Enjoy.
Countdown recap for Wednesday 1 May 2013.
C1: Champion Eileen Taylor (4 wins, 374 points.) From Sydenham, South East London. Back on for her 2nd stint after losing by 1 point in Series 22, which was 22 years ago amazingly
C2: Challenger Katie Burge. A teaching assistant from Billingham, County Durham. She is a member of a pub quiz team called "Mr. Hippo", named after a teddy of hers.
DC: Susie Dent and Bill Turnbull.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: O U I S H T S J E
R02: I O N V E Y M U S
R03: 75, 6, 7, 5, 1, 3. Target: 881.
TTT: CHAPLAND - "A slow one of these is as good as a quick one"
R04: T O E T I N P E R
R05: O A I L D N B W E
R06: 25, 3, 7, 6, 7, 1. Target: 947.
R07: A I A D N F S G N
R08: E A L D S E M R A
R09: 100, 5, 6, 6, 7, 1. Target: 575.
TTT: EELDRINK - "Set fire to the electronic book again"
R10: T E O C Q R A E G
R11: I U O S R L T R E
R12: A I T D X A E A T
R13: I U E M S G N R H
R14: 25, 6, 8, 5, 2, 3. Target: 548.
R15: E D N A S D O G I (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: O U I S H T S J E
C1: JOUSTS (6)
C2: SHOUTS (6)
DC: OUTJIES (7)
OT: STUSHIE (7) TUSHIES (7)
Score: 6–6 (max 7)
Katie seems to be having a few nervous twitches, but she has got off the blocks immediately, as has Eileen, who has 6 like Katie.
A STUSHIE is a commotion, rumpus, or row.
Round 2: I O N V E Y M U S
C1: MOVIES (6)
C2: MOVIES (6)
DC: MONIES (6)
OT: ENVIOUS (7) NIVEOUS (7) VEINOUS (7)
Score: 12–12 (max 14)
Quite surprised that DC didn't get ENVIOUS actually, they even had a bit of extra time, as Eileen and Katie even went to the MOVIES during this round
NIVEOUS is an adjective meaning resembling snow, especially in whiteness.
Round 3: 75, 6, 7, 5, 1, 3. Target: 881.
C1: 881. ((7 + 5) x 75) - ((6 x 3) + 1) (10)
C2: -
Score: 22–12 (max 24)
Well, Eileen's maths brain is in full flow, while Katie's hasn't warmed up yet.
Teatime teaser: CHAPLAND -> HANDCLAP
Round 4: T O E T I N P E R
C1: PROTEIN (7)
C2: REPOINT (7)
DC: POINTER (7) POTTIER (7)
OT: ENTREPOT (8)
Score: 29–19 (max 32)
Quite a few 7's there, but there was a darrenic 8 bubbling under.
An ENTREPOT is a commercial centre where goods are received for distribution, transshipment, or repackaging.
Round 5: O A I L D N B W E
C1: BLONDE (6)
C2: BOILED (6)
DC: BAILED (6)
OT: BOWLINE (7)
Score: 35–25 (max 39)
Lots of 6's, but there was a darrenic 7 hidden away. I personally thought WINDABLE was in, but clearly not!
A BOWLINE is a knot used to make a non-slipping loop on the end of a rope.
Round 6: 25, 3, 7, 6, 7, 1. Target: 947.
C1: 950. ((6 x 7) - (3 + 1)) x 25 (7)
C2: -
OT: 947. ((25 - 6) x ((7 x 7) + 1)) - 3 (10)
Score: 42–25 (max 49)
Oh dear, Katie still seems to be in neutral on the numbers, and Eileen takes full advantage, although she could've got 1 closer if she altered the method of getting her 4, but Rachel's completely stumped too.
Bill talks about a competition he was reporting in the Lake District and was told a story about how Lord Windermere decided where he would be buried by firing an arrow, and it landed on top of his wardrobe
Round 7: A I A D N F S G N
C1: NAIADS (6)
C2: FADING (6)
DC: singafan
OT: INANGAS (7) SANDING (7)
Score: 48–31 (max 56)
A very impressive spot by Eileen, and even though Katie is still with her, those 2 numbers games have cost her dear so far..... Slightly surprised again at DC missing SANDING........
