Thursday 4th June 2009 (Series 60, Prelim 85)

[Jon Corby]

Countdown recap for Thursday 4 June 2009.

C1: Champion Chris Kirby (1 win, 103 points.)
C2: Challenger Hans Farley.
DC: Susie Dent and Richard Digance.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: P T T E O A J A L
R02: G R N L E I U R E
R03: M R C A E A C R E
R04: T P V D I A E M O
R05: 100, 8, 4, 8, 10, 5. Target: 935.
TTT: NEATWORD - "You might find this shrub in Scandinavia"
R06: G L D X I O E A R
R07: T T Z O U A H P L
R08: S N S R I O E D U
R09: L S S A O E D S B
R10: 50, 2, 4, 8, 9, 4. Target: 275.
TTT: TAILBURN - "There's no disputing this answer"
R11: N K D I E A T S N
R12: S M N T U O E Q A
R13: P S Y E O I C M T
R14: 100, 75, 8, 1, 9, 5. Target: 919.
R15: P E T C R E T I N (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Before introducing us to the contestants, Jeff reads out a viewer's letter complaining about the lack of audience shots in the current series of Countdown, which is followed by a shot of the uninterested, lifeless audience. I've spoken before of my utter contempt for the lethargy of the vast majority of Countdown audiences, so we'll just point it was a staged shot for the gag and move on...

Apterist & Champion Chris (no relation, in case you were wondering) made an assured debut yesterday, notching up 103 in the process of, frankly, flattening poor Ian Sinclair (sorry Ian) who had to wait until the second "half" to get on the scoreboard at all. He's a student and cricket coach from Widnes who dreams of moving Australia to play the game, and Jeff tells us that he goes around local schools. Let's hope that's something to do with the cricket.

Up against Chris today is Hans Farley, a junior school headmaster who retired three years ago - I'm sure the devil has found plenty of work for him to do in the meantime. Hans comes from Rochester in Kent where he lives with wife Evelina. They have two daughters, one of whom actually applied for Countdown on her father's behalf! He enjoys chess, Scrabble, cooking and visiting historic monuments. As a guitarist, keyboard player and singer, his ambition is to have a musical published. Well, we've had Chess... Countdown The Musical anyone?

During the course of the show it also becomes apparent that Hans can't see shit. He is heavily reliant on hearing Rachel read out the letters and numbers, and spends the 30 seconds with his nose touching his paper, which must be something of a handicap.

Round 1: P T T E O A J A L

C1: TOTAL (5)
C2: palette
DC: PALATE (6)
OT: PELOTA (6) POTTLE (6) TEAPOT (6)
Score: 5–0 (max 6)

Unlucky start for Hans, possibly caused by his short-sightedness as he finds a phantom 'E'. The homophone (homonym? can't remember - what's the difference?) palate would have of course given him the lead. Bah.

Round 2: G R N L E I U R E

C1: REELING (7)
C2: LEERING (7)
DC: LINGERER (8)
OT: REGULINE (8)
Score: 12–7 (max 14)

Chris was hesitant in declaring 7 so it seems plausible he was toying with LINGERER rather than the more obscure REGULINE, which is some kind of chemistry term. Dinos?

Round 3: M R C A E A C R E

C1: CREAMER (7)
C2: CREAMER (7)
Score: 19–14 (max 21)

Round 4: T P V D I A E M O

C1: PIVOTED (7)
C2: MOTIVE (6)
DC: ADOPTIVE (8)
Score: 26–14 (max 29)

Round 5: 100, 8, 4, 8, 10, 5. Target: 935.

C1: 935. 100*10-8*8+5-4 (10)
C2: 935. 100*10-8*8+5-4 (10)
Score: 36–24 (max 39)

Neat spot by both contestants... although Hans explains his formula first meaning he then has to check Chris' paper, which he says "he can't see". Chris seems like an honest sort though, and not one to think "Hmm, I could exploit this to my advantage later in the game" like a certain PAULINE HUGGINS probably would.

Richard does a very neat/clever/funny poem about a crab to lead us into the break.

Teatime teaser: NEATWORD -> DANEWORT

Round 6: G L D X I O E A R

C1: RELOAD (6)
C2: goader
DC: EXORDIAL (8)
Score: 42–24 (max 47)

Round 7: T T Z O U A H P L

C1: TOTAL (5)
C2: outpath
OT: LOATH (5) LOTTA (5) OUTTA (5) PLOTZ (5) POULT (5) PULAO (5) PUTTO (5) TOPAZ (5)
Score: 47–24 (max 52)

Round 8: S N S R I O E D U

C1: SOUNDERS (8)
C2: RINSED (6)
DC: INDORSES (8) UNDRESS (7) SUNDRIES (8)
OT: DESIROUS (8) DOURNESS (8) RESOUNDS (8) NEUROSIS (8) RESINOUS (8)
Score: 55–24 (max 60)

Round 9: L S S A O E D S B

C1: BOSSES (6)
C2: BOSSED (6)
DC: ALBEDOS (7)
OT: DOSSALS (7) LASSOED (7) LASSOES (7)
Score: 61–30 (max 67)

Susie talks about a subject dear to her heart in 'Origin of Words' - drunkenness.

