spoilers - friday 8th may 2009

[John Brackstone]

donated for 7

[Matt Morrison]

round 1 - needed to pick a final vowel, good chance of an I for APPOINTEE

[Chris Davies]

ANORAKS, round 1, and PROSAIST/PROTASIS for round 13.

[Howard Somerset]

Did I get the selection wrong for r8? How did everyone miss DONATED?

Managed one away for R14

[Matt Morrison]

3rd numbers... Rachel: "I think it's impossible, I couldn't even get close"

pretty weird as getting close was very easy.

100/25 = 4
(50 + 4) x 10 = 540
540 + 3 = 543

That's 1 away, I'm sure someone can get it?

[Chris Davies]

3rd numbers... Rachel: "I think it's impossible, I couldn't even get close"

pretty weird as getting close was very easy.

100/25 = 4
(50 + 4) x 10 = 540
540 + 3 = 543

That's 1 away, I'm sure someone can get it?

I did that too. Getting it exactly is impossible.

[Howard Somerset]

Did I get the selection wrong for r8? How did everyone miss DONATED?

Managed one away for R14

I've just checked my recording, and indeed DONATED was there. DC said they couldn't see past six.

And my R14 solution was identical to that of Matt and Chris.

[Hannah O]

The final numbers round (452) is really puzzling me- is it possible to be given a target number that is impossible to get? I tried a few computer-powered number solver things, but they all got one away...

[Matt Morrison]

The final numbers round (452) is really puzzling me- is it possible to be given a target number that is impossible to get? I tried a few computer-powered number solver things, but they all got one away...

Yeah, it's happened plenty of times. AFAIK, the target is TRULY randomly generated so there's always the capacity for freak games (especially 6 small small numbers with a large target) , but you'll have to get confirmation on that from someone in the know.

[Neil Zussman]

Ah, I recognise that guy- Paul was at my audition way back in October. I did wonder if he would get on. Out of the 5 of us, he was 3rd best, clearly better than two of the others, but not as good as me, and another lady. (Without wishing to sound arrogant). Haven't seen that woman appear yet, but I'd be surprised if she doesn't appear sometime though, as she was clearly better than Paul, for example.

The final numbers round (452) is really puzzling me- is it possible to be given a target number that is impossible to get? I tried a few computer-powered number solver things, but they all got one away...

CECIL (the machine that generates the target numbers) is just a random number generator. It doesn't 'see' the numbers, perform a random calculation and then give a target that is possible to achieve, or anything like that (like the handheld games do). So to answer your question, yes, it is possible to have a numbers game that you cannot solve exactly, and it usually happens at least a few times a series (depending on whether there are lots of contestants that go for 6 small, for example). In fact, if the numbers were 1,1,2,2,3,3, then any target above 81 would be impossible.

[Richard Priest]

COARSENS, round 11 I think.

[Kirk Bevins]

It took me most of the 30 seconds to find DONATED - surprisingly hard one. Think it was to do with the repeated consonants in the selection.

I was one away on the 4 large with 541:
(100+75+50/25)x3+10

Was chuffed with PROSAIST and PROTASIS but the genius Chris Davies beat me to it. I messed up the early part of the game missing many maxes though.

[James Robinson]

I remember meeting Les at my audition in Leeds in February. He was a very nice chap. I was worried that because I got onto the show again, that he had missed his chance, so I was delighted to see him on the show! He did very well too, which didn't come as too much of a surprise to me I must say.