C1: Champion Ryan Carlsen (2 wins, 188 points.) An transaction reporter for an investment bank from Glasgow.
C2: Challenger Sarah Herbert. A bar owner from Yorkshire.
DC: Susie Dent and Michael Crick.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: P R D G I O A C E
R02: T L E S M A I T P
R03: 4, 9, 7, 9, 3, 2. Target: 647.
TTT: OUSTEVEN - "This will help oust even the most troublesome of babies."
R04: N M V E I T P U W
R05: S H G T E I A O C
R06: 100, 25, 7, 8, 2, 2. Target: 897.
R07: I E E B S R L A N
R08: F M T O E R F O S
R09: 50, 75, 25, 2, 4, 6. Target: 746.
TTT: CROSSFEE - "These paintings sound like they belong to Al."
R10: D R V E I S G E C
R11: D S D T A I E K E
R12: N G N S A O O H L
R13: R D N Y E E I A R
R14: 100, 25, 50, 7, 9, 6. Target: 373.
R15: P U L L E T M I X (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: P R D G I O A C E
Ryan: ERGODIC (7)
Sarah: prego
OT: PODAGRIC (8)
Score: 7–0 (max 8)
Round 2: T L E S M A I T P
Ryan: MALTIEST (8)
Sarah: PAILS (5)
DC: PALEST (6) METALS (6) SEPTIMAL (8)
OT: MALPITTES (18)
Score: 15–0 (max 26)
Round 3: 4, 9, 7, 9, 3, 2. Target: 647.
Ryan: 648. 9 x 4 x 2 x 9 (7)
Sarah: -
RR: 647. (((9 x 9 x 4) + 3) x 2) - 7 (10)
Score: 22–0 (max 36)
Teatime teaser: OUSTEVEN -> VENTOUSE
Round 4: N M V E I T P U W
Ryan: MINUTE (6)
Sarah: untime
DC: PINETUM (7)
Score: 28–0 (max 43)
Round 5: S H G T E I A O C
Ryan: HOSTAGE (7)
Sarah: COATS (5)
DC: SIGHT (5) GOATISH (7) ACHIOTES (8)
OT: GOTCHIES (8)
Score: 35–0 (max 51)
Round 6: 100, 25, 7, 8, 2, 2. Target: 897.
Ryan: 898. ((7 + 2) x 100) - 2 (7)
Sarah: 896. Mistake in working.
RR: 897. ((7 + 2 + 100) x 8) + 25 (10)
Score: 42–0 (max 61)
Michael talks about his love of Manchester United, and his book about Sir Alex Ferguson.
Round 7: I E E B S R L A N
Ryan: REALISE (7)
Sarah: REELS (5)
DC: BASELINER (18)
Score: 49–0 (max 79)
Round 8: F M T O E R F O S
Ryan: FOREMOST (8)
Sarah: FOSTER (6)
DC: FOREST (6) FOOTERS (7)
OT: FROOMEST (8)
Score: 57–0 (max 87)
Round 9: 50, 75, 25, 2, 4, 6. Target: 746.
Ryan: 745. Mistake in working.
Sarah: -
RR: 746. ((75 + 50) x 6) - 4 (10)
Score: 57–0 (max 97)
Teatime teaser: CROSSFEE -> FRESCOES
Round 10: D R V E I S G E C
Ryan: DIVERSE (7)
Sarah: sirened
DC: GRIEVES (7) DIVERGES (8) SERVICED (8)
OT: DESCRIVE (8) SCRIEVED (8)
Score: 64–0 (max 105)
Round 11: D S D T A I E K E
Ryan: STEADIED (8)
Sarah: saked
DC: DEEDS (5) DATED (5) SATED (5) SEDATED (7)
Score: 72–0 (max 113)
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of words relating to "star".
Round 12: N G N S A O O H L
Ryan: LAGOONS (7)
Sarah: school
DC: GASOHOL (7) GALOSH (6)
OT: LONGANS (7)
Score: 79–0 (max 120)
Round 13: R D N Y E E I A R
Ryan: YEARNED (7)
Sarah: RANDY (5)
DC: RANDIER (7) READIER (7) DRAINER (7)
OT: DEANERY (7) NERDERY (7) NERDIER (7) RENAYED (7) YEARNER (7)
Score: 86–0 (max 127)
Well, this is nothing new..., a few players have been on 0 points after 13 rounds in recent times...
But, from memory, none have gone for THREE LARGE!!
Round 14: 100, 25, 50, 7, 9, 6. Target: 373.
Ryan: 373. (6 x 50) + 100 - 25 - (9 - 7) (10)
Sarah: 375.
Score: 96–0 (max 137)
Oh dear, is the writing on the wall now for Sarah...?? Is the Yorkshire lass about to make unwanted history...
Round 15: P U L L E T M I X
Ryan buzzes on 2.75 seconds to say MULTIPLEX which is correct.
Final Score: 106–0 (max 147)
YES!! IT HAS HAPPENED!!!
I must admit, I never thought it would happen on a 15-rounder, but it has finally happened 
And it had to happen on Friday the 13th as well, just to really rub it in...
But, Sarah Herbert joins John Brooks and Sylvia Pitman in scoring 0 points on a televised game of Countdown, but unlike those two, who did it in the 9-round format, this has happened in the 15-round format of the game
Dear oh dear, at least she has a bar to go back to, I guess, to drown her sorrows...
Statistics Corner
Ryan:
Total score - 106
Raw score - 106
Total % of max - 72
Raw % of max - 72
Total average score per round - 7.1
Raw average score per round - 7.1
Number of maxes - 6
Sarah:
Total score - 0
Raw score - 33
Total % of max - 0
Raw % of max - 22
Total average score per round - 0.0
Raw average score per round - 2.2
Number of maxes - 0
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=85