C1: Champion George Baker (1 win, 79 points.)
C2: Challenger Avi Sharma.
DC: Susie Dent and Tom Read Wilson .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: B R H E A T Y E P
R02: I O A I L G L T S
R03: 8, 9, 5, 1, 2, 3. Target: 515.
TTT: MORESAFE - "It's not more safe, it's rather terrifying actually."
R04: U F A C E E Q P T
R05: M V T O E G I O N
R06: 50, 75, 25, 5, 5, 9. Target: 861.
R07: R S C A E U K R T
R08: A E I D J S E L D
R09: 7, 5, 9, 10, 2, 8. Target: 939.
TTT: SETCRIED - "Be confidential if you talk bad about a Greek island."
R10: M F N O I A E R T
R11: S D G E U M R I P
R12: E O A A N L W T E
R13: R S N I U O W C I
R14: 50, 100, 75, 4, 7, 3. Target: 644.
R15: N E U T E R D O M (conundrum)
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Round 1: B R H E A T Y E P
George: BREATHE (7)
Avi: TEARY (5)
DC: BREATHY (7) THERAPY (7) PREHEAT (7)
OT: EPHYRAE (7) EYEBATH (7) PEATERY (7) THEREBY (7)
Score: 7–0 (max 7)
Round 2: I O A I L G L T S
George: GLOATS (6)
Avi: STILL (5)
DC: GALLIOTS (8)
Score: 13–0 (max 15)
Round 3: 8, 9, 5, 1, 2, 3. Target: 515.
C1: 515. Mistake in working.
C2: 720.
RR: 515. ((8 + 9) × 2 × 3 + 1) × 5 (10)
Score: 13–0 (max 25)
A mistake from George early doors........but the damage is minor as Avi is way out with 720.........but a certain Ms Riley gets to shine with her solution.......but I solved this using the 8 cubed method
5+2=7
7*9=63
63+1=64
64*8=512
512+3=515
Otherwise known as the omelette method !
Teatime teaser: MORESAFE -> FEARSOME
Round 4: U F A C E E Q P T
George: EQUATE (6)
Avi: FACET (5)
DC: TEACUP (6) FAUCET (6)
Score: 19–0 (max 31)
6s all round.......sadly not for Avi though !
Round 5: M V T O E G I O N
George: EMOTION (7)
Avi: MOTION (6)
DC: VETOING (7) EMOTING (7)
OT: MITOGEN (7) MOOTING (7)
Score: 26–0 (max 38)
Round 6: 50, 75, 25, 5, 5, 9. Target: 861.
C1: 860. (75 + 25) × 9 − 50 + 5 + 5 (7)
C2: 855.
RR: 861. (50 − 9) × (75 + 25 + 5) ÷ 5 (10)
Score: 33–0 (max 48)
Round 7: R S C A E U K R T
George: TRUCKERS (8)
Avi: TRACKS (6)
DC: TRUCKERS (8) TRACKERS (8)
OT: RESTRUCK (8) RETRACKS (8) TRACEURS (8)
Score: 41–0 (max 56)
Round 8: A E I D J S E L D
George: LADDIES (7)
Avi: SEALED (6)
DC: LADDIES (7) SIDLED (6)
OT: AEDILES (7)
Score: 48–0 (max 63)
Round 9: 7, 5, 9, 10, 2, 8. Target: 939.
C1: -
C2: 956.
RR: 939. ((8 + 5) × 7 + 2) × 10 + 9 (10)
Score: 48–0 (max 73)
Both contestants draw a blank in this round.............Rachel shows us how it is done
Teatime teaser: SETCRIED -> DISCRETE
Round 10: M F N O I A E R T
George: FOREMAN (7)
Avi: FEAR (4)
DC: FOAMIER (7)
OT: ROMANITE (8)
Score: 55–0 (max 81)
Round 11: S D G E U M R I P
George: SMUDGIER (8)
Avi: DRIES (5)
DC: SMUDGIER (8) UMPIRES (7)
Score: 63–0 (max 89)
Round 12: E O A A N L W T E
George: LOANEE (6)
Avi: WANT (4)
DC: ATONAL (6) ETALON (6)
OT: ALATEEN (7)
Score: 69–0 (max 96)
A good 6 from our champion George..........sadly Avi doesn't score with his 4 want..........rounds are running out rapidly could he be the second person to be whitewashed in the 15 round era ? Meanwhile there were a couple of 7s hidden away and one of those I spotted was Alateen
this happened in Series 85 https://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_7761
Round 13: R S N I U O W C I
George: CROWNS (6)
Avi: SCORN (5)
DC: CURIOS (6) IRONIC (6) CROWNS (6)
OT: INCISOR (7) RICINUS (7)
Score: 75–0 (max 103)
Quite a few 6s hidden away with in this selection...........rounds are running out for Avi as he doesn't score again...............but there were a couple of 7s hidden away
Round 14: 50, 100, 75, 4, 7, 3. Target: 644.
C1: 643. (100 + 75) × 4 − 50 − 7 (7)
C2: 663.
RR: 644. (100 − 50 × 3 ÷ 75 × 4) × 7 (10)
Score: 82–0 (max 113)
A good one away solve from Champion George................sadly Avi is way way out with his solution...........meanwhile Ms Riley shows us all how it is done and produces the perfect 10
Round 15: N E U T E R D O M
C1 buzzes on 4.25 seconds to say REMOUNTED which is correct.
Final Score: 92–0 (max 123)
Herbert's score of zero points was, unsurprisingly, the lowest 15-round format score of all time and the joint-lowest in Countdown history, tied with those made by John Brooks and Sylvia Pitman in 9-rounders. I am not sure what to make of this game..........was Avi nervous and couldn't get going or did he apply for a laugh ? he clearly enjoyed the experience despite not scoring any points.
Sharma's score of zero points was the second time that a player had finished on a score of zero in the 15-round format, following Sarah Herbert on 13 May 2022.
Join me again for the next recap in the meantime it is bye for now
