Hello Countdowners and welcome to another recap.......wait this is no ordinary recap.........you guessed it.......it is the series 87 GRAND FINAL
110 contestants have graced the Countdown studios- eight finalists battling for Countdown supremacy....that's right......you heard it ! we are down to the last two.....which one of these of legends will be walking away with with the Richard Whiteley memorial trophy and the bragging rights of Series 87........WHO WILL IT BE ??????
C1: Champion Ronan "The Ramsgate Wonderkid " Higginson (10 wins, 1285 points.)
C2: Champion Cillian "The Tyrone Terror " McMulkin (10 wins, 1180 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Maggie Aderin Pocock .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
In other news long serving Lexicographer Susie Dent is celebrating her 31st anniversary with
countdown, she sometimes rotated with lexicographers from OUP and the occasional member of the Countdown production team who were former contestants on the show some random dude called Mark Nyman who is one of the best scrabble players in the world and supports some silly football team called QPR. Another random dude called Damian Eadie who supports an even sillier football team called Blackpool FC........ I think we all know....he always takes the piss out of me in a nice way ! and the late Michael Wylie who stood in for Susie Dent when she was recovering from surgery.
R01: O A I G R L N E B
R02: S M P O I E H A W
R03: 25, 100, 50, 75, 9, 9, . Target: 269.
TTT: TYPERULED - "He was the type to rule with an iron fist, or so they say."
R04: S P R E A I M A D
R05: E I A Y L T D U W
R06: 25, 10, 5, 1, 1, 7, . Target: 473.
R07: A E I D N L S E G
R08: K R S A O U D L I
R09: 75, 4, 3, 7, 9, 5. Target: 755.
TTT: AGOALDOWN - "They were a goal down at half-time, but conceded lots in the second period"
R10: T P C E I O R E A
R11: U O A F T V I E N
R12: C N R O I E C B O
R13: E A U Q D S N I R
R14: 25, 50, 100, 75, 3, 4, . Target: 878.
R15: S O U L P A R T Y (conundrum)
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Round 1: O A I G R L N E B
Ronan: IGNORABLE (18)
Cillian: IGNORABLE (18)
DC: REGIONAL (8) IGNORABLE (18)
Score: 18–18 (max 18)
What a cracking start from our grand finalists..................with a 9 no less.............you guessed it I spotted this !
Round 2: S M P O I E H A W
Ronan: MAPWISE (7)
Cillian: IMPOSE (6)
DC: HOMIES (6)
OT: PEISHWA (7)
Score: 25–18 (max 25)
A cracking 7 from Ronan with Mapwise something I have never heard of !
Round 3: 25, 100, 50, 75, 9, 9. Target: 269.
C1: 268. 25 + 100 + 50 + 75 + 9 + 9 (7)
C2: -
RR: 269. 75 ÷ 25 × 100 + 50 − 9 × 9 (10)
Score: 32–18 (max 35)
A good 1 away solve from Ronan using the Omelette method by adding all the numbers up..........Meanwhile Rachel shows us how it is done and produces the perfect 10 !
Teatime teaser: TYPERULED -> REPUTEDLY
Round 4: S P R E A I M A D
Ronan: PARADISE (8)
Cillian: PARADISE (8)
DC: ASPERMIA (8)
OT: PAREMIAS (8)
Score: 40–26 (max 43)
My Idea of Paradise........you will need plenty of money if you want a vacation on Necker Island that is owned by Sir Richard Branson.......now where did I hide that lottery ticket ?????
Round 5: E I A Y L T D U W
Ronan: DUALITY (7)
Cillian: DUALITY (7)
DC: DUALITY (7)
OT: IDEALTY (7) TIDEWAY (7)
Score: 47–33 (max 50)
7s all round.........shall we move on !!!
Round 6: 25, 10, 5, 1, 1, 7. Target: 473.
C1: 473. (10 + 1 + 7) × (25 + 1) + 5 (10)
C2: 473. (10 + 1 + 7) × (25 + 1) + 5 (10)
Score: 57–43 (max 60)
Nice and straightforward this solve........do you honestly think that these guys wouldn't solve this !
Round 7: A E I D N L S E G
Ronan: ENSILAGED (18)
Cillian: ANGELISED (18)
Score: 75–61 (max 78)
Another brilliant 9 from our Grand Finalists........Ensilaged was my spot !
Round 8: K R S A O U D L I
Ronan: ODALISK (7)
Cillian: aluroids
OT: RADIOUS (7)
Score: 82–61 (max 85)
A good 7 from Ronan with Odalisk........a rather unfortunate risk Cillian sees his 8 disallowed by Susie..........this now means that Ronan can now extend his lead further
Round 9: 75, 4, 3, 7, 9, 5. Target: 755.
C1: 755. (7 + 3) × 75 + 5 (10)
C2: 755. (7 + 3) × 75 + 5 (10)
Score: 92–71 (max 95)
Another Piss EZ solve...........what else did you expect ??????
Teatime teaser: AGOALDOWN -> WAGONLOAD
Round 10: T P C E I O R E A
Ronan: PECORAITE (18)
Cillian: APORETIC (8)
Score: 110–71 (max 113)
What an absolute cracker of a 9 from Ronan.......I can only manage an 8
Round 11: U O A F T V I E N
Ronan: NOVATE (6)
Cillian: NOVATE (6)
DC: AUNTIE (6)
OT: NATIVE (6) OUTVIE (6)
Score: 116–77 (max 119)
Sixes all round.......shall we move on !
Round 12: C N R O I E C B O
Ronan: COINER (6)
Cillian: BONIER (6)
DC: CORNICE (7)
OT: COERCION (8)
Score: 122–83 (max 127)
6s all round from Finalists.........DC get to shine with their 7.......one 8 that was hidden away with Coercion
Round 13: E A U Q D S N I R
Ronan: UNRAISED (8)
Cillian: quandries
OT: DENARIUS (8) QUERIDAS (8) QUINDARS (8) SQUANDER (8)
Score: 130–83 (max 135)
A very unfortunate risk from Cillian sadly not enough to keep him in the contest.............but 8s all round including one from Ronan
Round 14: 25, 50, 100, 75, 3, 4. Target: 878.
C1: 878. 100 × 4 × 50 ÷ 25 + 75 + 3 (10)
C2: 880.
Score: 140–83 (max 145)
The Omelette method from Ronan yet again..........this now means he is the series champion !!!!
Round 15: S O U L P A R T Y
C1 buzzes on 5.25 seconds to say PULSATORY which is correct.
Final Score: 150–83 (max 155)
What an amazing grand final this has been for this series, firstly congratulations to Ronan Higginson on becoming it's 87th Champion and the latest recipient of the Richard Whiteley Memorial trophy he will be the third youngest series winner at the age of 17, secondly take nothing away from Cillian McMulkin who put in an admirable performance but couldn't match the brilliance of Ronan, he can be proud of his achievements as it's 87th runner up, Cillian will be happy with his tablet and his piece of Kryptonite.
I liked the moment when Ronan and Cillian held the Richard Whiteley memorial trophy together it left me feeling rather emotional, this shows how much respect and admiration they have for each others talent and the good sportsmanship from Ronan was really nice to see.
Join me again for any future recaps.....as I am now taking a well earned break......in the meantime it is bye for now !
