the nine.

You couldn't see it on the TV because it was just out of shot, but in the studio, you could see Graeme during the 25 to 30 second stretch crossing out each letter of DRAGLINES individually. Pretty funny.

About 18:33 on 4oD you can see Graeme mouthing D-R-A-G-L-I-N-E-S during that round. Very well done Graeme, great to see you smiling throughout and being Mr Countdown as ever. Well played too Nikki, you appeared to be very calm and gave Graeme a run for his money - he only really pulled clear with that 9.

One of the rules I stuck by was "if you see a nine early on, don't sit back and look all smug, check it repeatedly to make sure all the letters are there". The down side is you end up looking like this:



But on the upside, you don't smugly declare a nine only to realise you've used a letter twice.

[Andy Platt]

lol not as funny as the deeksy one but still good