C1: Champion Stuart Kerr (2 wins, 163 points.)
C2: Challenger Jamie King.
DC: Susie Dent and Daliso Chaponda .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: P N I E U X R T S
R02: G N P E O R W I N
R03: 100, 3, 10, 1, 5, 3, . Target: 585.
TTT: MEDICNUN - "The beef wasn't suitable for the cottage pie, and his words were direct."
R04: J C Y E A U M Q T
R05: S D O A N T I G B
R06: 50, 25, 1, 9, 3, 7. Target: 303.
R07: S L A E D T S A O
R08: W T G R E I O H N
R09: 100, 9, 8, 8, 1, 2. Target: 714.
TTT: TURNHOSE - "In summer, you couldn't turn a hosepipe on in these parts."
R10: V L A E T R E D P
R11: F M A S L U O N K
R12: R D G E U T C H I
R13: M F N S L R O A E
R14: 75, 50, 2, 4, 9, 1. Target: 743.
R15: U N F A I R T I E (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: P N I E U X R T S
Stuart: PUNTERS (7)
Jamie: PUNIEST (7)
DC: UNPRIEST (8)
OT: NUTRIXES (8) REPUNITS (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
7s all round from our champion and challenger........but Susie pulls a briiliant 8 out of the bag with Unpriest
Round 2: G N P E O R W I N
Stuart: POWERING (8)
Jamie: POWERING (8)
DC: POWERING (8) OPENING (7)
OT: REPONING (8)
Score: 15–15 (max 16)
8s all round................shall we move on ???
Round 3: 100, 3, 10, 1, 5, 3. Target: 585.
C1: 585. (100 + 10 + 3 + 3 + 1) × 5 (10)
C2: 582.
Score: 25–15 (max 26)
Another good numbers solve from our champion.......not too taxing
Teatime teaser: MEDICNUN -> UNMINCED
Round 4: J C Y E A U M Q T
Stuart: ACUTE (5)
Jamie: MEATY (5)
DC: MUCATE (6)
OT: ACETUM (6)
Score: 30–20 (max 32)
5s all round in this rather tight contest..........but there was a couple of 6s hidden away
Round 5: S D O A N T I G B
Stuart: BOASTING (8)
Jamie: BOASTING (8)
DC: BANDITOS (8) DINGBATS (8)
Score: 38–28 (max 40)
Nothing to boast in this as 8 is the max for everybody
Round 6: 50, 25, 1, 9, 3, 7. Target: 303.
C1: 303. ((9 − 7) × 50 + 1) × 3 (10)
C2: 303. (7 − 1) × 50 + 3 (10)
Score: 48–38 (max 50)
Not too taxing this solve as our contestants pick up 10 points each
Round 7: S L A E D T S A O
Stuart: SALADS (6)
Jamie: SLATED (6)
DC: toadless SALTED (6) SLATED (6)
OT: ALDOSES (7) ALTESSA (7) ASSLOAD (7) ATLASES (7) DESALTS (7) DOTLESS (7) LASSOED (7) SALADES (7)
Score: 54–44 (max 57)
6s allround from everybody..........but there were a fair few 7s hidden away
Round 8: W T G R E I O H N
Stuart: TOWERING (8)
Jamie: THROWING (8)
DC: THROWING (8) TOWERING (8)
OT: INGROWTH (8) OTHERING (8)
Score: 62–52 (max 65)
8s all round........one of those is Towering................This always appeared in your Christmas TV schedules and what a masterpiece it is........if you like disaster movies from the 1970s.........you will like The Towering Inferno
Round 9: 100, 9, 8, 8, 1, 2. Target: 714.
C1: 714. (100 − 9 − 1) × 8 − (8 − 2) (10)
C2: 714. (8 − 1) × (100 + 2) (10)
Score: 72–62 (max 75)
Top marks in the numbers department.......... need I say more ???????
Teatime teaser: TURNHOSE -> SOUTHERN
Round 10: V L A E T R E D P
Stuart: traveled
Jamie: REPLATED (8)
DC: DEPRAVE (7) PRELATE (7)
OT: PALTERED (8)
Score: 72–70 (max 83)
A very unfortunate risk from our Champion Stuart as his 8 Traveled is disallowed by Susie under the Countdown rules American spellings are no longer allowed....... but our challenger Jamie pulls a stunning 8 with replated this puts him within 2 points of our champion Stuart
Round 11: F M A S L U O N K
Stuart: SALMON (6)
Jamie: FAMOUS (6)
DC: MANFOLKS (8)
Score: 78–76 (max 91)
6s all round..........but Susie gets to shine with her 8 Manfolks
Round 12: R D G E U T C H I
Stuart: ridged
Jamie: TRUDGE (6)
DC: RIGHTED (7) DUTCHIE (7) THEURGIC (8)
Score: 78–82 (max 99)
A very unfortunate error from Stuart with his 6 Ridged.......however Jamie's 6 counts with Trudge........meanwhile over in DC they get to shine with their 8 Theurgic
Round 13: M F N S L R O A E
Stuart: FORMALS (7)
Jamie: morales
DC: ALMONERS (8)
Score: 85–82 (max 107)
A good 7 from our champion Stuart that puts him back in the lead...........Over in DC they get to shine with their 8 Almoners.......you guessed it....I spotted this one
Round 14: 75, 50, 2, 4, 9, 1. Target: 743.
C1: 744. (9 + 1) × 75 − (4 + 2) (7)
C2: 742. (9 + 1) × 75 − 2 × 4 (7)
RR: 743. (75 + 2) × 9 + 50 (10)
Score: 92–89 (max 117)
Both Champion and Challenger get 1 one either side which sets us up nicely for a crucial conundrum.........but the question who will buzz first ? Will it be Stuart for his thrird win or Jamie for his first win and the teapot? but Ms Riley gets to shine and produces the perfect solution
Round 15: U N F A I R T I E
No one buzzes. The answer was INFURIATE.
Final Score: 92–89 (max 127)
Neither contestant buzzes............but what a game it has been and could of gone either way.........Our Champion Stuart lives to fight another day...........Jamie had an excellent performance and gave Stuart a real run for his money he will be happy with his goody bag....join me again to see how Stuart goes on.......in the meantime....it is bye for now
