Wednesday 30th March 2022 (Series 85, Preliminary 63)

[James Robinson]

Countdown recap for Wednesday 30 March 2022.

C1: Champion Laura Gurden (3 wins, 204 points.) An account manager for a telecoms firm from Colchester, Essex.
C2: Challenger Andy Evans. A church youth worker from Worthing, West Sussex.
DC: Susie Dent and Stephen Fry.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: L B S E I E R C E
R02: N H S A T B O A O
R03: 100, 2, 10, 6, 7, 9. Target: 275.
TTT: RIPEFIST - "Did the dragon do this at the warplane?"
R04: D R N U A P T I O
R05: M R T I E O F W E
R06: 25, 8, 3, 4, 3, 1. Target: 803.
R07: R S L A O I N S O
R08: P G N E I V E C G
R09: 50, 75, 8, 9, 8, 10. Target: 939.
TTT: EMAILBIT - "You can't wear it, but it's something you can take off."
R10: W S H A O D M E U
R11: R P T I A E M S T
R12: R F D O O I S Y A
R13: K S N I E U L G A
R14: 100, 1, 7, 1, 4, 8. Target: 499.
R15: G U L C H B I N T (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: L B S E I E R C E

Laura: misdeclared 7 (saw a 2nd S)
Andy: BEERS (5)
DC: BELIERS (7)
OT: BELSIRE (7)
Score: 0–5 (max 7)

Round 2: N H S A T B O A O

Laura: BOATS (5)
Andy: BATONS (6)
DC: BOOTHS (6) BATHOS (6)
OT: ABATONS (7) BHOONAS (7) BOTHANS (7)
Score: 0–11 (max 14)

Round 3: 100, 2, 10, 6, 7, 9. Target: 275.

Laura: 276. (100 x 2) + (7 x 10) + 6 (7)
Andy: 276. (100 x 2) + (7 x 10) + 6 (7)
RR: 275. ((10 - 7) x (100 - 9)) + 2 (10)
Score: 7–18 (max 24)

Teatime teaser: RIPEFIST -> SPITFIRE

Round 4: D R N U A P T I O

Laura: PARDON (6)
Andy: RATION (6)
DC: PURITAN (7) DURATION (8)
OT: PORTUNID (8) UPDATION (8)
Score: 13–24 (max 32)

Round 5: M R T I E O F W E

Laura: TOWER (5)
Andy: TIMER (5)
DC: formite METEOR (6)
OT: ROMEITE (7) ROWEITE (7)
Score: 18–29 (max 39)

Round 6: 25, 8, 3, 4, 3, 1. Target: 803.

Laura: 803. (25 x 4 x 8) + 3 (10)
Andy: 803. (25 x 4 x 8) + 3 (10)
Score: 28–39 (max 49)

Stephen talks about how he opened up about his mental health experiences.

Round 7: R S L A O I N S O

Laura: SOLAR (5)
Andy: SALOONS (7)
DC: solaris ORISONS (7)
OT: ARIOSOS (7) SAILORS (7)
Score: 28–46 (max 56)

Round 8: P G N E I V E C G

Laura: PEEVING (7)
Andy: PEEVING (7)
DC: EVINCE (6) PEEING (6)
Score: 35–53 (max 63)

Round 9: 50, 75, 8, 9, 8, 10. Target: 939.

Laura: -
Andy: -
OT: 939. ((10 + 9) x 50) - 75 + (8 x 8) (10)
Score: 35–53 (max 73)

Teatime teaser: EMAILBIT -> IMITABLE

Round 10: W S H A O D M E U

Laura: HOUSED (6)
Andy: WASHED (6)
DC: MADHOUSE (8)
Score: 41–59 (max 81)

Round 11: R P T I A E M S T

Laura: PASTIME (7)
Andy: PARTIES (7)
DC: MATTERS (7) ARMPITS (7) MISTREAT (8) PRIMATES (8)
OT: TRAMPIEST (18)
Score: 48–66 (max 99)

Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of some pasta shapes.

Round 12: R F D O O I S Y A

Laura: RADIOS (6)
Andy: DAISY (5)
DC: fridays froods DOOSRA (6)
OT: ARIOSO (6) AROIDS (6) FIORDS (6) FORAYS (6) FROYOS (6) RADIFS (6) ROSADO (6)
Score: 54–66 (max 105)

Round 13: K S N I E U L G A

Laura: SLINK (5)
Andy: SULKING (7)
DC: ANGELUS (7) LINKAGES (8)
Score: 54–73 (max 113)

Round 14: 100, 1, 7, 1, 4, 8. Target: 499.

Laura: 499. ((4 + 1) x 100) - 1 (10)
Andy: 499. ((4 + 1) x 100) - 1 (10)
Score: 64–83 (max 123)

Round 15: G U L C H B I N T

No one buzzes. The answer (correctly guessed by Stephen) was NIGHTCLUB.
Final Score: 64–83 (max 133)

Statistics Corner

Laura:
Total score - 64
Raw score - 79
Total % of max - 48
Raw % of max - 59
Total average score per round - 4.3
Raw average score per round - 5.3
Number of maxes - 4

Andy:
Total score - 83
Raw score - 88
Total % of max - 62
Raw % of max - 66
Total average score per round - 5.5
Raw average score per round - 5.9
Number of maxes - 4

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=85

[Peter Mabey]

R3 alt.:100x(9+2)/(1-6)=275
R6 alt.:(8+3)x(3x25+1-3)=803