Enjoy.
Countdown recap for Wednesday 18 March 2015.
C1: Champion Charlene Rose (1 win, 104 points.) A sociology student from Coventry, studying at Birmingham City University.
C2: Challenger Niven Padgett. A pensions consultant from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. Last year, he took part in a bed race on a 2.5 mile circuit around Knaresborough, when he had to push a bed as part of one of 90 different teams taking part
DC: Susie Dent and Tim Vine.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: I S F E O N A T G
R02: N C S R D I E O Y
R03: 100, 75, 6, 8, 1, 4. Target: 261.
TTT: EATGREEN - "He won't eat his greens, he prefers junk food"
R04: L T R S D I A U N
R05: E T D I A W O B S
R06: 25, 6, 5, 5, 2, 3. Target: 168.
R07: E D H U L R A O T
R08: H D A U S G N E K
R09: 100, 50, 4, 7, 2, 3. Target: 250.
TTT: STARSHIP - "They might not show enterprise, but they've got some pluck"
R10: V R I P M O T R I
R11: E F O P R A U T S
R12: M Q R L N E O C E
R13: I P A W L E R T M
R14: 100, 9, 4, 4, 2, 9. Target: 367.
R15: I C A L L D E N T (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: I S F E O N A T G
Charlene: FEASTING (8)
Niven: FEASTING (8)
DC: FONT (4) TANGOES (7)
Score: 8–8 (max 8)
Both players darrenically FEASTING to begin the day.
Round 2: N C S R D I E O Y
Charlene: CINDERS (7)
Niven: CINDERS (7)
DC: SCORED (6) CONSIDER (8)
Score: 15–15 (max 16)
Both now turn to CINDERS, but maybe they ought to CONSIDER DC's darrenic 8........
Round 3: 100, 75, 6, 8, 1, 4. Target: 261.
Charlene: 270. (100 x (8 - 6)) + 75 - 4 - 1 (5)
Niven: 267. Mistake in working.
RR: 261. (100 + 4 - 75) x (8 + 1) (10)
Score: 20–15 (max 26)
Both players are quite a bit out with the numbers..........., or so we thought, but Niven actually got 257, meaning he was actually closer than he thought
So, Charlene's 9 away turns out to be the closest, so a 5 point lead is fortuitously hers.Teatime teaser: EATGREEN -> TEENAGER
Round 4: L T R S D I A U N
Charlene: STRAIN (6)
Niven: STRAIN (6)
DC: SUNDIAL (7) DIURNAL (7) DURIANS (7) UNITARDS (8)
Score: 26–21 (max 34)
Both taking the STRAIN here.........., whereas DC are in some darrenic UNITARDS.
Round 5: E T D I A W O B S
Charlene: BOASTED (7)
Niven: WAISTED (7)
DC: BAWDIEST (8)
Score: 33–28 (max 42)
Yet another darren for DC here. The players aren't budging in the letters games yet.........
Round 6: 25, 6, 5, 5, 2, 3. Target: 168.
Charlene: 169.
Niven: 168. (25 + 3) x 6 (10)
Score: 33–38 (max 52)
But, another twist has arisen, with Charlene missing an easy one, turning her 5 point lead into a 5 point deficit
Round 7: E D H U L R A O T
Charlene: LOATHED (7)
Niven: LOATHER (7)
DC: HULA (4) AUTHORED (8)
OT: RATHOLED (8)
Score: 40–45 (max 60)
Still impossible to separate them letterswise, but this game is still delicately poised.
Round 8: H D A U S G N E K
Charlene: SHANKED (7)
Niven: NUDGES (6)
DC: GUSHED (6) GNASHED (7)
OT: AUGENDS (7) UNASKED (7)
Score: 47–45 (max 67)
Charlene retrieves the lead with her SHANKED offering for 7.
In maths and computing, an AUGEND is the number to which another is added.
Round 9: 100, 50, 4, 7, 2, 3. Target: 250.