Round 10: 50, 2, 4, 8, 9, 4. Target: 275.

C1: 276.
C2: 275. (50/2)*(8/4+9) (10)
Score: 61–40 (max 77)

Teatime teaser: TAILBURN -> TRIBUNAL

Round 11: N K D I E A T S N

C1: DETAINS (7)
C2: KINDEST (7)
DC: SAINTED (7)
OT: INKSTAND (8)
Score: 68–47 (max 85)

Round 12: S M N T U O E Q A

C1: AMOUNTS (7)
C2: mounted
DC: SEAMOUNT (8)
Score: 75–47 (max 93)

A seamount is a submarine mountain.

Round 13: P S Y E O I C M T

C1: MOPIEST (7)
C2: COPIES (6)
DC: SOCIETY (7) MYOPIC (6)
OT: COPYIST (7) MISCOPY (7) MISTYPE (7) STOMPIE (7) POETICS (7)
Score: 82–47 (max 100)

Round 14: 100, 75, 8, 1, 9, 5. Target: 919.

C1: 918. (8-5-1+100)*9 (7)
C2: -
RR: 919. 100*8+75+9*5-1 (10)
Score: 89–47 (max 110)

(Hans has the conundrum on a piece of paper which he presses to his nose on the turn, in case you were wondering)

Round 15: P E T C R E T I N

C1 buzzes on 3 seconds to say INTERCEPT which is correct.
Score: 99–47 (max 120)

So just one short of the century this time for Chris as he eventually shrugs off the challenge of Hans to win convincingly. I know it's only two wins, but he looks like a good bet to do all eight - if he does, he'll have to carry over to next series. If he should lose, there is a chance he could make it into this series' finals depending on wins & score. Exciting! Watch this space.....[ ] Colour this one [ ] and ignore this one [ ]

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=60

[Michael Wallace]

Can't quite tell if you're mocking disabled people or not here, but frankly I'm shocked and appalled either way. Or something.

Interesting on the numbers solution checking front - I've thought about this when I've been fantasising (whilst masturbating, obviously) about going on again, and figured I'd just warn the production people in advance, rather than have something like that happen - how did they resolve it?

[Jon Corby]

Can't quite tell if you're mocking disabled people or not here, but frankly I'm shocked and appalled either way. Or something.

Interesting on the numbers solution checking front - I've thought about this when I've been fantasising (whilst masturbating, obviously) about going on again, and figured I'd just warn the production people in advance, rather than have something like that happen - how did they resolve it?

I'm pretty blind myself - I haven't mocked at all there have I? Just stated facts

Wasn't obvious how, if at all, it was handled - Hans saying "I can't see it" was kinda drowned out by applause. As I said, Chris seems a very honest sort so I'm sure it wasn't an issue, and I'd expect that he would have been keen to make sure Hans was happy that he did actually have it written down, possibly in the ad break, or something.

[James Robinson]

Apterist & Champion Chris (no relation, in case you were wondering)

Why would we think he is a relative of yours? He's Chris KIRBY, not Chris CORBY

Secondly, who is Pauline Huggins? What did she do?

[Jimmy Gough]

Secondly, who is Pauline Huggins? What did she do?

http://www.countdownwiki.com/Pauline_Huggins

[Chris Corby]

Apterist & Champion Chris (no relation, in case you were wondering)

Why would we think he is a relative of yours? He's Chris KIRBY, not Chris CORBY

Well, I am confused. I thought it was me.

[David Williams]

Before introducing us to the contestants, Jeff reads out a viewer's letter complaining about the lack of audience shots in the current series of Countdown, which is followed by a shot of the disinterested, lifeless audience.

Why shouldn't the audience be impartial?

[Jon Corby]

Ah, I mean 'uninterested', don't I? Thanks!

[David Williams]

One of my main bugbears, because the two words have useful, distinct, meanings. Jeff, Rachel and Susie are disinterested, the audience is (allegedly) uninterested, and unfortunately some of the celebrities appear to be both.

[Jon Corby]

One of my main bugbears, because the two words have useful, distinct, meanings. Jeff, Rachel and Susie are disinterested, the audience is (allegedly) uninterested, and unfortunately some of the celebrities appear to be both.

I've been misusing the word for years, I didn't know that distinction. Sorry

[David Williams]

I've read and re-read your last two posts. I just know you're having a go at me, but it's just so subtle I can't see it. Yet obviously I must retaliate. But how?

[Jon Corby]

You lost me - how am I having a go at you, and why?

[David Williams]

You're always putting innocent-looking stuff on here and luring your victims in. Am I really to believe that's not your intention? You're doing my head in.

[Jon Corby]

I thanked you for pointing out my mistake, and for educating me. You're very paranoid