c4countdown

And we have indeed another new champion, we've been saying that a lot lately. Jonathan Liew would like to end the week with some forward momentum. Can he do it?

Join Anthony for the recap later.

Two 9s available in R1!

Quick way to make the 11 in 2nd numbers: 6+(50/10)

The computer confirms 865 is best in the third numbers.

Another 9 missed in R10.

HERNIATES is the nine in round 10, no idea about those in round 1. QUINTAS in round 7.

Tony Atkins wrote:Quick way to make the 11 in 2nd numbers: 6+(50/10)

That's the way I did it! Not sure why Rachel used the extra 10.

I can't remember if DC got a 7 in R5, but they missed DOTTIER.

Anyone else think the way Jonathan plays the game is frustrating to watch? He is missing some good words by constantly running with this awkward 6 consonant routine. This might be good as a method of getting wins, but I think he's a good enough player that he should feel that he doesn't have to resort to such measures. And at the end of the day, it's his game to play, so whatever, let him have his, er, "fun", but I see it like this - Countdown is an entertainment show, and it's suddenly got a lot harder to watch...

Tony Atkins wrote:Two 9s available in R1!

Since I know you'll never tell us I've looked them up. They were MICROPYLE and POLMERIC. We're allowed spoilers here!

Andy Platt wrote:Anyone else think the way Jonathan plays the game is frustrating to watch? He is missing some good words by constantly running with this awkward 6 consonant routine. This might be good as a method of getting wins, but I think he's a good enough player that he should feel that he doesn't have to resort to such measures. And at the end of the day, it's his game to play, so whatever, let him have his, er, "fun", but I see it like this - Countdown is an entertainment show, and it's suddenly got a lot harder to watch...

Isn't it more likely that it's just his preferred choice, rather than a calculated measure? If so, there's no reason why he should have to change it, and I expect the proportion of the audience for whom this has a significant impact on the show's entertainment value is pretty small.

Indeed, and he makes up for it by making the numbers games more interesting with going 6 small every time.

ROASTERS in round 2, CELADON in round 4, OMITTED in round 5, QUINTAS in round 7, GANOIDS in round 11 and BARONESS in round 13. (All levellers. )

Had POLYMERIC... appear to be one of the few...

Zarte Siempre wrote:Had POLYMERIC... appear to be one of the few...

Very nice, I thought of something along the lines of POLYEMIC, so POLYMERIC was obviously what I was thinking of.

Jack Worsley wrote:

Zarte Siempre wrote:Had POLYMERIC... appear to be one of the few...

Very nice, I thought of something along the lines of POLYEMIC, so POLYMERIC was obviously what I was thinking of.

Maybe you thought of POLEMIC and POLYMERIC and camped half way

DC said 'strakers' was an alternative anagram to 'starkers', but I don't see how that is a word.

Martin Thompson wrote:DC said 'strakers' was an alternative anagram to 'starkers', but I don't see how that is a word.

They said STROKERS, didn't they

I thought so, but they didn't define it
On the three vowels subject, a while ago before being on this board I emailed Countdown wondering why you couldn't have just 2 vowels, seeing there were loads of 9-letter words with 7 consonants, so I don't have a problem with Jonathan's choosing only three. Personally I prefer people choosing vs and cs alternately to begin with and then adjusting if necessary depending on how it's going so far.