C1: Champion Ben Nicholson (3 wins, 205 points.)
C2: Challenger Stephen Cameron.
DC: Susie Dent and Alastair Stewart.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
With nine prelims before the finals, 6 contestants have already made it through. Ben Nicholson, from Bolton in Lancashire, is the current champion with 3 wins. Up against him today is a cheerleader called Stephen Cameron. Nick, Rachel et al talk about a pizza delivery service in Dubai where you push a button on a fridge magnet and two minutes later, to quote Nick, “a pizza delivery van screeches up outside your door”.
R01: S T I A I Y C L R
R02: S M E T X V O I A
R03: S D N P E O E S W
R04: A T N E S M I A P
R05: 75, 25, 1, 2, 6, 9. Target: 748.
TTT: OLDHEADS - "Lose what you are carrying, it's a large amount"
R06: E O N Q U H R K D
R07: R E H O A C R E T
R08: D A G W R U O D I
R09: S N M T A E A O L
R10: 25, 5, 2, 7, 2, 6. Target: 332.
TTT: TOLDTALE - "Told a tale about how many cars he'd written off"
R11: S S D U A E R T O
R12: N P C I N E O G R
R13: I E O N F G S U B
R14: 100, 2, 9, 7, 2, 3. Target: 722.
R15: P O E T O R P U N (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: S T I A I Y C L R
C1: TRIALS (6)
C2: RACIST (6)
DC: TRAILS (6) ITALICS (7) CLARITY (7) CRYSTAL (7) LYRICIST (8) (RR)
Score: 6–6 (max 8)
Rachel beats the corner with the eight she claims she isn’t.
Round 2: S M E T X V O I A
C1: MOVIES (6)
C2: MOIST (5)
DC: AXIOMS (6) MOTIVES (7) ATOMISE (7)
OT: AMOSITE (7) ATOMIES (7)
Score: 12–6 (max 15)
And it’s Ben who gets the lead first with that 6 although there are a few sevens lurking.
Round 3: S D N P E O E S W
C1: SPENDS (6)
C2: SPEEDS (6)
DC: SPONDEES (8)
Score: 18–12 (max 23)
SPONDEES are words with a certain syllable pattern.
Round 4: A T N E S M I A P
C1: PASTE (5)
C2: mapist
DC: ANIMATES (8)
Score: 23–12 (max 31)
The third darren in 4 rounds, all spotted by DC. They’re on form today!
Round 5: 75, 25, 1, 2, 6, 9. Target: 748.
C1: 748. 75*(9+1)-2 (10)
C2: 748. 75*(9+1)-2 (10)
Score: 33–22 (max 41)
Alastair Stewart talks about the Rolling Stones and his time on Mastermind.
Teatime teaser: OLDHEADS -> SHEDLOAD
Round 6: E O N Q U H R K D
C1: HONED (5)
C2: DRUNK (5)
DC: HUNKER (6) DEHORN (6)
OT: DUNKER (6) ENDURO (6) HONKED (6) HONKER (6) HORNED (6)
Score: 38–27 (max 47)
Lots of 6s but the contestants only find fives.
Round 7: R E H O A C R E T
C1: TEACHER (7)
C2: TEACHER (7)
DC: TEACHER (7) REACTOR (7) HECTARE (7) HECTOR (6)
OT: TORCHERE (8)
Score: 45–34 (max 55)
7 points each given.
Round 8: D A G W R U O D I
C1: GUARD (5)
C2: DRAG (4)
DC: GIAOUR (6)
OT: GODWARD (7)
DC get the old countdown favourite but there is a sneaky seven in there.
Score: 50–34 (max 62)
Round 9: S N M T A E A O L
C1: LAMENTS (7)
C2: MANTLES (7)
DC: LAMENTS (7) ETALONS (7)
OT: MALONATES (18)
Score: 57–41 (max 80)
A few people, including the legend that is Andy Platt, got this obscure nine. Well done if you are one of them! Here’s a definition.
Susie talks about the origins of mess.
Round 10: 25, 5, 2, 7, 2, 6. Target: 332.
C1: 333.
C2: 332. (7+6)*25+2+5 (10)
Score: 57–51 (max 90)
Stephen makes up some ground with that easy numbers solve.
Teatime teaser: TOLDTALE -> TOTALLED
Round 11: S S D U A E R T O
C1: STARED (6)
C2: DURESS (6)
DC: DUSTERS (7) STUORED (7) TORSADES (8)
OT: ASSORTED (8)
Score: 63–57 (max 98)
More points.
Round 12: N P C I N E O G R
C1: PORCINE (7)
C2: PINCER (6)
DC: ENCORING (8)
Score: 70–57 (max 106)
Ben’s lead is now thirteen, but Stephen could still win...
Round 13: I E O N F G S U B
C1: bungies
C2: busing
DC: FUSION (6) IGNEOUS (7)
OT: BOUGIES (7) FUNGOES (7)
Score: 70–57 (max 113)
SHOCK! BUSING is actually a word, but Susie disallowed it without checking!Round 14: 100, 2, 9, 7, 2, 3. Target: 722.
C1: 722. 100*7+9*3-3-2 (10)
C2: 722. 100*7+9*3-3-2 (10)
Score: 80–67 (max 123)
BEN HAS WON!
And by the way, neither of the contestants got a letters max in this game. The maxes are 2-3, but all from numbers.
Round 15: P O E T O R P U N
No one buzzes. The answer was OPPORTUNE.
Final Score: 80–67 (max 133)
And there we go. Ben takes his fourth win – and winning tomorrow will get him a place in the finals, but unless he loses with 201 points or more, if tomorrow’s contestant wins, then Rob Gibney is definitely in the finals. However, as tomorrow’s contestant is none other than Jonathan Rawlinson, I don’t fancy Ben’s chances.
Score: 80-67
Raw: 80-82
RAUNSWC: 87-82
Maxes: 2-3
Further summaries are at:
Series 66 summary
Link to the spoiler thread
Wikicap
Mystery link