Round 8: E A L D S E M R A
C1: EMERALDS (8)
C2: DREAMS (6)
DC: LEADERS (7) DEALERS (7)
OT: DEMERSAL (8)
Score: 56–31 (max 64)
And it's now the turn of the letters too, as Eileen dazzles with the green EMERALDS that give her a lead of 25, as we head into the next numbers game.
DEMERSAL is an adjective meaning living or found near or in the deepest part of a body of water.
Round 9: 100, 5, 6, 6, 7, 1. Target: 575.
C1: 575. (6 x 100) - ((6 - 1) x 5) (10)
C2: 570.
Score: 66–31 (max 74)
Well, Katie does give a declaration this time, but unfortunately Eileen is spot on again, and her lead extends further and further.
Teatime teaser: EELDRINK -> REKINDLE
Round 10: T E O C Q R A E G
C1: CORTEGE (7)
C2: CREATE (6)
DC: GOATEE (6)
OT: ECOTAGE (7)
Score: 73–31 (max 81)
Another awesome spot by Eileen and the game is surely hers now.
ECOTAGE is sabotage aimed at polluters or destroyers of the natural environment.
Round 11: I U O S R L T R E
C1: OUTLIERS (8)
C2: stiles
DC: SUITOR (6) TROUSER (7) SULTRIER (8)
OT: ROUTIERS (8) ULTERIOR (8)
Score: 81–31 (max 89)
While Eileen seems to keep on improving with time, Katie seems to want anywhere but the studio, as she now gives a word with a phantom letter in it. I think the game is definitely over now, I think Eileen's new objective is to try and top her 102 on her (2nd) début.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "foot" and all its different meanings.
Round 12: A I T D X A E A T
C1: TAXIED (6)
C2: DATE (4)
DC: ATAXIA (6)
Score: 87–31 (max 95)
The formalities are now done, as Eileen now has 5 wins, which will guarantee her place in the finals at the end of next month.
Round 13: I U E M S G N R H
C1: RUSHING (7)
C2: GRIME (5)
DC: HUNGERS (7) MINGERS (7) INHUMES (7)
RR: RESUMING (8)
OT: USHERING (8)
Score: 94–31 (max 103)
Eileen continues to rush on in, and she is within striking range of her 2nd century.
Round 14: 25, 6, 8, 5, 2, 3. Target: 548.
C1: 550. (6 + 5) x 2 x 25 (7)
C2: -
RR: 548. (((8 + 3) x 25) - (6 - 5)) x 2 (10)
Score: 101–31 (max 113)
A 3rd numbers blank from Katie and Eileen gets her century, although she could've got 1 closer by taking away the 3, but at this point, it's irrelevant really.
Round 15: E D N A S D O G I
C1 buzzes on 10.5 seconds to say DIAGNOSED which is correct.
Final Score: 111–31 (max 123)
But, that conundrum solve is far from irrelevant, as it not only gives her 5th win, and her highest score, it also, as I mentioned earlier, has guaranteed her place in the finals.
Unfortunately for Katie, she never hit top gear and actually became the first person since Carl Anderson to not get a max in a game.
But, Eileen is fast becoming the hidden gem that this show has actually craved for in a long while, and I think no-one will begrudge her the chance of octochampdom either, which I think we all hope she'll get on Monday.
I'll be back tomorrow, where Eileen will hope to make it 6 of the best, and DC stalwart Gyles Brandreth will be making a return to the show.
So, till then, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Eileen:
Total score - 111
Raw score - 111
Total % of max - 90
Raw % of max - 90
Total average score per round - 7.4
Raw average score per round - 7.4
Number of maxes - 7
Katie:
Total score - 31
Raw score - 59
Total % of max - 25
Raw % of max - 48
Total average score per round - 2.1
Raw average score per round - 3.9
Number of maxes - 0
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=68
