Both contestants were returning contestants from the Richard Whiteley era, with Leatherbarrow having previously appeared in Series 48 and Dent in Series 51. They had also both lost to the champions of these series.
On this day in 1986 Manchester United appointed Alex Ferguson as their manager after the sacking of their manager Ron Atkinson, Fergie slowly built up Manchester United by getting rid of the drinking culture that was dragging the club down and a run of poor results. Four years into his in job and facing the sack if he didn't win any trophies Manchester United went on to win the FA Cup in 1990 after a replay against Crystal Palace a European cup followed in 1991 after English clubs completed their 5 year ban from European football with exception of Liverpool who were banned for 6 years following the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster and the death of 39 football fans. He then went on to win 13 Premier League titles, achieved the treble in 1999 and a second Champions league in 2008, he took retirement in 2013 after winning a 20th league title making him the greatest manager of all time. Sir Alex Ferguson is regularly seen at Manchester United matches and sometimes does the after dinner circuit as a motivational speaker.
Sir Alex Ferguson and the treble winning trophies he acheived in the 1998-99 season
Sir Alex Ferguson who was a father figure to Cristiano Ronaldo aka God when his own father died
C1: Challenger Jill Leatherbarrow.
C2: Challenger Matt Dent.
DC: Susie Dent and Tanni Grey Thompson.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: D L N M A U I R E
R02: T A B W O I E T R
R03: 100, 7, 2, 5, 9, 8. Target: 635.
TTT: DATEDTIM - "Owned up about a trip to the hospital."
R04: A S L O C U S H R
R05: T Q J E A I T P E
R06: 50, 75, 8, 4, 5, 2. Target: 974.
R07: S G N R A O I A C
R08: U E P N M O R E D
R09: 75, 9, 3, 3, 4, 10. Target: 923.
TTT: LOSTIDEA - "It's not a sugar-free fizzy drink, but it is a mineral"
R10: F I T N A E P I S
R11: T G C N O E I D S
R12: Y R M A I P G O W
R13: B N T D E A U F L
R14: 100, 3, 1, 4, 9, 3. Target: 225.
R15: E I G H T C O R N (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: D L N M A U I R E
Jill: LAUNDER (7)
Matt: REMIND (6)
DC: MAILED (6) UNMAILED (8)
OT: MUDARINE (8) MURAENID (8) UNRAILED (8)
Score: 7–0 (max 8)
A good start from former Lexicographer Jill with her 7 Launder, DC are in a class of their own with the 8 Unmailed
Round 2: T A B W O I E T R
Jill: BOATER (6)
Matt: BATTIER (7)
DC: BOATIE (6)
OT: ABETTOR (7) BIRETTA (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 15)
Another good round from Matt that makes the contest equal
Round 3: 100, 7, 2, 5, 9, 8. Target: 635.
C1: 635. (8 − 2) × 100 + 7 × 5 (10)
C2: 635. 100 × 7 − 9 × 8 + 2 + 5 (10)
Score: 17–17 (max 25)
Not too taxing....................nice and straightforward this numbers solve bagging our contestants 10 points each
Teatime teaser: DATEDTIM -> ADMITTED
Round 4: A S L O C U S H R
Jill: SHOALS (6)
Matt: CORALS (6)
DC: SCHOLARS (8)
Score: 23–23 (max 33)
6s all round............Susie proving that she is top of the class with her 8 Scholars
Round 5: T Q J E A I T P E
Jill: PETITE (6)
Matt: PETITE (6)
DC: PETITE (6) PATTIE (6)
OT: AETITE (6) PATETE (6) PATTEE (6) PETATE (6)
Score: 29–29 (max 39)
6s all round.......again not a lot to argue over !
Round 6: 50, 75, 8, 4, 5, 2. Target: 974.
C1: 975. (8 + 5) × 75 (7)
C2: 975. (8 + 5) × 75 (7)
RR: 974. (8 + 4) × (75 + 2) + 50 (10)
Score: 36–36 (max 49)
Round 7: S G N R A O I A C
Jill: SOARING (7)
Matt: SCARING (7)
DC: ORGANICS (8)
OT: OCARINAS (8)
Score: 43–43 (max 57)
7s all round.........a couple of 8s were hidden away..........one of those offerred by DC was Organics
Round 8: U E P N M O R E D
Jill: OPENED (6)
Matt: MOURNED (7)
DC: MOURNED (7) POUNDER (7)
OT: MODERNE (7) PEERDOM (7) PREDONE (7) PREMUNE (7) REPONED (7) UNROPED (7)
Score: 43–50 (max 64)
Round 9: 75, 9, 3, 3, 4, 10. Target: 923.
C1: 922. 4 × 3 × 75 + 10 + 9 + 3 (7)
C2: -
RR: 923. (75 − 4) × (10 + 3) (10)
Score: 50–50 (max 74)
A good one away solve from Jill that gives her 7 points.......but Ms Riley shows us how it is done by using the product of two primes and produce the perfect solution
Teatime teaser: LOSTIDEA -> SODALITE
Round 10: F I T N A E P I S
Jill: PANTIES (7)
Matt: piniest
DC: TIEPINS (7)
OT: NAIFTIES (8) PATINISE (8) PISANITE (8)
Score: 57–50 (max 82)
A good 7 from Jill............but Matt is pining away as Susie disallows his word Piniest...............but there were a few 8s hidden away
Round 11: T G C N O E I D S
Jill: COSTING (7)
Matt: STONED (6)
DC: NOTICES (7) SECTION (7)
OT: COGNISED (8)
Score: 64–50 (max 90)
Another good round from Jill........there was an 8 hidden away with Cognised that I happened to spot
Round 12: Y R M A I P G O W
Jill: IMAGO (5)
Matt: WARM (4)
DC: WORM WOMRY (5) PIGMY (5) GRAMPY (6)
OT: MIRAGY (6) MYOPIA (6)
Score: 69–50 (max 96)
Not the best letters selection..........it was enough to get a few 6s out of it
Round 13: B N T D E A U F L
Jill: FLAUNTED (8)
Matt: BLUNTED (7)
OT: FUNDABLE (8)
Score: 77–50 (max 104)
Another good round for Jill this now means she is the new champion
Round 14: 100, 3, 1, 4, 9, 3. Target: 225.
C1: 227. Mistake in working* Declared as a NWD
C2: 227. 3 × 9 + (3 − 1) × 100 (7)
RR: 225. 100 ÷ 4 × 9 (10)
Score: 77–57 (max 114)
A mistake from Jill declaring a NWD even though she had the right it was 2 away, it is not enough to save Matt but for him it is game over.........but Ms Riley gets to shine and produce the perfect solution
Round 15: E I G H T C O R N
No one buzzes. The answer was HECTORING.
Final Score: 77–57 (max 124)
So the conundrum goes unsolved by both of our contestants, firstly congratulations to Jill on becoming the new champion, secondly take nothing away from Matt he had some good spots that weren't enough to match Jill, join me again to see how Jill goes on in her next game in the meantime it is bye for now