Charlene: 250. (100 x 2) + 50 (10)
Niven: 250. (100 x 2) + 50 (10)
Score: 57–55 (max 77)
NEXT!!!
Teatime teaser: STARSHIP -> HARPISTS
Round 10: V R I P M O T R I
Charlene: IMPORT (6)
Niven: TRIP (4)
OT: IMPROV (6)
Score: 63–55 (max 83)
Another great spot from a tricky set there for Charlene. Is the game starting to turn in her favour
Round 11: E F O P R A U T S
Charlene: POUTERS (7)
Niven: paster
DC: APTEROUS (8)
Score: 70–55 (max 91)
Can't help but love it whenever APTEROUS appears on the screen. Just need one of us lot to get it again.
Susie's Origins of Words talks about the origins of the phrases "warts and all" and "to cost an arm and a leg".
Round 12: M Q R L N E O C E
Charlene: CLONER (6)
Niven: CLONER (6)
DC: ENCORE (6)
OT: CLEOME (6) CORMEL (6) CORNEL (6) CRENEL (6) CREOLE (6) MERLON (6) MOREEN (6)
Score: 76–61 (max 97)
6's aplenty, but just a couple of CLONERs here.
A CLEOME is a plant of a chiefly tropical genus which includes the spider flower, noted for their long stamens. (Genus Cleome, family Capparidaceae)
A CORMEL is a small corm growing at the side of a mature corm.
A CORNEL is dogwood, especially of a dwarf variety. (Genus Cornus, family Cornaceae: several species, including the dwarf Cornus suecica)
A CRENEL (or CRENELLE) is an indentation in the battlements of a fort or castle, used for shooting or firing missiles through.
A MERLON is the solid part of a crenellated parapet between two embrasures.
MOREEN is a strong, ribbed cotton fabric, used chiefly for curtains.
Round 13: I P A W L E R T M
Charlene: TRAMPLE (7)
Niven: MALTIER (7)
DC: WARTIME (7)
OT: IMPALER (7) LEMPIRA (7) PALMIER (7) PRIMATE (7) WIRETAP (7)
Score: 83–68 (max 104)
Plenty of 7's, and this game is slowly, but surely working towards a 2nd win for Charlene, but does Niven have other ideas.......
Round 14: 100, 9, 4, 4, 2, 9. Target: 367.
Charlene: 366. (100 x 4) - (9 x 4) + 2 (7)
Niven: 369.
RR: 367. ((100 - 9) x 4) + 9 - 4 - 2 (10)
Score: 90–68 (max 114)
Niven decides to not be in a gambling mood, and his safety isn't rewarded, as Charlene gets one closer than him to extend her lead further and win her 2nd game, although a slight alteration to her method could've got her the maximum 10 points.
As it is, Charlene is on for a 2nd century, if she can solve the conundrum................
Round 15: I C A L L D E N T
No one buzzes. The answer was CANDLELIT.
Final Score: 90–68 (max 124)
But, in the end, not a single soul in the audience could even solve it
(Nor do I actually )So, Charlene has made it 2 wins out of 2 after a cagey affair with Niven, but if she thought that was tough, tomorrow will be even tougher, I'm sure!!
Because tomorrow's challenger is a man, who after losing out to Martin Bishop in Series 59, is back for a 2nd shot at glory
Thomas (now Tom) Cappleman is back in the house, and Tracey will be keeping a close eye on him tomorrow, as he is certainly one to watch for the series, although I'm sure Charlene will provide him with a tough task in tomorrow's match.
I'll be in Salford next week for the recording of the finals (yes, I realise it's only the end of March, but don't blame me.
), so the Wednesday recap will either be delayed or diverted to someone else. More on that later.........But, for now, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Charlene:
Total score - 90
Raw score - 97
Total % of max - 73
Raw % of max - 78
Total average score per round - 6.0
Raw average score per round - 6.5
Number of maxes - 6
Niven:
Total score - 68
Raw score - 85
Total % of max - 55
Raw % of max - 69
Total average score per round - 4.5
Raw average score per round - 5.7
Number of maxes - 5
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=72